The Combined Effect of Algomed and a Quadruple Herbal Brew of Iranian Traditional Medicine on the Severity and Outcome of COVID-19; a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial Recruiting Inpatients

Introduction: Given the importance of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a worldwide issue and its health, psychological and social effects and some serious complications and consequences, it needs to find appropriate treatment for this emerging disease. Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of combination of Algomed and Mentha longifolia, Matricaria recutita, Althaea rosea and Malva sylvestris on the severity and outcomes of COVID-19. Patients and Methods: In a Randomized clinical trial we included 68 participants with confirmed COVID-19 through PCR tests and/or CT scan, who were admitted to non-ICU wards. The intervention group received four 300-mg Algomed tablets daily, and the quadruple herbal brew three times a day additionally while the control group received routine treatments. The brew was prepared using a large teabag containing 6 g of the four herbs (2 g of Mentha longifolia, 2 g of M. recutita, 1.4 g of Malva sylvestris and 0.6 g of A. rosea). The patients were compared daily from their admission to the end of the third day in terms of clinical and para-clinical symptoms, and outcomes. Results: The two groups were not significantly different in terms of age (P=0.657) and gender (P=0.798). The median and inter-quartile range of length of stay were respectively 3 and 2-4 days in the intervention group and 5 and 3-9 days in the controls, significantly higher in the control group (P<0.001). Comparing the two groups in terms of the difference between the third and the first day values showed a significant difference in white blood cells count, a reduction of 432.9 in the intervention group vs. an increase of 65.5 in the controls (P=0.049). Except for diarrhea, which happened more in the control group (P=0.020), the two groups were not significantly different in terms of other variations. Conclusion: The present study results indicated the effects of a combination of Algomed and the brew of M. longifolia, M. recutita, A. rosea and Malva sylvestris on reducing the length of stay. It is suggested that the findings of this research should be confirmed by more detailed study with bigger sample size. It is also recommended that same or similar research should be conducted in different geographic locations of the world to confirm the outcome of this research. The main limitation of this study is that it was performed only on hospitalized patients who had a milder form of the disease in terms of disease severity. Therefore, the benefits of the interventions cannot be generalized to all patients. Trial Registration: Registration of trial protocol has been approved by Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (#IRCT20151228025732N51, https://en.irct.ir/trial/46828, ethical code#IR.SEMUMS.REC.1398.325).