By VINCENT LOW
BEIJING, July 23 (Bernama)-- Chinese herbs have proved effective
in the cure of Influenza A(H1N1) in Ditan Hospital, Beijing where
88 out of 117 patients treated for the disease only on the herbs
fully recovered and were discharged.
The combination of the herbs is as follows: Lonicera
Japonica Thund-3 grammes, Isatis Indigodica- 3 gms, Mentha
Haplocalyx Brip.-3 gms and Glycyrrhiza Glabra-3 gms. These herbs
are available in Chinese herbal medicine shops.
"From our clinical tests and observation, the traditional method
of treatment left no after effects and it is safe, more over the
recovery period was shorter and the cost relatively lower as
compared to Tamiflu treatment," said Wang Yuguang, spokesman of
Ditan Hospital at a special briefing for the media at Ditan
Hospital Wednesday afternoon.
He said the advantage of using herbs on these patients was that
the doctors could prescribe different combination of herbs
according to the individual's health condition.
"Treatment cost per patient using Tamiflu is about RMB56 a day
whereas using traditional herbs it cost only around RMB12."
Ditan Hospital first started using traditional medicine in
combination with Tamiflu on H1N1 patient from May 15 to June 15,
and when the method proved effective, started treating many
patients solely on Chinese herbs.
"We have even tested using the method on high risk patients
since July 1, and the results proved favourable." said Wang.
However, Wang did not reveal the herbs used to cure the
patients.
Ditan Hospital is one of the two hospitals specially designated
for H1N1 patients in Beijing since the pandemic started from May in
China.
Built in 1946, Ditan Hospital is the highest grade hospital for
infectious diseases and comes under the supervision of the Ministry
of Health, Beijing Municipal Health Bureau and the Chinese Centre
for Disease Control and Prevention.
The hospital had excelled in 2003 and 2004 in the fight against
SARS.
Meanwhile, Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital has
introduced an Influenza A(H1N1) prevention herbal medicine
pack.
The Deputy Director of the hospital, Jin Wei, told a press
conference earlier that the herbal pack contained seven little
packs of four types of herbs in combination, which were said to be
effective in the prevention of H1N1.
"Just dip a small pack of herbs in a teapot of hot water and
drink it like tea, or used it as mouthwash, and it helps to prevent
people for being infected," said Jin.
She said the pack could even cure mild cases of H1N1. However if
patients do not recover after taking the herbs for seven days, they
are advised to go to the hospital for further treatment.
