In the face of Omicron, are the existing TCM treatment schemes and prescriptions still effective? Here comes the authoritative answer

From a TCM perspective, what are the new features of the new crown pneumonia outbreak caused by the mutated strain of Omicron? Are the existing TCM treatment protocols and prescriptions still valid? Why has acupuncture been added to the new treatment protocols and prescriptions? The reporter interviewed relevant departments and authoritative experts on these issues.

The core etiology of new pneumonia remains unchanged

The new version of the treatment protocols and prescriptions has increased the number of acupuncture treatments. How does Chinese medicine view the new pneumonia epidemic caused by the mutated strain of Omicron?

Tong Xiaolin, the academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and head of the expert committee of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine on the prevention and treatment of epidemics, said: “After the jingling, ‘reverse spring cold’ is common in China, and the climate in many places is colder than that of the same period in previous years. This is conducive to the spread of the new coronavirus. However, from the perspective of TCM, compared to the Wuhan outbreak in early 2020, the recent round of the epidemic is more likely to be characterized by evolving symptoms of heat and dryness, with patients having more pronounced upper respiratory symptoms such as dry throat, sore throat, cough, and dry nose. The manifestations also vary from region to region depending on the climate.”

The reporter learned from the State Bureau of Chinese Medicine that Zhang Boli, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, first applied for Chinese medicine in Tianjin to treat 431 cases of patients with the Omicron variant strain of New Crown Pneumonia, followed by Tong Xiaolin, an academician who applied for Chinese medicine in Henan to treat 580 cases, both of which showed that Chinese medicine treatment significantly improved the patients’ symptoms of fever, sore throat and cough, especially for elderly patients with underlying diseases, summarising the Especially for elderly patients with underlying diseases, the experience of “treating with evidence first and cutting off the disease” has effectively controlled the rate of weight transfer. After the emergence of the new coronary pneumonia outbreak caused by the mutated strain of Omicron in different parts of China, experts from the Expert Committee on Prevention and Control of Chinese Medicine Epidemics of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, together with front-line Chinese medicine experts from different regions, conducted a comprehensive analysis and judgment and formed the ninth edition of the treatment protocol.

The experts unanimously agreed that the core etiology and pathogenesis of the Omicron mutant strain of NCCP had not changed from the previous one, and still belonged to the category of “epidemic” diseases in TCM. The symptoms of the disease are only slightly different due to the differences in region, climate, and dietary habits, and can be characterized by cold, heat, dryness, stasis, and deficiency.

Both TCM treatment protocols and prescriptions are available
Still effective in dealing with the current outbreak

In the early response to the outbreak of the new crown pneumonia strain of the Omicron variant, clinical treatment in Chinese medicine was carried out in various regions based on the eighth edition of the national treatment protocol. The reporter learned from the State Bureau of Chinese Medicine that, at present, asymptomatic infected persons, light and ordinary types are mainly treated with Chinese medicine, while heavy and critical types are treated with a combination of Chinese and Western medicine and Chinese and Western medicines, all of which have achieved good results.

The experts said that the key prescriptions in the ninth edition of the treatment protocol, such as Clear Lung Detoxification Soup, Dampness Defeating Poison Formula, Xuan Lung Defeating Poison Formula, and Golden Flower Clear Sensation Granules, Lianhua Qing Fever Capsules (Granules) and Blood Bijou Injection, are still effective in treating asymptomatic infected and confirmed patients with the Omicron variant strain of New Crown Pneumonia.

“The adjustment of the program is very timely in the new epidemic situation.” Liu Qingquan, deputy head of the Expert Committee on Prevention and Treatment of Chinese Medicine Epidemics of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and president of Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine affiliated with Capital Medical University, said that the ninth edition of the treatment protocol is more complete and basically covers various conditions and different geographical evidence characteristics, especially the scientific positioning of the “three medicines”, the “three parties “This makes it easier and faster to deal with larger scale morbid conditions. In terms of how to use Chinese medicine treatment methods, the ninth edition of the treatment protocol can be used across the country on the basis of the principle of “three causes and conditions” in Chinese medicine, with variations according to the evidence.

Acupuncture and moxibustion treatment and other effective experiences are included in the new version of the treatment plan

It is understood that recently, members of the Expert Committee on Prevention and Treatment of Chinese Medicine Epidemics of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, together with frontline experts, have revised and improved the eighth edition of the treatment protocol for NCCP on the basis of the clinical experience of Chinese medicine in treating NCCP around the country, forming the ninth edition of the treatment protocol for Chinese medicine.

The new version of the protocol adds acupuncture and moxibustion to strengthen the application of non-pharmacological Chinese medicine treatments based on clinical experience. Liu Qingquan said that acupuncture is very effective in the treatment of plague, and this has been recorded in the literature for generations. Previously, studies on acupuncture for the treatment of neocrown pneumonia were carried out in many parts of the country, and the application of acupuncture was gradually expanded from the original treatment in the recovery phase to the acute phase, showing good results for light and common types as well as heavy and critical patients.

“The results of a study by our team showed that the earlier the acupuncture intervention, the greater the benefit to the patient.” Liu Qingquan said that patients who were treated with acupuncture from the onset of the disease showed rapid improvement in symptoms such as weakness, fever, cough, and muscle aches, with a significantly shorter duration of illness and hospital stay. The number of cases is insufficient but has shown better prospects for treatment.

“This round of the epidemic has affected many pediatric patients. The physique of children is different from that of adults, and the transmission and followership of infection are different, for which reason, the new version of the program has added content related to Chinese medicine treatment for children.” Tong Xiaolin said, Chinese medicine treatment should not only grasp the commonality of the disease but also “according to the time, place and person” to make appropriate. The new version of the program draws on the effective experience of the pediatricians involved in the treatment and has developed a more suitable program for children, which is more conducive to guiding doctors in the accurate treatment of child patients.

In addition, in view of the fact that some patients in the early stages of the disease were characterized by the presence of dryness, the new version of the protocol has added “epidemic toxin with dryness” to the general type. At the same time, as the “three medicines” have been approved as listed proprietary Chinese medicines, the “three medicines” have also added indications for the treatment of mild and common forms of neoconjunctivitis in the drug description, and the new version of the protocol has added Qinglung detoxification granules, Xuanlung defeating toxin granules, Damp defeating toxin granules, Jinhua The new version of the protocol has added Chinese patent medicines such as Qinglung detoxification granules, Xuanlung deficiency granules, Huayu deficiency granules, Jinhua Qingxian granules and Lianhua Qingfei capsule (granules) and their method of administration.