Professor XUE Bo-shou's Exploration on Coronavirus Disease-2019 and Analysis of Cases / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ABSTRACT

Professor XUE Bo-shou，a master of traditional Chinese medicine（TCM），believes that coronavirus disease-2019 （COVID-19） belongs to the category of "cold epidemic" or "cold-dampness epidemic" in TCM theory. Cold-dampness obstructing the lungs is the key pathogenesis in the early stage of the disease. Exogenous pathogenic factors of cold and dampness are converted into heat in the interior. Over time，the pathogenesis is the disturbance in ascending and descending of Qi movement，loss of vital Qi， deficiency of both Qi and Yin，and even the occurrence of inner blocking causing Yang collapse. Professor XUE believes that the clinical syndrome differentiation and treatment shall be based on six meridians， and the efficacy could be improved by reference to classical prescriptions of plague in the past dynasties. To treat the disease in the early stage， the prescriptions emphasize on diffusing the lungs，inducing resuscitation and expelling pathogenic factors. He advocates the proper use of Ephedrae Herba， which can induce resuscitation of the lungs，diffuse the lungs and expel pathogenic factors，dissipate the interstitial depression and pathogenic factors in the lung interstitium. Therefore，it is considered that Ephedrae Herba is an effective medicine for diffusing the lungs，expelling pathogenic factors，inducing diuresis，eliminating dampness，promoting blood circulation and removing stasis due to cold coagulation. At the same time，the weakness of vital Qi is the root cause of the disease. The prosperity and decline of vital Qi plays a decisive role in the development， prognosis and efficacy of the disease. Professor XUE attaches importance to overall treatment，and emphasize the basis of pathogenesis， vital Qi， and stomach Qi. We shall expel pathogenic factors of disease，while protecting the vital Qi and stomach Qi. This article summarizes Professor XUE's diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19， enumerates and analyzes professor XUE's consultation cases of COVID-19 in designated hospitals in Linyi， Xinjiang and Beijing， in order to provide more ideas for the anti-epidemic effect of TCM.