Pandemic is a blink away

U of Maryland - A new study by University of Maryland researchers suggests that the potential for an avian influenza virus to cause a human flu pandemic is greater than previously thought. Results also illustrate how the current swine flu outbreak likely came about. Read more

Common herb has flavonoids that fight flu virus

CM NEWS - A commonly used Chinese herb for cold and fever contains ingredients that can fight influenza viruses, a study in China suggests. Read more

New tech licensed to combat deadly swine flu virus

CM NEWS - Just in time when scientists are racing to find methods to fight the rapidly spreading swine flu, a new technology invented by researchers in the University of Colorado in recent years has been licensed. The “FluChip” technology gives scientists a new tool to quickly determine the subtypes of swine flu virus in only 11 hours, compared to 4 days with conventional methods. Read more

Herbal soup fights flu A, perhaps useful to guard off swine flu too?

CM NEWS - Swine flu outbreak has scared the world recently, with death toll reaching 100 and counting. While scientists are racing to understand the flu and in full effort to formulate a new vaccine against it, the only things ordinary folks like us can do is to keep ourselves healthy and strong to guard off infection. In traditional Asian medicine, a decoction called Ma Huang Tang (麻黃湯) in Chinese or Mao-to in Japanese. Read more

TCM effectively treats eczema

AAAAI release – New research where traditional Chinese medicine was found to safely and effectively treat patients with persistent atopic dermatitis — or eczema, as it’s commonly known — could lead more physicians to prescribe complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to treat the allergic condition.

In the study presented at the 2009 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), researchers at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York analyzed 14 patients with persistent atopic dermatitis who received traditional Chinese medicine at Ming Qi Natural Health Center in Manhattan between August 2006 and May 2008. The treatments consisted of Erka Shizheng Herbal Tea, a bath additive, creams and acupuncture.

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The bitter the better

CM NEWS - A recent study identifies for the first time antioxidant properties of many Chinese herbs that regulates blood circulation. It discovers the herbs traditionally categorized as “bitter” and “sour” in flavours carry more antioxidants than others.

The study was a joint investigation between the Southern Cross University in Australia and Shanxi Provincial People’s Hospital in China. Read more

‘Happy tree’ yields a cancer-fighting drug

Vancouver Sun - B.C. cancer patients who don’t get better on standard treatment will be offered a locally developed experimental drug using a nanotechnology smart bomb type of treatment derived from the bark of the “happy tree,” indigenous to China. Read more