By Dawn Tay

THE latest text message making the rounds in the wake of the spread of the Influenza A (H1N1) virus is touting a "sacred formula" in the form of a herbal tea that will stop the virus dead in its tracks.

The message, in Chinese, contains a herbal-tea recipe with ingredients such as woad root and oldenlandia, and exhorts the recipients to share the recipe with their loved ones.

However, five Chinese herbalists my paper spoke to all said that the ingredients, commonly used in herbal tea, are unlikely to offer much protection against the virus.

Consuming them unneccessarily and excessively, they said, might even cause more harm than good, damaging the immune system and internal organs.

Herbalist Eric Wong, 50, said: "While these herbs can be used to strengthen your immune system, they definitely won't guarantee that you won't catch the virus, especially if you are standing next to an infected person."

Dr Alvin Wong, a general practitioner, stressed that there is no clinical evidence that Chinese herbs can protect against the virus.

Dr Wong said: "There is some evidence that herbs can bolster immunity - but it's a dangerous thing to say that they protect against the H1N1. Consumers might develop a false sense of security and engage in risky behaviour, like travelling to affected countries and coming into contact with infected people."

During the Sars outbreak in 2003, similar text messages touting cures for the virus were rampant, said Chinese herbal-shop owners.

Back then, Singaporeans queued for certain prized herbs and "anti-Sars" tea that promised immunity. Stocks sold out faster than store owners could bring them in.

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