Till now, most of the over 50,000 discharged patients have been given TCM. As of March 15, TCM intervened 91.64% cases in Hubei, 89.10% cases in Wuhan and 92.14% nationwide.
TCM reduced the rate of progression to the severe cases. Zhang Boli, an expert of the Central Steering Group, and academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering, said in the interview of Xinhua News Agency: “The key role of TCM is to greatly reduce the rate of progression from mild cases to severe ones. TCM products can improve the symptoms quickly, such as fever, cough, fatigue, as well as the absorption of the pulmonary inflammation and the elimination of the virus.”
What are the so-called three drugs and three formulas？Lung Cleansing and Detoxifying Decoction, Dampness Resolving and Detoxifying Decoction, Lung Ventilating and Detoxifying Decoction, Jinhua Qinggan Granule, Lianhua Qingwen Capsule and Xuebijing Injection, these are the formulas and drugs recommended by the academicians and experts. In the updated Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol for COVID-19 (Trial Version 7), Lung Cleansing and Detoxifying Decoction is included as best in TCM therapies. As of March 13, among 1,261 patients in 10 provinces given Lung Cleansing and Detoxifying Decoction, the effective rate has come up to 97.78%.
The integrated treatment of TCM and western medicine proves effective. The lung and the large intestine are closely related. Qiu Haibo, Vice President of Zhongda Hospital of Southeast University mentioned the TCM theory in an interview. As an ICU doctor, his priority is critical and severe patients. Xuebijing Injection, a TCM product, attracted Dr. Qiu’s attention, and it helps to block the cytokine storm and microthrombus in COVID-19 patients. It is interesting that we started its clinical use at the end of January and tried to study it by the western medicine evaluation system. It turned out that it could help to reduce the fatality rate of severe cases by 8.8%. It is amazing.
TCM went abroad for the pandemic containment. With the pandemic situation, the medical experts offered their hands to Italy and Iran with a large amount of medical materials including Lianhua Qingwen Capsule and Jinhua Qinggan Granule. Both of them originated from the ancient TCM classics. Liu Qingquan, an expert of the Central Steering Group, and President of Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, suggested in an interview with Xinhua News Agency, that, Jinhua Qinggan Granule is suitable for the mild cases with fever and fatigue, while Lianhua Qingwen Capsule is suitable for the mild cases with fever and constipation. They couldn’t be taken together, or by the healthy population.
TCM makeshift hospital: mental problems come first. The Wuhan Jiangxia Makeshift Hospital was often called TCM makeshift hospital and Dr. Liu Qingquan was appointed as president of the hospital. The TCM team, composed of members from 5 TCM universities, took over 564 patients in the hospital. The treatment was quite simple, mainly including TCM medication and a little IV infusion. Besides, there were some characteristic therapies, such as Tai-chi, Baduanjin, acupuncture, massage, and exterior application. Though it was in the hands of a TCM team, modern medicine facilities are necessary, such as tests, examinations and mobile CT. When admitted, the patients are overwhelmed by fear, anxiety and feeling helpless. The TCM doctors took emotional problems first and helped them build confidence and trust.
