SAN DIEGO -- Many San Diego County residents sick with flu-like symptoms are heading to clinics specializing in Chinese medicine, 10News reported.

Last week, University of California, San Diego junior Chris Gauthier came down with a high fever and other flu-like symptoms.

"I was miserable," said Gauthier.

Instead of going to a doctor, she headed to Mission Hills to visit acupuncturist Gabriel Kesselman, who believes she likely had swine flu.

Kesselman, licensed by the state of California in both acupuncture and Chinese medicine, sent Gauthier home with several anti-viral Chinese herb treatments and within days, she was well.

Gauthier said, "It was a really quick turnaround for being as sick as I was Friday."

In the past few months, Kesselman has treated 10 others with flu-like symptoms.

"About 90 percent of those getting the flu right now have swine flu, so a conservative estimate would be half of them had swine flu. After the treatments, people are getting back to work quickly and telling me they are 100 percent the next time I see them. What usually takes several weeks if taking only a few days," said Kesselman.

Last month, the Chinese government revealed five months of clinical tests involving those who had contracted swine flu had proven Chinese medicine, which dates back thousands of years, "effective" in treating swine flu.

Similar tests have yet to be conducted in the U.S., and Kesselman said it is not just for the sick.

Many have come to Kesselman for flu prevention, which includes acupuncture and herbs which have been used in China to strengthen the immune system.

In response to this story, San Diego County health officials issued the following statement about Chinese medicine and conventional treatments:

"While the two options are not mutually exclusive, alternative treatments are not recommended as a replacement for the standard of care which is indicated use of influenza antiviral medications."