It has been hailed for centuries in China as a cure for coughing, but Pipa Tangjiang – a sweet tasting syrup that was first discovered in the Qing dynasty – has failed to make much of an impact abroad.
But now the herbal remedy is riding a wave of popularity in the United States thanks to New Yorkers’ love of sharing new healthcare fads.
Pipa Tangjiang, or ‘sweet loquat syrup’ in Chinese, has reportedly become highly-prized in a city battling its most challenging flu season in years.
The popularity comes at a time when China’s middle classes increasingly turn their backs on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and instead opt for modern Western remedies to cure sickness.
Stores in New York’s Chinatown are reportedly selling large stocks of a variety of Pipa Tangjiang called Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa, which is made by Shenzhen-based Kingworld Medicines Group.
The craze has also seen shares in the company surge by more than 50 per cent on the Hong Kong bourse on Monday, reports say.
Kingworld’s website said that the recipe was discovered during the reign of Emperor Kangxi (1654-1722) of the Qing dynasty, when Yang Xiaolian, a Chinese county magistrate, visited renowned doctors across the land to help find a cure for a for his mother’s lung illness.
The new interest in the medicine follows a report in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) last week detailing how New Yorkers had been sharing stories about the honey and loquat-based remedy.
Alex Schweder, an architect and professor of design at Pratt Institute, told the newspaper he had been "sick for a week and half and couldn’t stop coughing".
"This started working in 15 minutes,” said Mr Schweder. “I’ve probably gotten about five people to try it, but I’ve told many more.”
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However, the remedy, which is reportedly sold for $7.80 (£5.60) at Chinese markets in New York, only works for some colds, a TCM expert told The Telegraph.
"People commonly have a misunderstanding about it," said Dr Zhao, a retired doctor from Heilongjiang provincial TCM hospital, in China’s north-east.
Ancient natural remedies are often believed to have little real healing value and can be potentially harmful – particularly when taken with other medicines.
However, many Chinese were pleased that TCM was gaining some popularity in the West.
“Please try some of our mysterious eastern power," said a comment on Sina Weibo, China’s Twitter.
Additional reporting by Christine Wei.