Bird flu cure claim sparks rush for herbal root
Experts say advice is irresponsible as there is no evidence herb is effective against strain
Amid growing panic over the new strain of bird flu, some mainland officials have prescribed a surprising solution: hot brews of a root called ban lan gen.
With more cities closing their poultry markets, US scientists rushing to produce a vaccine and the death toll reaching nine as of yesterday, the herb has flown off pharmacy shelves during the past week. Many stores from Guangzhou to Shanghai are sold out, and prices have shot up.
The suggestion from several provincial authorities that people turn to the herb has garnered ridicule online and sparked debate among the mainland's scientific community.
It has also generated some reflection about the tendency towards panic buying of perceived cures or remedies in the face of threats to health.
The latest run began with a public advisory issued by Jiangsu province, where most cases of the new H7N9 strain have appeared. The memo urged experts to "explore and develop the role of Chinese medicine" in treating the new bird flu.
It suggested a list of herbs for treating infected patients, including ginseng, bamboo, liquorice and powder made from bear bile.
But what surprised most people was the assertion - unsupported by scientific evidence - that ban lan gen could prevent infection in the first place.