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Ganmao Qingre

Also known as: Ganmao Qingre Granules, Ganmao Qingre Chongji, Wind-Cold Cold Granules, 感冒清热颗粒

Evidence under review. — Not yet rated

Traditional Chinese herbal formula used for cold and flu symptoms; limited low-quality evidence only.

  • What it does

    Ganmao Qingre is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) herbal granule formula used to treat cold and flu symptoms, particularly those classified in TCM as 'wind-cold syndrome.' A meta-analysis of 6...

  • Evidence quality

    Evidence base hasn't been formally rated yet. See research below.

  • Clinical dose

    No established dose (insufficient research data)

See full breakdown ↓ Methodology →

What the Science Says

Ganmao Qingre is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) herbal granule formula used to treat cold and flu symptoms, particularly those classified in TCM as 'wind-cold syndrome.' A meta-analysis of 6 small trials in children found it reduced fever duration, cough, and nasal congestion faster than a comparison drug. It contains pueraria (Gegen) as a key ingredient, which provides the compound puerarin. However, the overall quality of supporting research is low, and safety data is largely unreported.

What It Doesn't Do

Not proven to prevent colds or flu. No evidence it works as well as or better than standard Western cold medications in high-quality trials. Don't assume it's safe just because it's 'natural' — adverse reaction data is nearly absent from the studies. Not a substitute for medical treatment in serious illness.

Evidence-Based Benefits

May reduce fever duration, cough, and nasal congestion in children with wind-cold type colds.

Weak Evidence

Effective at: No established dose

Reduced time to fever resolution compared to a standard comparison drug in a small pediatric meta-analysis.

Weak Evidence

Effective at: No established dose

Absorption & Bioavailability

Unknown — no pharmacokinetic or absorption data provided in the available studies

Red Flags to Watch For

  • Safety profile is largely unknown — most included studies in the meta-analysis did not report adverse reactions at all
  • Supporting research is low quality: small sample sizes, mostly Chinese-language journals, and high risk of bias
  • Used in combination with other drugs (antibiotics, other TCM injections) in real-world settings, making it hard to isolate its effects
  • No registered supplement products found in the NIH DSLD database, raising questions about standardization and quality control in Western markets
  • Meta-analysis was limited to children with a specific TCM diagnosis ('wind-cold syndrome') — results may not apply to adults or other cold types

Research Sources

  • PubMed

This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement regimen. Last updated: 2026-05-25