Chinese herbalists say Chinese and western therapies have proven complementary in the treatment of HIV/AIDS and integration of the two will prolong AIDS patients lives.

"Traditional herbal medicine can enhance human immunity and ease many symptoms of HIV/AIDS, while western medicine has a stronger anti-virus effect," said Wang Jian, an AIDS prevention and treatment specialist with China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

He said Chinese medicine is believed to be more effective in treating early stage HIV/AIDS, and combined Chinese-western therapies can be tailored for different patients at different stages. "Such therapies will enjoy massive potential in the Chinese as well as the world markets."

The academy has worked out a new anti-AIDS formula, Zhongyan II, which was approved by the State Food and Drug Administration in June to be used for clinical trial, said Liang Jusheng, vice director of the academy.

Liang said the academy has sold the formula to Shanghai Sanxiang Biotech Co. -- the first pharmacy dedicated to the development of anti-AIDS drugs in China, for 6.08 million yuan (750,000 US dollars).

The privately-owned pharmacy has also launched the country's largest research, development and production base for anti-AIDS drugs in central China's Hunan Province, according to Liang.

As the side-effects and high costs of western medicine have discouraged many patients from seeking treatment, worldwide experts have come to realize the milder, yet healing power and cost-effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine.

So far though only one traditional medicine -- Tangcaopian -- has won a State Food and Drug Administration license to be used in HIV/AIDS treatment, yet only in the auxiliary treatment.

Meanwhile, six other anti-AIDS herbal formulas have been approved for production at domestic pharmacies.

Traditional Chinese medicine, featuring herb, acupuncture and massaging, stresses the wholeness of the human body and good coordination of the organs are vital in keeping fit.

Ministry of Health figures say there are 840,000 HIV carriers on the Chinese mainland, of whom 80,000 are suffering from AIDS.

Ministry of Health, in line with State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ministry of Finance, offered free herbal therapy to 2,300 AIDS patients in the five provinces of Hebei, Anhui, Henan, Hubei and Guangdong in 2004.

This year, 4,500 AIDS patients from 11 provinces and municipalities will receive the free herbal treatment, according to the Ministry of Health.

Source: Xinhua