1. Influenza virus, as always, changes so fast. Can scientists really catch up with the new pandemic influenza A (H1N1) this time? Sorry I don’t think so.

2. According to the last observed SARS experience, I think there must be a lot of people were affected by the plague once the epidemic broke out. There must be some people dying from it as this was a life-threatening virus. But influenza viruses were not necessarily found in dead bodies, which is one of the phenomena I observed during the last SARS epidemic. According to the news, the death toll in Mexico reached more than 100 people, of which eventually only 19 found viruses. Can this approach be trustworthy? And I was wondering what on earth caused the death of other 81 people? I am afraid that this majority, as per Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), was dying from so-called the vicious qi of malaria.

3. Chinese medicine is about “five evolutive phases and six climatic factors”, of which the real material must be very complicated, and come from general sources. The scientists only use the most representative method of virus and gene to analysis and confirm the “five evolutive phases and six climatic factors”. It’s just like a twig from a tree. We have to admit that the method of virus and gene is scientific, unfortunately but it is not all. The approach is right and the goal is clear. However, a lot of stuff can not explain by laboratory analysis is lost. Perhaps this lost stuff is the most important things for us.

I might use these new pandemic influenza A (H1N1) vaccines once it is available. However, I am afraid that it is just a dream to prevent influenza A (H1N1) merely by these new vaccines. I wish the dream come true though.

Our small town, just like other cities, was attacked by influenza too. Early this month one of secondary school had suspended all the classes immediately for the concern of outbreak of influenza A (H1N1)! Later at dinner, one of my friends called to me, saying that her daughter caught a cold, with symptoms like running nose, thirsty and desire for water, soar dry throat, no fever and chill, sneeze when wind blows.

This was a pattern of Shao yang fever, and then the formula of Chai hu gui zhi tang featuring Ju geng was prescribed.

Chai Hu 20 Huang qin 8 Dang shen 15 Ban xia 15 Sheng Jiang 15 Gan cao 10 Da zhao 15 Guizhi 8 Bai Shao 8 Ju Geng 10.

One dose every 4 hours.

One day later, I have been told that his daughter was better and all symptoms were gone. And she refused to drink the remaining dose. But finally she was reluctant to finish it under the supervision of her mother.

Formulas from Shang han lun work absolute efficiently only if the prescribed formula matches the pattern.

On June, 11th, Xu, a supervisor of a network company, had symptoms of sore throat and fever. After taking antibiotics by himself and got nowhere, he turned to Guangdong Province Chinese Medicine Hospital. On June, 12th, throat swab showed positive of Influenza A (H1N1). On June, 13th, he was sent to Isolation Wards to receive therapy. When he was in the hospital, the body temperature was 38.7°C, with sore throat, cough, fatigue, congestion of throat (++) and acute tonsillitis.

The doctors were summoned together to give a diagnosis and described only herbal tea. Xu was, at first, skeptical about this therapy of using only herbal tea instead of Tamiflu. But the fact was that he was already down with fever after 24 hours. And all other symptoms were eliminated in 72 hours. 4 days later throat swab showed negative of Influenza A (H1N1).

The theory behind cure swine flu
From the perspective of Chinese Medicine, swine flu is no difference with other regular influenza. Since Chinese medicine can treat other flu, it can also treat swine flu. The base theory for TCM is that it does not kill swine flu virus at all, instead it just adjusts our body environment and creates a favorable battle field for our immune system. It tries to remove those internal conditions in the body that nourish the virus.

It is understandable that people are still skeptical about can Chinese herbal medicine help swine flu? Seemingly they are lack of deep understanding of the theory of TCM. And it is worthy to repeat again that Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) must be tailored to the individuals. It is not one-size-fit-all remedy.

But from the feedback comments, some people are still skeptical about vaccine’s safety, effectiveness, and protection period of the vaccine. They said they don’t want to be the guinea pig in the first place. What is more, the government is just planning to vaccinate 5 percent of the population by the end of the year. That means that not all of the population is covered. So Traditional Chinese Medicine would still be the first priority to fight H1N1 (swine flu) for most of the Chinese.

Herbal Tea to prevent and treat Influenza A (H1N1)
Recently official expert and herbalist from Henan drug authority have also released their formulas trying to contain the H1N1 virus. These formulas are prescribing, as per Traditional Chinese Medicine theory, to prevent and treat H1N1 flu.

1.Influenza A (H1N1) Preventing Herbal Tea

Ingredients
     Jin yin hua………15g
     Sang ye………10g
     Lu geng………10g
     Sheng yi ren………15g
     Xing ren………5g
     Gan cao………3g

Applications
     -Clearing heat-toxicity
     -Dispersing lung qi
     -Eliminating dampness

Decocting with water for over 45 minutes; One dosage per day, continuous 3 days; Suggesting not using for a long run..

 2.Two H1N1 influenza (swine flu) treatment formulas

Formula 1

Ingredient
     Niu Bang Zi………15g
     Ju geng………10g
     Er hua………20g
     Lian qiao………15g
     Huang qin………15g
     Jue hong………12g
     Jiang can………15g
     Gan cao………6g

Indications
     -Underlying heat-toxicity
     -Phlegm heat
     -Retention of phlegm
Signs and symptoms: Cough, Cough up phlegm, sore throat, yellow color of urine, red tongue tip, yellow coating and rapid pulse rate.

Applications
     -Clearing heat-toxicity
     -Dispersing lung qi
     -Eliminating dampness

Decocting with water for over 45 minutes; One dosage per day, continuous 3 days; Suggesting not using for a long run.

Flavored herbals
-Ma huang and Xing ren added for oppression in chest.
-Sheng si gao and Yu xing cao added for thick and sticky phlegm and excessive heat
-Ling yang jiao added for last excessive heat
-Chuan bei and Ting li zi added for plenty of phlegm 

Formula 2

Ingredient
      Bai kou ren………10g
      Xing ren………10g
      Yi yi ren………30g
      Hua si………30g
      Chuan pu………15g
      Huo xiang………15g
      Huang qin………15g
      Zhu ye………10g
      Bai xia………15g

Indications
      -Lingering dampness pathogen
     -Sticky heat pathogen
Signs and symptoms: Heat, oppression in chest, poor appetite, abdominal distention,, red tongue tip, white grease/thin yellow coating and rapid pulse rate.

Applications
      -Clearing heat-toxicity
      -Eliminating dampness
Decocting with water for over 45 minutes; One dosage per day, continuous 3 days; Suggesting not using for a long run.