Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1997. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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United Press International; Monday, December 1, 1997 1:04 AM EST
Researchers from the Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine say the newly-developed compound works to "clear away heat and toxins" and will undergo a series of clinical trials over the next few months.
The tests will pit the herbal blend against the popular AIDS drug AZT to test how effective it is at boosting CD4-positive cells, indicators for strong immune function.
Research leader Guan Chongfen ("Gwon Chung-phen") says her group is "cautiously optimistic" the stringent tests will prove the herbs successful, opening the door for an inexpensive AIDS inhibitor.
China already boasts strong success in using traditional methods to combat the debilitating effects of AIDS.
Guan says similar research has proved that Chinese medicine is "about 40-50 percent effective" in treating the symptoms of AIDS.
China had 8,277 registered carriers of HIV _ the virus that causes AIDS _ at the end of September, up 2,237 since the beginning of the year.
But health officials estimate the actual infected population may top 200,000.
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