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The efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of the COVID-19 pandemic in Henan Province: a retrospective study. Eur J Med Res 2023; 28:78. [PMID: 36782331 PMCID: PMC9924860 DOI: 10.1186/s40001-023-01006-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since 2020, novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has posed serious threats to health systems and led to tremendous economic decline worldwide. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is considered a promising treatment strategy for COVID-19 in China and is increasingly recognized as a key participant in the battle against COVID-19. Clinicians also need accurate evidence regarding the effectiveness of TCM treatments for COVID-19. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed patients diagnosed with COVID-19 by collected from the electronic medical records of the hospitals in Henan Province from January 19, 2020, to March 2, 2020. Demographic characteristics, clinical data, frequency analysis of Chinese patent medicines (CPMs), Chinese medicine injections (CMIs), evaluation of baseline symptom scores, nucleic acid negative conversion, length of hospitalization, and mortality rates were studied. RESULTS Between 15 January 2020 and 2 March 2020, 131 hospitals with 1245 patients were included. Survey response Chinese herbal decoction, CPMs, and CMIs combined with conventional Western medicine (CWM) used for the treatment of COVID-19. The top 8 CPMs were Lianhua Qingwen capsules, Shuanghuanglian oral liquid, Pudilan Xiaoyan oral liquid, Banlangen granules, Lanqin oral liquid, compound licorice tablets, Bailing capsules, montmorillonite powder. The most frequently used CMIs were Xuebijing, Tanreqing, Reduning, Xiyanping and Yanhuning. TCM combined with CWM improved the patients' symptom scores for fever, cough, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and fatigue. Nucleic acid negative conversion occurred at11.55 ± 5.91 d and the average length of hospitalization was 14.92 ± 6.15 d. The mortality rate was approximately 1.76%, which is a reduction in patient mortality. CONCLUSIONS TCM combined with CWM improved clinical symptoms and reduced hospitalization and mortality rates.
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Wang Z, Yang L. Chinese herbal medicine: Fighting SARS-CoV-2 infection on all fronts. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2021; 270:113869. [PMID: 33485973 PMCID: PMC7825841 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.113869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a highly pathogenic virus that has spread rapidly across the entire world. There is a critical need to develop safe and effective drugs, especially broad-spectrum antiviral and organ protection agents in order to treat and prevent this dangerous disease. It is possible that Chinese herbal medicine may play an essential role in the treatment of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. AIM OF THE REVIEW We aim to review the use of Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of COVID-19 both in vitro and in clinical practice. Our goal was to provide a better understanding of the potential therapeutic effects of Chinese herbal medicine and to establish a "Chinese protocol" for the treatment of COVID-19. MATERIALS AND METHODS We systematically reviewed published research relating to traditional Chinese herbal medicines and the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 from inception to the 6th January 2021 by screening a range of digital databases (Web of Science, bioRxiv, medRxiv, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, X-MOL, Wanfang Data, Google Scholar, PubMed, Elsevier, and other resources) and public platforms relating to the management of clinical trials. We included the active ingredients of Chinese herbal medicines, monomer preparations, crude extracts, and formulas for the treatment of COVID-19. RESULTS In mainland China, a range of Chinese herbal medicines have been recognized as very promising anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents, including active ingredients (quercetagetin, osajin, tetrandrine, proscillaridin A, and dihydromyricetin), monomer preparations (xiyanping injection, matrine-sodium chloride injection, diammonium glycyrrhizinate enteric-coated capsules, and sodium aescinate injection), crude extracts (Scutellariae Radix extract and garlic essential oil), and formulas (Qingfei Paidu decoction, Lianhuaqingwen capsules, and Pudilan Xiaoyan oral liquid). All these agents have potential activity against SARS-CoV-2 and have attracted significant attention due to their activities both in vitro and in clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS As a key component of the COVID-19 treatment regimen, Chinese herbal medicines have played an irreplaceable role in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The "Chinese protocol" has already demonstrated clear clinical importance. The use of Chinese herbal medicines that are capable of inhibiting SARS-Cov-2 infection may help to address this immediate unmet clinical need and may be attractive to other countries that are also seeking new options for effective COVID-19 treatment. Our analyses suggest that countries outside of China should also consider protocols involving Chinese herbal medicines combat this fast-spreading viral infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhonglei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Green Natural Products and Pharmaceutical Intermediates in Colleges and Universities of Shandong Province, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, 273165, PR China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, PR China.
| | - Liyan Yang
- School of Physics and Physical Engineering, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, 273165, PR China.
