Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Schizonepeta (Schizonepeta tenuifolia), also known as Jing Jie in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), has a long history of use in East Asian herbal medicine for the prevention and treatment of colds. According to TCM theory, schizonepeta is used to "release the exterior," meaning it helps dispel wind and promote sweating to alleviate early-stage symptoms of colds such as chills, fever, and sore throat. Classical texts and modern TCM practitioners commonly prescribe this herb, often in combination with others like Forsythia, Lonicera, and Platycodon, as part of formulas for cold prevention and early intervention.

While there are some laboratory and animal studies suggesting that schizonepeta has anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and immunomodulatory effects, robust clinical evidence in humans is lacking. Most of the support for using schizonepeta to prevent or treat colds derives from its longstanding traditional use rather than from modern scientific validation. The herb continues to be included in over-the-counter herbal cold remedies in Asia, reflecting its entrenched role in folk and professional herbal medicine. However, due to the paucity of well-controlled clinical trials, the overall evidence level is modest, and its use is best understood in the context of traditional practices rather than evidence-based Western medicine.

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