(Photo by Chen Yan)

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been found effective in assisting the treatment and recovery of COVID-19 patients. During the recent outbreak of COVID-19, TCM hospitals have established joint teams to help patients and those placed under quarantine.

Using herbs with anti-viral and detoxifying effects, the Pharmaceutical Department at the Jiangsu Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine has provided 20,000 bags of herbal drinks to frontline workers for free.

Nanjing TCM Hospital has sent 94 medics in six groups to work at Nanjing Public Health and Medical Centre since July 27. They were able to make TCM decoctions within four hours after the national TCM expert team gave a prescription.

Since July 20, Nanjing TCM Hospital has aslo provided more than 300,000 bags of herbal decoctions to patients and residents for free.

Shi Suofang, head of the TCM Expert Group in a task force by the Jiangsu Provincial Health Commission for COVID-19 response, has also led a team to use TCM techniques and practices, such as acupuncture, to help patients take breathing training and recover from the virus.

Some medics also promoted traditional health exercises, such as Baduanjin, one of the most common forms of Chinese qigong used as exercise, and Wuqinxi (Five Animal Frolics), believed to harmonize the flow of internal energy in the body.