We are all aware of the new Coronavirus spreading
from Wuhan across China and beyond.. This disease is very similar to the Severe
Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic of 2003 which originated in China
and spread to 37 countries with 8098 cases and 774 fatalities. The pathogens
are from a different subtype of coronavirus; Its incubation period is longer
than SARS and its symptoms are slightly different.
SARS initially spread from Guangzhou in Southern China,
and I was working in that city when SARS started to spread. Our hospital is one
of the leading hospitals in Guangzhou, so we accepted and treated many
patients. When patients were diagnosed with SARS they were isolated and treated
with modern medicine. My PhD tutor, Professor Deng Tietao suggested to central
government to use traditional Chinese medicine and after the Chinese herbal
medicine was involved the mortality rate significantly reduced.
Chinese herbal medicine was
widely used to prevent SARS infection. Many people took herbal decoction of
Banlangen (Radix isatidis) which has proven to have an antiviral function.’[1]
During
the epidemic period of SARS in Hong Kong there were 2,601 medical staff
administered with Kandu Bufei Decoction．It
was confirmed that 1,063 people had taken it for a successive two weeks according
to the request and had returned the questionnaire monitoring effectiveness They
were regarded as the treatment group．The control group consisted
of 15,374 subjects who didn’t take Chinese herbal medicine．Results:
No one in the herbal treatment group contracted the SARS infection while in the
control group, 64(0.4%) were infected.[2]
Extensive
pharmacological research has shown that many Chinese herbal medicines have very
good antiviral effects in their different ways.[3] Chinese
herbal medicine could prevent the occurrence of coronavirus infection. It is
possibly improving symptoms through enhancing the immunity of body. The ingredients
of Kandu Bufei Decoction were based on the classical formula of Yupingfeng San,
which is recorded from Yuan Dynasty in 1345 AD. Yupingfeng in Chinese means jade screen. It means that like a jade screen this
medicine can protect people from wind evils.
Modern research has shown that a modified Yupingfeng San formula can inhibit
respiratory viral infections in vitro and in vivo.[4]
Coronavirus infection is
preventable. Wearing a mask, washing hands and drinking plenty of water can
help to prevent infection but the best way to prevent coronavirus infection is to
take some Chinese herbal decoction. You can access your local Chinese herb
clinic to get your jade screen. It will help you to stay safe from the risk of
coronavirus.
Reference:
1. Zhou W Research progress of Chinese herbal medicineRadix isatidis (banlangen).
Am J Chin Med. 2013;41(4):743-64.
Am J Chin Med. 2013;41(4):743-64.
2. Liu Dehui.
Clinical Observation on the Preventive Effect of KangduBufei Decoction on AcuteSevere Respiratory Syndrome. Chinese Journal
of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine. 2004; 24(8): 685-688.
3. Jun Huang. Antiviral Herbs -Present and Future. Infectious Disorders – Drug Targets, 2014, 14, 61-73.
4. Liu Q. Jiawei-Yupingfeng-Tang, a Chinese herbal formula, inhibits respiratory viral infections in vitro and in vivo. J
Ethnopharmacol. 2013; 150(2):521-8.
