Objective To evaluate the anti tussive effect of a total alkaloid agent extracted from
Papaver Somniferum L. on simple
chronic bronchitis of which the syndrome was counterflow ascent of lung qi according to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Methods Randomised, double blind method, placebo control and add on design were applied Forty five patients with counterflow ascent of lung qi of simple chronic bronchitis were randomly divided into two groups: treatment group (n=21) with alkaloid agent and control group (n=24) with placebo Results The incidences of obvious coughing in treatment and control groups were 66 67% and 70 83%(P=0 763 3)
respectively The cough alleviation time of patients was 14 64±16 30 h and 15 12±15 28 h(P=0 795 6)respectively The loss of cough rates on the third day was 28 57%, 16 67%(P=0 337 7)respectively The average scores decreased were 4 29 and 2 88(P=0 054 8) respectively Conclusions The study indicates that total alkaloid agent extracted from
Papaver somniferum L has no significant anti tussive effect on patients with counterflow ascent of lung qi of simple chronic bronchitis treated with cefaclor sustained release capsules simultaneously The trial was interrupted by the advice from experts who disagreed with the selection of drug indication