It was reported that a herbal therapy consisting of two well-known TCM formulas, 'Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang' (麻杏石甘汤) and 'Yin Qiao San' (银翘散) have been shown to be as effective as Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) in alleviating symptoms caused by H1N1.
Researchers studied 410 Chinese adults with H1N1. Those who took the TCM formula reduced their fever after 16 hours, as opposed to 26 hours in patients in a control group.
What's interesting is that as far back as December 2009, there was already mention of this formula combo by Beijing medical officials, who termed it 'Jin Hua Qing Gan' (金花清感). According to an archived article, the formula was 'developed and tested at several Western and traditional medical institutes in Beijing' for over six months.
A caveat: the formula only treats mild cases of H1N1.
For those interested in the exact components of this formula, here's the breakdown:
'Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang' (麻杏石甘汤)
- Ma Huang (Ephedra) 麻黄 12 grams
- Shi Gao (Gypsum) 石膏 48 grams
- Xing Ren (Apricot Seed) 杏仁 18 grams
- Zhi Gan Cao (Honey Fried Licorice Root) 炙甘草 6 grams
'Yin Qiao San' (银翘散)
- Jin Yin Hua (Honeysuckle Flower) 金银花 9 - 15 grams
- Lian Qiao (Forsythia Fruit) 连翘 9 - 15 grams
- Jie Geng (Platycodon Root) 桔梗 3 - 6 grams
- Niu Bang Zi (Great Burdock Fruit) 牛旁子 9 - 12 grams
- Bo He (Field Mint, Mentha) 薄荷 3 - 6 grams
- Dan Dou Chi (Prepared Soybean) 淡豆敕 3 - 6 grams
- Jing Jie (Schizonepeta Bud or Stem) 荆芥 6 - 9 grams
- Dan Zhu Ye(Lophatherum Stem and Leaves) 淡竹叶 3 - 6 grams
- Lu Gen (Reed Rhizome) 芦根 15 - 30 grams
- Gan Cao (Licorice Root) 甘草 3 - 6 grams
Of interest is also how H1N1 is treated according to TCM principles: It's thought to spread from the Lung (fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat; treated by Ma Huang, Xing Ren, Shi Gao, Gan Cao) and the Stomach (this flu strain is known to cause diarrhea; formula of choice - Huo Xiang Zheng Qi 藿香正气, and then into the Blood system (high fever, irritability and respiratory problems).
No comments:
Post a Comment