Pelargonium Sidoides Explained Simply
This page explains in simple words what is known about the root extract of the plant Pelargonium sidoides for respiratory tract infections. It is intended for interested laypeople without medical training.
1. What It Is About
Pelargonium sidoides is a plant from southern Africa. It belongs to the geranium family. The root is used. An extract is made from it. An extract is a preparation in which certain components are extracted from the plant. The preparations made from it belong to the traditionally used and at the same time commercially significant medicinal plants of southern Africa. Usually a precisely defined special extract from the root is investigated, not the plant as a whole. Almost all human studies use the preparation EPs 7630, sometimes as a liquid, sometimes as a tablet. A plant extract is a mixture. Its composition depends on the starting material and the manufacturing process. Therefore results cannot readily be transferred to other extracts, tea preparations or other dosage forms. The clinical endpoints are predominantly symptom scores and the time to freedom from symptoms, not the amount of viruses or pathogens in the body.
2. What Studies Show
Acute bronchitis, a sudden inflammation of the bronchi, is the best investigated indication. Several randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies exist in adults. Randomised means that participants are randomly assigned to a group. Double-blind means that neither participants nor therapists know who receives the preparation and who receives a sham medication (placebo). In one study with 217 adult patients a symptom score (BSS, scale 0 to 20) fell by 7.6 points under the preparation and by 5.3 points under placebo 4. In another study with 468 adults the score fell by 5.9 points under the preparation and by 3.2 points under placebo; incapacity for work declined to 16 % versus 43 % 5. In children and adolescents with acute bronchitis one study with 200 patients showed an improvement in the symptom score of 3.4 points under the preparation versus 1.2 points under placebo 6. A further study with 220 children and adolescents reported an improvement of 4.4 versus 2.9 points 7. A large observational study in 2099 patients aged 0 to 93 years with productive cough reported that the symptom score fell from 7.1 points at baseline to 1.0 points at the end; without a control group this course cannot be distinguished from the spontaneous resolution of an acute infection 12. A meta-analysis, that is a summary of several studies, looked at many herbal medicines for cough and found moderate evidence across 11 studies for a reduction in frequency and severity of cough with Pelargonium sidoides versus placebo 10.
3. What Remains Unclear
Clinical research focuses almost entirely on acute respiratory infections, above all acute bronchitis. For other indications only isolated controlled studies exist. Almost all controlled human studies use the preparation EPs 7630; results cannot readily be transferred to other extracts, tea preparations or dosage forms. Clinical endpoints are predominantly symptom scores and time to freedom from symptoms, not viral load or pathogen elimination; observation periods are short. Controlled testing of doses in children and adolescents is still outstanding. The study in transient hypogammaglobulinaemia comprises only 14 patients per group and bases the clinical statements on a maternal questionnaire 3. The asthma study compares 30 children against 31 untreated children 1. The COPD study over 24 weeks shows prolongation of time to exacerbation from 43 to 57 days, yet more mild gastrointestinal complaints 2. The virus and adhesion findings derive from cell culture and tissue samples outside the body 8, 9, 11.
4. What This Means in Everyday Life
Pelargonium sidoides is investigated chiefly as a root extract in acute respiratory infections. The most robust statements concern acute bronchitis in adults and in children and adolescents. Several randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies point in the same direction: symptoms improved more under the preparation than under placebo. For other indications testing is still at an early stage. In particular it remains open which effects can be reproduced in independent, placebo-controlled studies with pre-defined endpoints. Anyone interested in the topic will find the exact figures and conditions in the cited works. This page recommends nothing and gives no dosage. It summarises what is reported in the analysed studies.
All details with study numbers and sources: detailed page on Pelargonium sidoides. For children: Pelargonium sidoides for children.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Pelargonium sidoides?
Pelargonium sidoides is a plant from southern Africa. An extract is made from its root, which is investigated in studies for respiratory tract infections.
For which complaints has it been investigated?
The best investigated is acute bronchitis in adults and in children and adolescents. For other areas of application there are only individual controlled studies.
What does placebo-controlled mean?
In a placebo-controlled study, one group receives the preparation to be tested and another group receives a sham medication without active ingredient. This allows comparison of whether the observed improvement goes beyond spontaneous recovery.
Sources
- 1
- 2Matthys H, Pliskevich DA, Bondarchuk OM, Malek FA, Tribanek M, Kieser M · 2013
- 3Patiroglu T, Tunc A, Eke Gungor H, Unal E · 2012
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8Michaelis M, Doerr HW, Cinatl J · 2011
- 9Helfer M, Koppensteiner H, Schneider M, Rebensburg S, Forcisi S, Müller C et al. · 2014
- 10Wagner L, Cramer H, Klose P, Lauche R, Gass F, Dobos G et al. · 2015
- 11Wittschier N, Faller G, Hensel A · 2007
- 12Matthys H, Kamin W, Funk P, Heger M · 2007
Every statement on this page carries its evidence tier — proven, plausible or hypothesis — and leads to the original work. The decision in the individual case rests with the practitioner; we provide the connections.