BEIJING, Nov. 9 (Xinhuanet  by Fan Xi, Li Huizi ) -- Chinese health experts are studying the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) and special prescriptions to help prevent human infection of bird flu.

    Li Guoqin, a respiration expert of the Guang'anmen Hospital attached to the China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, told Xinhua that a group of TCM experts are working on a plan to apply TCM to the prevention of bird flu from spreading among humans, high-risk groups like chicken raisers and residents around the site of outbreaks in particular.

    According to an official with the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, several seminars have been organized since October this year, which have initially worked out four TCM prescriptions with efficacy being testified by clinical testing.

    The prescriptions include some very common Chinese medicines, such as southernwood, honeysuckle and forsythia.

    TCM is proved to be very effective in treating flu or plague as past experiences have demonstrated, he said, adding whether it is useful in curbing the spread of bird flu needs a lot of clinical testing.

    "It is not necessary for everybody to take herbs as we did during outbreak of SARS, but it is particularly important for the main vulnerable group facing bird flu to do so, such as the chicken raisers," Li said.

    Bian Yongjun, a respiration expert with the hospital, called on people to take preventive measures in daily life.

    He urged people to stay away from poultry excrement, eat cooked poultry food and live a regular life in a bid to avoid falling immunity with respiratory system. Enditem