Hao Zhu Zao 豪猪枣

Efficacious Remedy using Porcupine Date

Not too long ago, an internet pal of our son came down with dengue and was admitted to the local hospital in Singapore. Apparently, it was too late and she died of dengue haemorrhagic fever after a couple of hours of admission. We were all saddened to hear of the sudden death as she was only 19. Last month our son’s other friend was feeling all uptight as her father was warded in a Kuala Lumpur private hospital as it was another case of dengue fever. The family resides in an apartment not far from some construction sites with abandoned material. These could have been good breeding ground for the Aedes mosquitoes. Our son visited him at the ward and told us that this uncle-friend needed a blood transfusion the next day as his blood count had dropped drastically. It reminded us of the epsiode of our reader-cum-friend in Banting who needed eight packs of blood for the same cause.

Suddenly, it struck us of a Chinese folk remedy introduced to us by a mutual friend. This herbal subject is the porcupine date( Hao Zhu Zao). Well, it’s like a kidney stone of the wild porcupines which goes into deep jungles and feed on wild herbs. We have seen the utmost superior grade at a famous herbal place in Kuala Lumpur with a branded price of RM 72,000 for the whole ball. You actually need a scrapping of half-a-teaspoon for each dose. Yes, we have heard much of its effectiveness in combating dengue fever and raising blood count. So, off we went to a nearby herbal shop to purchase two packs of this ground powder of the porcupine date. It costs RM600.00 for this grade at a single dose. After paying RM1,200.00, we thought the remedy has to do him some good for the money spent. Each grade differs as only experienced herbalist can tell. It all depends on environment as where the porcupines thrive and how well the wild herbs flourish. His wife fed him the first dose that night as he was in a very delirious state of mind. Another dose was given to him early next morning. The doctor who came on round later in the morning was surprised at his rapid recovery. His blood count had raised tremendously and was given an immediate discharge.

According to the Chinese folk remedy, the first dose from a good grade is sufficient to raise the blood count but the second dose helps to prevent joint aches during old age if you have had severe dengue fever before. Sad to say, little or no research has been done on this remedy and not scientifically documented. Older generations who lived centuries ago must have understood of how desirable the active principles of the stone could be. But cheap and natural food listed below can help dengue patients within the hospitalization period and the home recovery time to feel better if taken daily for one month. These are all natural products like double-boiling a few small bitter gourds with a couple of paddy frogs and water. Drink this soup daily for 30 days. Or blend the red flesh and white part of the watermelon into a juice. Discard the green skin. Drinking this fruit juice often can help to cool the heaty body’s system. Another remedy is to sip the juice of the local green coconut in order to balance the body’s fluid. Do not consume the fragrant coconut as it has a different role.

Well, whatever happens to any suspected dengue case, is still best to be diagnosed by the doctor to confirm the infection. We learnt a painful lesson from the young friend’s death.

Richard & Catherine
Y3K Recipes Issue no.42 (May-June 2008)

豪猪枣

前阵子，儿子一个住在新加坡的网友患上蚊症而发高烧入院，不到几个小时就离开人世，年龄只有十九岁。上个月，他另一个居住在吉隆坡公寓朋友的父亲投诉因建筑商将货柜搁置在附近而滋生蚊虫而患上蚊症入院。孩子到医院探访后回来告诉我们：「医生说血小板指数一直往下掉，明天需要输血。」这让我想起另一个住在万津的朋友同样因蚊症而输了八包血的经历。

我们曾经听过另一个朋友说：「豪猪（箭猪）散可以治疗蚊症，效果显著。」豪猪散取之于豪猪枣，曾经在一家中药店看到一粒比拳头还小的豪猪枣标价超过七万令吉，令人咋舌。根据医师透露豪猪枣是豪猪的石，想不到却能成为药物。我们抱着姑且一试的心情买了两剂豪猪散，药材店将深褐色的豪猪枣以锋利的刀片刮出少许再研成粉末，品质好的每剂售价六百令吉，两剂总共一千二百令吉。

当天晚上我们到医院探望患者，他在精神恍惚下服下一剂，隔天再服另一剂。早上医生为他作检查时大吃一惊，竟然完全痊愈，不需要输血，并宣布即刻可以出院了！根据中医师的说法：「服用第二剂豪猪枣的目的是避免蚊症后遗症，以免年纪渐长骨头会疼痛。」所以即使可能服用一剂已足以痊愈，服用这第二剂有其必要性。

不幸患上蚊症者除了服用豪猪枣之外，接下来的后续调理也不可不注意。根据老一辈人的建议，接着连续一个月可以多食用以下的食物，对骨热痛症患者有帮助。每天喝小苦瓜炖田鸡，据说这样一来可以解除体内残余的毒素。将西瓜的白肉及红肉一起打成水现打现喝，以及多喝本地的嫩椰水。

无论如何，发烧的事可大可小，如果发烧持续不退，即刻到医院检验才是正确之道！

余庚财与谢宋美
Y3K Recipes Issue no.42
Mar-Apr 2008