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Seifert G, Jeitler M, Stange R, Michalsen A, Cramer H, Brinkhaus B, Esch T, Kerckhoff A, Paul A, Teut M, Ghadjar P, Langhorst J, Häupl T, Murthy V, Kessler CS. The Relevance of Complementary and Integrative Medicine in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Review of the Literature. Front Med (Lausanne) 2020; 7:587749. [PMID: 33363186 PMCID: PMC7761649 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2020.587749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic people are facing risks of adverse health effects due to the restrictions implemented such as quarantine measures, reduced social contact, and self-isolation. In this qualitative review, we collected data on potential preventive and therapeutic health benefits of Complementary and Integrative Medicine (CIM) that might be useful during the COVID-19 pandemic. We have reviewed the scientific literature to summarize CIM practices that could be beneficial for improving physical and mental health and well-being of the population under the current pandemic circumstances. It must be noted that this review is not SARS-CoV-2 specific and we explicitly do not intend to make any SARS-CoV-2 specific health claims in this article. Methods and Findings: A qualitative, non-systematic literature review was conducted in Medline to identify literature describing preventive and therapeutic CIM approaches for strengthening mental and physical health. For a variety of CIM approaches clinical evidence was identified, indicating beneficial effects. CIM approaches include specific dietary measures and selected micronutrients, physical activity, techniques from Mind-Body Medicine, single botanicals or botanical compounds, and spending time in nature among others. The effects of CIM measures on conditions like obesity and hypertension are of special relevance here, as these conditions are considered as risk factors for a severe course of COVID-19. Moreover, a possibly direct effect of CIM approaches on immune functions and clinical parameters in respiratory tract infections, such as influenza, were identified. The findings of this review could be helpful for clinicians, patients, and the general population during the current pandemic when discussing and/or considering CIM options. Conclusions: CIM offers a variety of preventive and therapeutic options for strengthening physical and mental resilience, which could also be useful in the current COVID-19 pandemic. The evidence of CIM approaches with a potential benefit in the COVID-19 pandemic in different areas is worth to be analyzed. While this qualitative review has several obvious limitations, it might serve as useful starting point for further research on this topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg Seifert
- Department of Paediatric Oncology/Haematology, Otto-Heubner Centre for Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine (OHC), Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany,Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil,*Correspondence: Georg Seifert
| | - Michael Jeitler
- Department of Internal and Integrative Medicine, Immanuel Krankenhaus Berlin, Berlin, Germany,Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Rainer Stange
- Department of Internal and Integrative Medicine, Immanuel Krankenhaus Berlin, Berlin, Germany,Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Michalsen
- Department of Internal and Integrative Medicine, Immanuel Krankenhaus Berlin, Berlin, Germany,Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Holger Cramer
- Department of Internal and Integrative Medicine, Evang. Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Faculty of Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany,National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, Australia
| | - Benno Brinkhaus
- Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tobias Esch
- Institute for Integrative Health Care and Health Promotion, University Clinic for Integrative Health Care, Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany
| | - Annette Kerckhoff
- Institute for Integrative Health Care and Health Promotion, University Clinic for Integrative Health Care, Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany
| | - Anna Paul
- Department of Internal and Integrative Medicine, Evang. Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Faculty of Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Michael Teut
- Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Pirus Ghadjar
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jost Langhorst
- Department of Internal and Integrative Medicine, Klinikum Bamberg, Chair for Integrative Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, Bamberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Häupl
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Vijay Murthy
- Faculty of Medicine, Primary Care and Population Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Christian S. Kessler
- Department of Internal and Integrative Medicine, Immanuel Krankenhaus Berlin, Berlin, Germany,Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
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