As the effective prevention of "atypical pneumonia" or SARS has attracted considerable attention, two professors from the Dongzhimen Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiang Liangduo and Zhou Ping'an, have presented a "secret recipe" for prevention of the disease.

Experts have pointed out that the virus of "atypical pneumonia" or SARS that is spreading this spring is strongly infectious and virulent. Once infected, the condition of the patient becomes very serious and can deteriorate rapidly, causing grave consequences such as great difficulty in breathing.

The traditional Chinese medical diagnosis is pestilence (wēn yl) with major symptoms of sudden high fever, sweating, and rapid vital energy loss. Therefore, the Chinese medical prevention method is to relieve internal heat or fever, eliminate body humidity with aromatic drugs, build up vital energy and promote the secretion of saliva, while taking into consideration the characteristics of SARS that include rapid onset, vital energy loss to lung qi and to body fluid.

Recipe: Adopting the method of diagnosis and treatment based on an overall analysis of the illness and the patient's condition, doctors made out a set of recipe for effectively preventing respiratory illness as well as enhancing one's immunity: 12 grams of Rhizoma atractylodis (cāng zhz), 12 grams of Agastache rugosus (hur xiāng), 20 grams of Fos lonicerae (ymn huā), 12 grams of Rhizoma crassirhizomae (gu`n zhhn), 15 grams of Radix astragalis (huang shl), 15 grams of Radix glehniea (shā shēn), 10 grams of Radix ledebour iellea (fang fēng), and 15 grams of White atractylodes rhizoma (bai zhz). Boil these medical herbs as normal ones.

Dosage: People of strong physique take one dose every other day (one dose should be divided into two portions, taken night and morning), and take three doses; people of slender physique take one dose daily, taking seven doses altogether. This recipe is applicable to ordinary people. Children and pregnant women should cut the dosage according to their own circumstances and consult with their Chinese doctor

Some specialists have pointed out that taking Radix isatidis (b?n lan gēn), a Chinese herbal medicine for treating colds, and fumigating with vinegar couldn't effectively prevent SARS. However, fumigating the room with moxa bars, and incense such as sandalwood incense and Tibetan joss sticks, is an effective method for the prevention. Electric air-cleaning devices can kill the virus too. In addition, the following also deserves attentions: pets may be a source of illness virus; elevators in apartment buildings should be sterilized and ventilated to keep the air clear inside; ventilation in office buildings installed with central air-conditioning units should be highlighted.

(China.org.cn by Zhang Tingting, April 11, 2003)