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During the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, the WHO recommended use of oseltamivir, a neuraminidase inhibitor, in patients with severe laboratory-confirmed infection to reduce disease severity and mortality. In China, where supplies of oseltamivir were limited, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) was a common alternative. One such TCM was a formulation of 12 herbs called maxingshigan–yinqiaosan (MY).
In a prospective, randomized, controlled, nonblinded study conducted between July and November 2009, researchers in China compared the efficacy and safety of oseltamivir, MY, oseltamivir plus MY, and no treatment in 410 otherwise-healthy patients with polymerase chain reaction–proven H1N1 influenza. All participants were hospitalized, quarantined, a…