Study: Chinese Herbal Medicine to Prevent Coronavirus Infection

Covid-19 has infected more than 104,000 people. Currently, there are no definitive drugs and vaccines on the market. A paper from the Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine, by a group of researchers from Beijing and London, reviewed three studies that were done in 2003 that used Chinese Medicine (CM) to prevent SARS or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. SARS is a coronavirus like Covid-19 that affected 26 countries and resulted in more than 8000 cases in 2003.

Aim of Chinese Medicine

1. To maintain and improve the healthy qi in the body by taking preventive medicine. It is achieved by a healthy diet and exercise. Qi is the circulating life force whose existence and properties are the basis of much Chinese philosophy and medicine.

To avoid the source of infection.

Studies Reviewed

One study was done in Hong Kong to evaluate the effectiveness of the CM. They tested 16,437 hospital workers (1,063 in the herbal group and 15,374 in the non-herbal group), The result showed that none of the participants who took the modified formula of Yupingfeng Powder (玉屏风散) plus Sangju Decoction (桑菊饮) contracted SARS, while 64 out of 15,347 (0.4%) in the non-herbal group were infected with SARS In two other studies with sample sizes of 3,561 and 163, respectively, all the participants were medical staff from two hospitals where SARS patients were treated during the study period. One study only included first-line medical personnel in treating SARS. The courses of taking herbal formulae for prevention were 6 days and 12–25 days, respectively. The formulae used in these studies were both classical formula Yupingfeng Powder plus some heat-clearing and detoxifying herbs. The results showed that none of the participants who took preventive herbal medicine had contracted SARS in the two studies. ice_screenshot_20200307-064024 Astragali Radix (Huangqi), Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fangfeng), and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu) are all ingredients of a classical herbal formula Yupingfeng Powder. The report provided an explanation of how the herbs work.

Studies have confirmed that Yupingfeng Powder has antiviral, anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory effects. Japonicae Flos (Jinyinhua) and Forsythiae Fructus (Lianqiao) are the core components of Yinqiao Powder, which is a classical formula used to prevent and treat respiratory infectious diseases in ancient times. An experimental study found that the effect of Yinqiao Powder (银翘散) in preventing and treating upper respiratory tract infection could be explained by its antibacterial and antiviral properties and improvement of the function of upper respiratory mucosal immune system.

They further gave precautions about the intake of Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM).

We suggest that safety should also be paid attention to when taking CHM formula to prevent COVID-19, especially when they are used for long period. The public should choose the prescriptions under the guidance of CHM doctors according to the the program issued by provincial health authorities, and avoid taking the herbs with unknown origin and without official approval. According to the programs of other provinces, it is appropriate to take the decoction for 1 week.

Side Effects

Nineteen cases (1.8%) had minor adverse effects after 14 days of taking herbal medicine. They are diarrhea, sore throat, dizziness, and nausea.

Suggested groups who should use Chinese Herbal Medicine

Study authors recommended that due to the high transmissibility, only high-risk populations exposed to COVID-19 would probably benefit from taking CM formulae for prevention. Those patients that include:

- Medical personnel

Family members of medical personnel

People who are in close contact with COVID-19 patients,

Residents living in COVID-19 outbreak areas

Anti Coronavirus Herbs and Drugs

Traditional Chinese Medicine as Treatment for Covid-19

Precautions about the report

This study is based on previous experience with the SARS. Although SARS and Covid-19 are both coronaviruses, there is no direct clinical evidence that using the herbs mentioned here can prevent COVID-19. This study is only indirect evidence for Chinese Medicine as a preventative tool for the current Covid-19 epidemic Consult a certified Chinese Medicine Practitioner if you prefer to use the herbs in this article. Any herbs or nutritional supplements can cause drug interactions. There are no supplements out there that are more effective than proper hand washing. Feel free to share. Don’t miss an article. Subscribe for free with your email. Don’t Get Sick!