In China, where the Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS epidemic) began, medical experts from both western medicine and Chinese medicine have been working together to develop a systematic prevention and treatment protocol for SARS. With their new improvements, they have been able to prevent new infections in frontline hospital workers, to improve the condition of SARS patient, and increase their chances of survival.
Their herbal strategies are to fight viruses, regulate immune system function, reduce the inflammatory response, reduce immune system damage, and protect cellular function. The Chinese herbs bring down the fever, stop nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, bring back appetite, alleviate tiredness and fatigue, and reduce symptoms of toxicity. Treatment varies, depending upon whether SARS is in early, middle, climactic, or late stage.
World Health Organization expert, James MacGuire visited the hospital Lu Yu Po, where these treatment and prevention strategies were formulated. He commended the hospital for its efforts, and said they were innovative, interesting, and valuable. He also indicated the ever-present need for further research. The herbal formula is intended to prevent viral pneumonia in general. The formula is not meant to treat, but to prevent, SARS. It combines two renowned Chinese herbal formulas, plus the addition of other herbs with known anti-viral effects. According to Chairman of the Chinese University's Institute of Chinese Medicine's management committee, Leung Ping-Chung, the formula must be taken for 14 days before it is effective. It can be taken as a powder mixed with hot water, or the raw herbs can be boiled into a tea.
The University of Hong Kong, School of Chinese Medicine, has devised two herbal formulas for prevention of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome). They say the staff at their clinics have been taking these herbal teas for more than a month and so far, none has been infected.
1. Chinese Medicine Prescription for the Prevention of CVP (1) for general use
Radix Isatidis (Banlangen) 12g
Flos Lonicerae (Jinyinhua) 15g
Fructus Forsythiae (Lianqiao) 15g
Semen Coicis (Yiyiren) 15g
Pseudostellaria heterophylla (Taizishen) 15g
Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae (Baizhu) 15g
Radix Glycyrrhizae (Gancao) 9g
2. Chinese Medicine Prescription for the Prevention of CVP (2) for those with weak constitution with dampness
Rhizoma Cyperi (Xiangfu) 15g
Herba Eupatorii (Peilan) 9g
Flos Lonicerae (Jinyinhua) 12g
Fructus Forsythiae (Lianqiao) 12g
Folium Mori (Sangye)">Folium Mori (Sangye) 15g
Radix Isatidis (Banlangen) 9g
Processed Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae (Baizhu) 15g
Semen Coicis (Yiyiren) 18g
Pseudostellaria heterophylla (Taizishen) 18g
Radix Glycyrrhizae (Gancao) 9g