Researchers throughout China reportedly have developed an herbal treatment for the H1N1 flu that is only about a quarter the cost of Tamiflu.

Seven months of scientific and clinical studies showed the remedy, called “Jin Hua Qing Gan Fang,” was effective in treating A/H1N1 flu patients, said Wang Chen, president of Beijing’s Chaoyang Hospital.

“It can shorten patients’ fever period and improve their respiratory systems. Doctors have found no negative effects on patients who were treated in this way,” he said.

The basic scientific studies lasted for almost five months and were conducted by experts from the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Beijing University of Technology.

“In vivo and in vitro, experiments on mice and rabbits show Jin Hua can bring down a fever and resist the A/H1N1 flu virus,” said Huang Luqi, vice president of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences.

No word on what herbs actually went into making Jin Hua Qing Gan Fang, but the name is pretty cool. The Chinese government has also been a little less than forthcoming regarding H1N1 numbers, so I wouldn’t mind seeing some independent confirmation of this herbal treatment’s effectiveness before we start crazy-celebrating.

Source: China Daily

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