Study: Chinese Herbs Equal to Tamiflu in Reducing H1N1 Fever

8-15 - A traditional Chinese herbal treatment may reduce fever from H1N1 ("swine flu") influenza just as well as the prescription medication Tamiflu, a new study suggests.

"For thousands of years, Chinese herbs have been used to treat influenza," study co-authors Dr. Chen Wang and Dr. Bin Cao, of Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, in China, said in an email. "The pandemic influenza 2009 gave us the opportunity to evaluate a standard Chinese herb formula" designed to target the flu, they added.

Cao and Wang, who specialize in infectious diseases and clinical microbiology, said the herbal recipe -- known as maxingshigan-yinqiaosan (M-Y) -- is easily accessible throughout China and much less expensive than Tamiflu (oseltamivir).

However, finding the medicine in the United States is difficult, if not impossible, given that it contains the stimulant ephedra. The United States has banned or restricted the sale of ephedra products because of concerns about possible complications, such as heart attack, stroke and even death, related to its use as a weight-loss supplement.

http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=655877

Hi Ellen appreciate the support on TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), yes, I agree, it's works quite well to help the body focus and heal itself...
FYI on your comment:
...finding the (Chinese, I assume) medicine in the United States is difficult, if not impossible, given that it contains the stimulant ephedra. The United States has banned or restricted the sale of ephedra products because of concerns about possible complications, such as heart attack, stroke and even death, related to its use as a weight-loss supplement.

I am a Chinese Medicine (CM) Practitioner with over 12 yrs experience, and 10 yrs prior in western herbs.
FYI:
Most common TCM formulas are available in Asian food markets and your local acupuncturist...  especially cold and flu formulas like Yin Qiao San and Gan Mao Ling which are very effective and do not have Ma Huang, ephedra ... there are also several new, modern combinations, updates of traditional formulas, but would only be available thru Rx by a CM practitioner.
No one has ever been harmed, that I or my teachers know of, using Ma Huang, Ephedra, according to TCM standards, meaning proper dose and combinations according to TCM pattern diagnosis by a qualified practioner.
  People dying due to the weight loss industry only came up when Western Capitalists in  "Sports and weight loss Health" businesses discovered ephdra's energy boosting capabilities.
In this case it was always used in larger doses and in combinations that were never used by TCM and no monitoring or experienced advice...
see your local Chinese Medicine Practitioner, we typically charge resonable fees and many will just do herbs which are very cheap, if you dont want acupuncture and please avoid self diagnosis, we do... 
Your for New & Healthier Times, Turtle