Traditional Chinese medicine together with high-dose vitamin C improves the therapeutic effect of western medicine against COVID-19

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Traditional Chinese medicine has been reported to be effective in the treatment of epidemic diseases. Here, we aimed to investigate the effects of combined therapy of Chinese and western medicine on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: A total of 60 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were enrolled. Both the ordinary and severely affected patients were randomly divided into Groups A-C each with 10 cases each. The patients in Group A-C received Western medicine, Western medicine + traditional Chinese medicine, and Western medicine + traditional Chinese medicine + high dose of vitamin C, respectively. The time of disease recovery, symptoms disappearance, chest CT improvement, and tongue amelioration was recorded. Leukocyte, neutrophil and lymphocyte were monitored, as well as C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), procalitonin (PCT), inflammatory factors, partial pressure of oxygen and carbon dioxide (PaCO2) and oxygenation index (PaO2). Urinary tract stones, liver function, and other side-effects such as gastrointestinal dysfunction were also investigated. Results: Traditional Chinese medicine enhanced the effect of Western medicine, including the reduction of CRP, ESR, PCT, and inflammatory factors, and the increase of leukocyte, neutrophil, and lymphocyte counts, and the improvement of respiratory rate, PaO2, PaCO2, and oxygenation index. Traditional Chinese medicine combined with high-dose Vitamin C therapy more effectively shortened the time of disease recovery, symptom disappearance, chest CT improvement, and tongue amelioration. Conclusions: a combined therapy of Western medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, and high dose of Vitamin C results in a most effective outcome in the treatment of COVID-19.