What roles and advantages does Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) have in the treatment of COVID-19? On February 29, during a press conference held by the Guangzhou Municipal Government, Lin Lin, deputy leader of the provincial and municipal TCM prevention and control expert group and director of the Pulmonary Department at Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, introduced that based on current observations, the primary efficacy of TCM is to improve symptoms, such as helping to reduce fever, alleviate cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal distension, constipation, and diarrhea.Secondly, it can assist in stabilizing the condition, playing an important role in preventing the progression of the disease to severe cases.Thirdly, TCM can aid in recovery from the disease, supporting the righteous qi and eliminating residual pathogens, promoting physical recovery.Additionally, exercises such as Ba Duan Jin (Eight Pieces of Brocade), Tai Chi, and meridian tapping, along with acupuncture, ear acupressure, emotional regulation, and dietary adjustments, have a positive effect on patient recovery.
What are the practical effects of TCM in epidemic prevention and the treatment of COVID-19 patients? Wang Xinhua, leader of the Guangzhou COVID-19 TCM prevention expert group and president of Guangzhou Medical University, stated that as of February 27, the participation rate of TCM in the treatment of confirmed COVID-19 patients in Guangzhou is 95.38%, with 193 patients treated with TCM having been cured and discharged.
After the outbreak of COVID-19, the Guangzhou Health Commission immediately established a TCM prevention expert group for COVID-19, consisting of 77 TCM experts from Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, affiliated hospitals of Guangzhou Medical University, and other major hospitals in the city.The expert group formulated TCM prevention and treatment plans, participated in case consultations, and treated critically ill patients, ensuring that every patient could receive effective TCM treatment.Among them, Guangzhou Eighth People’s Hospital, designated as a treatment hospital, began admitting COVID-19 patients on January 20, with the deputy leader of the expert group, Tan Xinghua, leading the team to participate in the early TCM treatment of patients and establishing the only TCM isolation ward in the province;Guangdong Second People’s Hospital is also one of the designated treatment hospitals, where expert group member Director Huang Xiaoqing entered the isolation ward to provide TCM diagnosis and treatment for each confirmed and suspected patient, prescribing herbal medicine tailored to each individual, and distributing herbal tea and sachets, ensuring that each patient could simultaneously receive both TCM and Western medicine treatments.In terms of scientific research, the Guangzhou Eighth People’s Hospital, where Tan Xinghua works, initiated technical research on COVID-19, developing the “Pneumonia No. 1 Formula,” which was approved by the provincial drug administration for clinical use in designated COVID-19 treatment hospitals across the province in a short period.Research results show that the “Pneumonia No. 1 Formula” can significantly improve clinical symptoms in mild and ordinary cases of COVID-19 and has a trend of reducing the occurrence of severe pneumonia.The National Key Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases and the National Clinical Research Center at Guangzhou Medical University found that Lianhua Qingwen Granules and Liu Shen Wan have inhibitory effects on the COVID-19 virus and anti-inflammatory effects in vitro;Guangzhou Medical University also collaborated with Xiangxue Pharmaceutical to initiate research on the intervention effects of TCM preventive formulas for community isolation populations.All designated hospitals actively applied for special projects on clinical research of TCM for COVID-19 from the provincial TCM bureau, with over 20 projects approved in Guangzhou hospitals.In epidemic prevention, the principle of “preventing disease before it occurs” fully demonstrates the unique advantages of TCM in disease prevention. The expert group announced a preventive herbal formula, “Wuzhi Fangguan Formula,” suitable for the climate characteristics of Guangzhou and the constitution of susceptible populations, primarily using food-medicinal materials, which is prepared and delivered by over 2600 pharmacies in the city for citizens in need.//The Pathology of COVID-19 in Guangdong is “Damp-Heat, Stasis, Toxin, and Deficiency”//Lin Lin stated that the TCM treatment of COVID-19 has two main characteristics: one is the holistic perspective, and the other is syndrome differentiation and treatment.TCM treatment of COVID-19 must consider the whole, taking into account the “unity of heaven and man,” and adapting to the “three factors” of time, place, and person. The manifestations of COVID-19 in Guangdong and Wuhan differ slightly, and the clinical symptoms of different patients in different regions vary. Through clinical symptom analysis, the pathological characteristics of COVID-19 in Guangdong have been summarized as “Damp, Heat, Stasis, Toxin, and Deficiency,” and treatment is adjusted based on the different symptoms of different patients.On the other hand, it is also necessary to consider the human body as an organic whole, avoiding the approach of treating only the symptoms (“treating the head for a headache, treating the foot for a footache”) and analyzing the pathological development of pneumonia to intercept early and reverse the progression of the disease. The treatment plan addresses the dampness or damp-heat as the source, using principles of dispersing, harmonizing, clearing, and unblocking, rather than merely clearing the lungs, resolving phlegm, and stopping coughs. Due to the persistent and sticky nature of this disease, the method of using light treatment has also been applied. This reflects the idea of “treating damp-heat diseases—promoting yang is not about warming, but about facilitating urination.” Furthermore, the holistic perspective is also reflected in the treatment of this pneumonia, which not only treats the lungs but also clears the intestines, harmonizes the spleen and stomach, and tonifies the original qi.In summary, the treatment of this COVID-19 is based on previous principles and experiences, combined with the characteristics of this disease, guided by the holistic view and syndrome differentiation of TCM, through the elimination of pathological factors (evil qi), enhancing immune status, protecting tissue cells (supporting righteous qi), and promoting the recovery and balance of yin and yang in the body.Recommended Reading
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Source: Southern+ ClientEditor: Zhuo PeiyiProofreader: Liang Feifei