Tsinoy Herbalist Discovers Ebola Cure

11/05/2014 – Monrovia | A recent report from Liberia, one of Western African countries that is ravaged by Ebola virus says a member of Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), has discovered an unconventional herbal formula to fight the development of Ebola virus in patients who have minor to mild symptoms.

Dr. Eduardo Chan, a herbalist who have been practicing Chinese Traditional Oriental Medicine for more than two decades, and a graduate of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, has successfully tested his herbal formula to 37 Liberians with mild symptoms. Dr. Chan has been in West Africa since January 27, 2014 with other fellow MSF doctors.

The formula, which is a mixture of herbs is composed of Blumea balsamifera, Psidium guajava, Cymbopogon, and Zingiber officinale, and other additives are known herbal plants in tropical countries especially in Philippines and Southern China where the plants are abundant. The boiled mixture has been used in Southern Philippines for more than a century and is known to cure severe Influenza and fever. Philippine local names of these plants are sambong, guava leaves (bayabas) , lemongrass (tanglad), and ginger (luya).

Symptoms of ebola virus include hemorrhagic fever, and because the formula is known to cure fever, Dr. Chan tried it and found it effective. Sambong or Alibhon in Hiligaynon is one of the most common and effective remedies for fever in Western Visayas and is used by patching fresh leaves on patient’s forehead for a day or more. For severe case of fever similar to ebola symptoms, the four herbs are mixed into a pan then boiled. Once boiling, the patient is allowed to inhale the steam from the boiling mixture. The boiled liquid is used to clean the patient’s whole body while still lukewarm. The process can be repeated 2 to 4 times until the patient recovers.

Scientists and pharmaceutical companies are still searching for immediate and most effective ways on how to cure ebola virus, and this discovery is a big help while the long-term solution is still on progress.

Dr. Eduardo Chan was born in Ongpin, Manila to a Filipina mother and a Chinese father but moved to China to study Oriental Medicine. Her younger sister is also a traditional physician practicing acupuncture in Metro Manila. He earned his Master’s degree from Oregon College of Oriental Medicine and is expected to return to Philippines on January after completing a 1 year assignment in West Africa.

/Josef Mababe/ Assisted Press Liberia

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