Discussion About Guidance of Diagnosis and Treatment of COVID-19 by Luobing Theory / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ABSTRACT

This paper uses the Luobing theory to guide the diagnosis and treatment of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), and states that lung collateral includes Qi collateral and blood collateral, and is the basis for playing the function of lung of dominating Qi, controlling breathing and connecting all vessels. The concept of Qi channel is different from that of Qi collateral, but its function is closely related to lung collateral. COVID-19 belongs to "pestilence" in traditional Chinese medicine. The epidemic pathogenic factor enters from mouth and nose and then causes the disease. The early characteristics of this disease include the invasion of the lung by the epidemic pathogenic factor, the obstruction of Qi channels, the prevailing of the evil and the retreat of the good, and the deficiency and stagnation of Qi collateral. Generation of toxic heat from inside, obstruction of Qi channels and dysfunction of "breathing and blood transfer" are the key links to the development and aggravation of this disease. Qi disease involves blood, blood wound intrudes into collateral, and blood consumption and hemorrhage are the late outcome of this disease. Based on the experience of doctors of all dynasties in the treatment and medication of pestilence, the treatment principle of active intervention in the early and middle stage is proposed, including focusing on pathogenesis and expelling of toxin, drug use before syndrome onset and active intervention, and the whole regulation and multi-target treatment. Lianhua Qingwen developed under the guidance of Luobing theory can inhibit the activity of novel coronavirus in vitro, relieve clinical symptoms (such as fever, cough, weakness, shortness of breath and so on) and reduce the rate of disease progression to severity. Lianhua Qingke can diffuse the lung, clear the lung heat, relieve cough and reduce sputum. It can be used to relieve the symptoms of cough and sputum in patients with COVID-19, which proves the important scientific value of Luobing theory and collateral-dredging drugs in epidemic prevention and control.