Supplementary Material for: A Systematic Review of Phytotherapy for Acute Rhinosinusitis

Herbal medicine is a promising alternative in the treatmentof acute rhinosinusitis (ARS). We performed a systematicreview for phytopharmaceutical treatments ofARS. A computerized search of databases (Cochrane Library,PubMed, and Scopus) up to 16 September 2015was performed. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) andcontrolled trials (CTs) were included and assessed usingthe Cochrane risk of bias tool. Seven trials on Pelargoniumsidoides (EPs 7630, Umckaloabo®), Myrtol (Gelo-Myrtol® forte), BNO 1016 (Sinupret® extract), BNO 101(Sinupret®), Cyclamen europaeum (Nasodren®), and Esberitox® were included. Risk of bias was heterogeneous.EPs 7630 appeared to be useful in the treatment of ARS.Myrtol showed benefits against a placebo compound,and BNO 1016 and BNO 101 might be helpful; however,there was little evidence for the effectiveness of Cyclameneuropaeum and Esberitox®. Herbal medicine mightbe effective for the treatment of ARS, but given the lownumber of clinical trials and the heterogeneous methodologicalquality, further research is necessary.