1. Department of Endocrinology, Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100056, China 2. Academic Inheritance Workstation of Academician Tong Xiaolin of Shenzhen Hospital of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen 518034, China 3. Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100019, China 4. Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100700, China 5. Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730000, China
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), an ancient system of alternative medicine, played an active role in the prevention and control of COVID-19 in China. It improved the clinical symptoms of patients, reduced the mortality rate, improved the recovery rate, and effectively relieved the operating pressure on the national medical system during critical conditions. In light of the current global pandemic, TCM-related measures might open up a new channel in the control of COVID-19 in other countries and regions. Here, we summarize the TCM-related measures that were widely used in China, including TCM guidelines, the Wuchang pattern, mobile cabin hospitals, integrated treatment of TCM and modern medicine for critical patients, and non-medicine therapy for convalescent patients, and describe how TCM effectively treated patients afflicted with the COVID-19. Effective TCM therapies could, therefore, be recommended and practiced based on the existing medical evidence from increased scientific studies.
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