Overview on Traditional Chinese Medicine syndrome differentiation and treatment of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) / 国际中医中药杂志

ABSTRACT

This paper reviews the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) diagnosis and treatments for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the theories of different experts in TCM. The pathogenesis of COVID-19 involves dampness, toxin, heat, cold, blood stasis and deficiency. Dampness and poison were the core pathological factors. The treatment is based on the situation of patients in different regions and different stages of the disease, and focuses on dampness and toxin, with the purpose of eliminating evil and consolidating the foundation. Oral TCM prescriptions such as Qingfei-Paidu Decoction, Qingfei-Touxie-Fuzheng Decoction, Lianhua-Qingwen capsule (granule) show good curative effect. TCM non drug therapies, such as acupuncture, moxibustion, acupoint application, ear acupuncture, traditional exercises, etc., are mostly aimed at light, ordinary and convalescent patients, which can improve symptoms. However, high-quality TCM research is still needed.