As a result of the fifth wave of the pandemic, the cumulative number of people infected in Hong Kong has reached 1 million. People were previously more concerned about how to avoid “catching the bug”, but the public is perhaps more interested today in what to if you get infected. The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) dietotherapy approach of focusing on the fundamentals is worth particular attention at this moment.
TCM and Chinese patent medicines have stood out during this wave of the pandemic. In addition to the TCM experts sent by the central g o v e r n m e n t t o s u p p o r t p a n d e m i c prevention efforts in Hong Kong, Chinese patent medicines used for pandemic prevention in the mainland have also attracted a lot of attention and even sold out for a time. Many Hongkongers who contract COVID are subsequently seeking out TCM practitioners to “clear out the tail end” of the disease, while many TCM clinics have launched video consultation services to cope with the demand.
Dietotherapy Can Keep COVID at Bay
The history of using traditional Chinese medicine to treat infectious diseases goes back at least 1700 years. Hong Kong Registered Chinese Medicine Practitioner’s Association (HKRCMP) President Chan Wing-kwong stresses that vaccination is extremely important, while the best way to treat COVID is to combine Chinese and Western medicine, as the effects are superior to the use of Western medicine alone. He explains that COVID pneumonia is classed as a “pestilent disease” in Chinese medicine and that TCM has unique theories, practical experience and techniques for the prevention and treatment of such diseases, producing effective therapies that work by stimulating the patient’s ability to fight and recover from disease. He cites the ancient Chinese medical text Huangdi Neijing, which says that “if healthy Qi is present in the body, no pathogenic influences can interfere”, explaining that this means that when people have plenty of healthy energy in the body, their resistance to external viruses is stronger. For this reason, taking everyday TCM preparations that boost healthy Qi and strengthen the immune response certainly helps to reduce the chances of COVID infection. To this end, he recommends a particular “COVID pandemic prevention TCM formula”.
Post-COVID Recovery Should Involve Multiple Factors
Chan explains that the main presentations during recovery from COVID are: fatigue, shortness of breath, cough, tightness of the chest, palpitations, insomnia, indigestion and nausea. A strong spleen results in healthy “zang-fu” - a traditional Chinese medicine term for the organs of the body. For this reason, Chan recommends three mild, sweet, moistening dietotherapy formulas that will moisten the lungs and invigorate the spleen, thereby helping the patient to strengthen their fundamentals and improve their Qi.
Chan adds that exercise also helps COVID patients to recover. He explains that exercise rehabilitation includes physical training and breathing exercises, but that it's important to proceed gradually with an exercise rehabilitation regimen as the body will still be in a recovery stage when you are released from hospital. You should consider doing cardio, such as traditional Baduanjin qigong and tai chi, which combine exercises to regulate physical form, breathing and mental activity. Chan emphasizes that it’s important to tailor the amount of exercise to your individual condition to avoid overtraining.
Avoid Taking Chinese Patent Medicines If You Are in Good Health
Mainland’s “Diagnosis & Treatment Pr otocols for Novel Cor onavirus Pneumonia” has long recommended the use of Chinese patent medicines such as Lianhua Qingwen Jiaonang, Jinhua Qinggan Keli or Huoxiang Zhengqi San, which many Hongkongers have been taking on a “prophylactic” basis. Chan says that many people mistakenly believe that Chinese patent medicines can prevent disease before it occurs, but they are actually intended to treat disease, rather than prevent it. For this reason, he suggests that it is best to seek the advice of a TCM doctor before taking such medicines.
