PALAYAN CITY?Health officials cautioned dengue fever patients on relying on herbal medicine and herbal doctors to cure their illness, saying these have yet to be supported by scientific research.

This came after 406 cases were reported in Nueva Ecija from January to August this year.

Officials said many of the patients believed using local herbs would save them.

?We do not recommend (herbal medicine) as there was not proven scientific data to support it,? said Dr. Josefina Garcia, officer in charge of the public health programs of the provincial health office.

She was referring to the use of local plant taua-taua reportedly being given to some dengue patients by herbal doctors.

She said the Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center in Cabanatuan City is equipped to treat dengue cases.

Records showed two children died of dengue in the province. Armand Galang, Inquirer Central Luzon