The Fight Against COVID-19
Written by Dr. Flora Luyando, DACM, DiplOM, MSTOM,LAc,LMT | TCM Practitioner | NCCAOM Licensed Chinese Herbalist
Alexandra Vazquez, CUNY School of Medicine
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) as of January 2021, there have been over 93 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide. North America continues to have the highest number of confirmed cases and deaths.
When it comes to how to treat, prevent, and recover from the Coronavirus, commonly referred to as COVID-19, medical professionals are still working around the clock to figure that out. A vaccine was recently released but there is still much to be learned about how this virus mutates, and if it is possible to get infected twice. Yet, even with the ambiguity, the one thing that all medical professionals can agree on is your immune system and overall health can directly impact how your body responds to the virus. Practicing preventative measures like social distancing, increased handwashing, and face covering are encouraged in helping contain the spread. Avoiding large group gatherings and getting tested often are other suggested practices as well.
However, the fast spread of COVID-19 further highlights the importance of incorporating complementary and alternative medicine practices to help the body fight against infection and disease. In Western medicine, individuals are often referred to specialists when their health issues involve a particular organ or when their condition is beyond the scope of general medical practice. Yet, the intricacies of diseases, coupled with the complexities of modern-day lifestyles, calls for a more overall view of the body.
Traditional Chinese Medicine also referred to as TCM, has thousands of years of experience dealing with infectious diseases that have swept through the region. Throughout the years, there have been a handful of studies that show the health benefits of Chinese herbs and acupuncture when it comes to combating infectious diseases such as SARS. Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, an initial rise of cases in China led practitioners to utilize a variety of therapeutic techniques and resources including treatment with TCM. Provinces in China that utilized TCM in most of their patients with COVID-19 generally observed higher rates of symptomatic improvement compared to provinces that utilized TCM at lower rates. (footnoted from previous paper to accredit 1,2)
Furthermore, TCM can be incredibly impactful when dealing with COVID-19 patients as the practice focuses on balancing the body as a whole. Patients with symptoms of COVID-19 often show signs of what is referred to as dampness in TCM. From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, prominent academic figures have made different suggestions for the nomenclature of COVID-19. These suggestions for disease classification include pulmonary pestilence, cold-dampness pestilence, and the more integrated title of dampness toxin pestilence. (footnoted on previous paper to accredit 2) Additionally, dampness can lead to the dysfunction of Qi which is thought to be a person’s life force. This is an important aspect of treatment with Chinese herbal formulations because a dysfunctional Qi may impede the process of combatting dampness in a person. In other words, a Qi-deficient individual is considered more susceptible to the SARS-CoV-2 dampness pathogen than a person with sufficient Qi. (footnoted on previous paper to accredit 2)
The approach to medicine in the West is much different than that in the East. Westernized medicine focuses on how to “cure” a virus through medication and vaccines, versus balancing one’s body and Qi. The west focuses on a medicine driven approach while the east focuses on one’s immune system.
So, how do we move forward? It starts with awareness. We have seen through clinical studies that patients treated during the last pandemic (SARS) showed a significant reduction in the duration of symptoms when treated with both TCM and Western medicine. (footnoted in previous paper accredited 2) However, the lack of awareness is what hinders us from bridging the gap between the two practices. Americans traditionally rely on medication to manage and treat their chronic disease and pain rather than focusing on lifestyle habits that may put them more at risk. As a result, American society has become comfortable with addressing symptoms rather than the root cause of an illness or ailment.
Even more so, traditional Chinese medicine has provided an important alternative treatment for a variety of patients battling COVID-19. Patients with minor to moderate symptoms, as well as those who have been able to recover from more severe stages of the disease, saw a vast improvement in their health when incorporating both eastern and western medicine practices. In these instances, Shu Feng Jie Du capsules, Lian Hua Qing Wen capsules, and Qing Fei Pai du decoction were found to be applicable. (footnoted on previous paper accredited 1) Shu Feng Jie Du capsules, traditional Chinese medicine with a range of antibiotic, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory effects, is used in China as a treatment for influenza. These capsules were used in conjunction with other Western medicine treatments, Lopinavir and Ritonavir, to treat four cases of COVID-19 at Shanghai Public Health Center in Shanghai, China. (footnoted on previous paper accredited 4) After combined treatment, all four cases showed improvement in symptoms, warranting further studies on the impact of Shu Feng Jie Du capsules and other TCM treatments on patients with COVID-19.
Incorporating TCM ideologies into Westernized medicine is easier than many may think. Much of Eastern medicine is focused on mind and body together – outlining how one can help improve someone’s overall well being outside of prescription medicine. Some TCM suggested practices can be incorporated easily into one’s daily life. For example, addressing one’s state of mind is key to overall health and wellness. Many studies show the negative impact of fear and worry on the immune system. Those with a history of depression or anxiety are much more likely to get sick. For this reason, TCM focuses on a three-pillar system: mental, physical, and spiritual. It’s believed all of these contribute to one’s overall health.
Within the eastern practice, yoga, meditation, and Tai Chi are simple changes doctors suggest their patients make to help them achieve a more balanced self and stronger immunity. The same focus is on diet, hydration, and sleep. For example, within Eastern medicine, sugar is one of the main causes of inflammation, sluggishness, and immune system vulnerability. The knowledge and understanding of these immune compromising issues are the focus of the Eastern medicine approach, yet often overlooked within the Western practice. That is why Westernized medical professionals must refer their patients to TCM focused practitioners. Seeing the body as a whole, allows Eastern medical professionals to see the entire picture, treating the cause, not just the symptom.
As we continue to journey on the “fight against COVID-19” we as medical professionals must come together to help heal society. By referring to each other and supporting different ideologies, we can create an overall healing system that will help society see it is equally as important to treat the symptom as it is the root cause.
(Disclaimer: See a Professional Chinese Herbalist to assist you with Herbal Medicine ;
There is No Cure for COVID-19 , this article helps with Awareness, Prevention and Recovery of the symptoms).
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