Is There Finally An Effective Treatment for Viral Upper Respiratory Sinus Infections? (And it is OTC!)

The herbal over-the-counter medication Sinupret (containing Gentianae radix, Primulae flos, Rumicis herba, Sambuci flos and Verbenae herba) has been widely employed as a 'mucoactive' agent in Germany for 70 years for symptoms of respiratory infections.

A number of studies have come out that suggest it "works" to address symptoms of the viral common cold as well... better then mucinex and other commonly used over-the-counter drugs in the United States. Additional studies have shown it can help in both adult and pediatric populations as well as those also suffering from chronic rhinosinusitis. 

Traditionally, Gentianae radix was used to increase appetite during recovery from acute indigestion. It also has protective liver affects as well as anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, antioxidant, and analgesic activities.

Primulae flos historically has been used as an expectorant (ie, mucinex is considered an expectorant as well). 

Rumicis herba is otherwise known as the herb sorrel. It contains tannins which has a drying effect that reduce mucus production.

Sambuci flos, on the basis of their long-standing use, has historically been used for the relief of early symptoms of the common cold. How it provides such relief is currently undergoing investigation.

And finally, Verbenae herba has antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties.

So the next time you have a viral URI, consider trying Sinupret which is taken three times a day for 7-14 days! Not easily found in stores, so I would suggest getting it on Amazon!

Pediatric sinupret can be found here.

Other recommended sino-nasal treatments can be found here!


References

Systematic review of clinical data with BNO-101 (Sinupret) in the treatment of sinusitis. Forsch Komplementmed. 2006 Apr;13(2):78-87. doi: 10.1159/000091969. Epub 2006 Apr 19.

Herbal drug BNO 1016 (Sinupret) is safe and effective in the treatment of acute viral rhinosinusitis. Acta Otolaryngol. 2015 Jan;135(1):42-50. doi: 10.3109/00016489.2014.952047.

Assessment of efficacy and safety of the herbal medicinal product BNO 1016 (SinuPret) in chronic rhinosinusitis. Rhinology. 2017 Jun 1;55(2):142-151. doi: 10.4193/Rhin16.103.

Clinical efficacy of a dry extract of five herbal drugs in acute viral rhinosinusitis. Rhinology. 2012 Dec;50(4):417-26. doi: 10.4193/Rhino.12.015.

An open-label, multicentre, randomized comparative study of efficacy, safety and tolerability of the 5 plant - extract BNO 1012 in the Delayed Antibiotic Prescription Method in children, aged 6 to 11 years with acute viral and post-viral rhinosinusitis. Am J Otolaryngol. 2020 Sep-Oct;41(5):102564.

A prospective open-label study to assess the efficacy and safety of a herbal medicinal product (Sinupret) in patients with acute rhinosinusitis. ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec. 2015;77(1):27-32.