The Essential New Cough and Cold Treatment This Winter

A new over the counter (OTC) treatment, Centoreze, containing the herb, Pelargonium (20mg root extract) launches this month in a bid to help people relieve the symptoms of coughs and colds caused by viral upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), which are commonly experienced throughout the winter season.

Licensed and manufactured by DePlantis Ltd, the company’s founder, Dr Tom Jenkins, who is a practising GP, aims to raise awareness and availability of Pelargonium. This traditional, evidence-based herb could help reduce the inappropriate overprescribing of antibiotics for viral infections and also help patients self-treat symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections which includes coughs, runny noses, and sore throats without the delay of waiting to see a doctor.

As part of the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) and Specialist Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) guidance, the herbal extract of Pelargonium is already recommended for GPs to consider as one of the four self-care treatment options for adults and children aged 12 years and above to help treat symptoms. However, few GPs are aware of this treatment option and the valuable role this traditional herb could play in relieving the symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

In the UK, it is reported that on average 175 million cough and cold episodes occur annually, with 20 per cent of people contacting over-burdened NHS services and GPs for help. Thirty-five million GP consultations yearly are for advice on how to deal with coughs and colds, resulting in seven million antibiotic courses being prescribed for these common infections . The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared anti-microbial resistance (AMR) a global and national threat to health. Even though most URTIs are viral and not bacterial and therefore will not respond to antibiotic treatment, the influx of patients to GP services is estimated to cost between 3% and 5% of the annual UK health budget.

Dr Tom Jenkins, says, “We know AMR has increased by inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics for viral infections, for which they are ineffective. As viruses cause the majority of upper respiratory infections, antibiotics will not help in most cases. Unfortunately, patients are still distressed when suffering from a URTI and are often desperate to walk away from a GP appointment with something positive. Along with many colleagues, I sense this desperation whenever people turn to us, and an antibiotic prescription is all too often the outcome of eagerness to help.

“As a frontline GP, I wanted to find a way to help reduce the severity and duration of patients’ symptoms without prescribing antibiotics when they are unlikely to help. In search of an alternative treatment option, I came across the NICE Guideline recommendations for Pelargonium, which led me to research its use further. The herb has impressive pre-clinical and clinical anti-viral research, as well as evidence of its traditional use to relieve URTI symptoms, and as a result I have worked with a team of experts to bring Centoreze to market.”

Pelargonium was popularised in England over a hundred years ago as ‘Steven’s Consumption Cure’ when it was used successfully to treat tuberculosis patients, (full paper here to review). This prompted further investigation into the activity of Pelargonium. Originally a Zulu herbal medicine derived from the roots of two species of South African geranium, Pelargonium sidoides and Pelargonium reniforme, the herb was locally known as ‘Umckaloabo’ which roughly translates as ‘for heavy cough and chest problems.’

Although Pelargonium sidoides tablets are available to buy in the UK, Centoreze is the first traditional remedy available which is based on the original formulation including both Pelargonium sidoides and Pelargonium reniforme which in the wild, grows naturally side-by-side and would have certainly been present in Steven’s Consumption Cure.

Dr Richard Middleton, a Registered Pharmacist and a Director of The British Herbal Medicine Association (https://www.bhma.info) commented, “Pelargonium extract has a well-researched and documented history of use and, along with clinical studies, it has been shown to relieve symptoms of viral mediated respiratory infections.

“In addition, a recent review of initial treatment of acute respiratory infections with Pelargonium have shown it reduces antibiotic use significantly. In fact, since the publication of the NICE Guidelines in 2019, there continues to be a growing body of evidence that Pelargonium extract has both antiviral and immune boosting activity. Centoreze is an important new over-the-counter traditional herbal medicine treatment for coughs and colds this winter which will help relieve the symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections including the common cold and its symptoms of a sore throat, cough and blocked or runny nose.”

Dr Tom Jenkins has practised as a doctor for over 23 years and has worked as an NHS GP for 18 years now says, “One of the benefits of Pelargonium extract is that it can help reduce the need for antibiotics, which are often overprescribed and ineffective for viral infections. Overuse of antibiotics can lead to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a serious global threat that makes bacteria resistant to common drugs and harder to treat.”

Scientific Evidence

There are 27 peer reviewed published clinical trials investigating the benefits of Pelargonium. The benefits of Pelargonium extract in relieving symptoms of the common cold were further examined in a meta-analysis of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials.

Further published research more recently supported Pelargonium extract use in relieving initial symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections which was also associated with a significantly reduced need for antibiotic prescriptions in the further course of the disease, presumably because of reduced development of secondary bacterial infections. The use of the extract also led to significantly shorter time off work.

Dr Jenkins continues, “The UK’s National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends against prescribing antibiotics for an acute cough unless patients have specific features of a bacterial infection or at higher risk of complications. As frontline GPs, NHS England has asked us to pledge to review prescribing of antibiotics and commit to tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) which, it is feared could lead to more deaths than cancer by 2050.

“Pelargonium extract is the first and the only herbal medicine already recommended as part of NICE guidelines to be considered as one of the four self-care treatment options for adults and children 12 years and above to help treat coughs and it is now also recommended on the NHS website as a cough treatment option. I believe Centoreze can help do that and provide people with much needed relief from coughs and colds without resorting to false hope in antibiotics.”

What is Centoreze?

Centoreze is a traditional herbal medicinal product used to relieve the symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections including common cold, such as sore throat, cough and blocked or runny nose, based on traditional use only.

Each pack of Centoreze provides a week’s course of 21 film-coated tablets, containing 20mg dry extract of Pelargonium root from Pelargonium sidoides DC and/or Pelargonium reniforme Curt (4-25:1) extraction solvent: ethanol 11% (m/m). Recommended dosage is 1 tablet to be taken three times a day as soon as symptoms start to develop, and treatment should not exceed ten days. If after 7 days symptoms do not improve, patients should consult their GP or other qualified healthcare professional.

Centoreze has been assessed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) under the Traditional Herbal Registration (THR) scheme. This means that Centoreze is a high-quality herbal medicinal product that has met the same stringent regulatory standards for quality and manufacturing that are required of all approved UK medicines.

To find out more about Centoreze visit https://www.centoreze.co.uk and it costs £10.95 (1st class P&P included).