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TCM steps up fight against AIDS
By Zhu Baoxia (China Daily)
Updated: 2004-11-15 11:40
The influence of traditional Chinese medicine is growing, particularly when
it comes to treating and dealing with HIV/AIDS.
This growing influence was in evidence in Beijing this weekend during the
Third International Congress on Traditional Medicine.
A number of research papers were put forth at the congress, several of which
focused on new AIDS treatments.
The Guang'anmen Hospital, which is affiliated to the China Academy of
Traditional Chinese Medicine in Beijing, announced that its Ailing-1 granule
(AI-1 granule) made from herbal medicine may help maintain or even improve the
immune systems of HIV-infected patients.
After six months of testing on volunteers, researchers found that the AI-1
granule can improve clinical symptoms like coughing, weight loss and pain,
greatly improving the quality of life of the patients.
Researchers divided a group of 55 volunteers in two groups, treating one with
AI-1 and the other with regular methods.
Clinical data showed AI-1 was effective on 43.48 per cent of patients. By
contrast, the regular treatment was effective on 26.32 per cent of patients,
according to a research report.
Another research project by Tiyan Pharmaceutical Technology Co.Ltd of Yunnan
Province, found that some herbs may help improve treatment of HIV/AIDS.
Most of the 20 test patients who took a compound herbal wine developed by the
company saw most symptoms and signs of infection - such as skin rashes, oral
fungus infections and diarrhea - disappear or improve.
Traditional Chinese medicine has a long history of treating diseases. There
is a complete theoretical system and abundant clinical experience behind it.
When it comes to treating AIDS, a multi-medicinal approach of effective
remedies may be the answer, said Wang Jian, a researcher at the Institute of
Basic Theory of China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, in a research
paper.
Wang said herbal medicine can help enhance the immune system and inhibit the
HIV virus.
"The key point of traditional Chinese medicine is to enhance and maintain the
immune functions of patients with HIV/AIDS," he said.
It can help slow down the virus within the body and relieve visible symptoms,
Wang wrote.
These were some of the ideas brought forward during the congress which ends
today.
Some 1,500 delegates from 33 countries attended the academic gathering
sponsored by the World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies and organized by
the China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
More than 800 research papers were submitted, including 100 from overseas.
Topics covered basic research, education, clinical research, pharmacological
research, administration of traditional medicine and the industry.
"Traditional medicine is a valuable treasure and heritage of world culture,
equivalent to modern medicine. It is an important resource for the treatment of
diseases and promoting health," Vice-Premier Wu Yi said in a letter to the
conference.
This is the third global traditional Chinese medicine
congress. The last two were held in 1991 and 2000.
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