Up until today, more than 10,000 patients infected with the COVID-19 in China have been discharged from the hospital. But there is still not a specific medicine to cure the epidemic. The battle against the virus is reaching a critical point.

Could traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) be a possible solution? Only a few weeks ago, a news report said Shuanghuanglian, a Chinese herbal medicine that is commonly used to treat mild cold symptoms, could have inhibiting effects on the virus. The late-night news sent the public rushing out, despite warnings against going outside, and emptying shelves of the oral liquid in every drug store. The next day, authorities issued clarifications that "inhibit" does not mean the medicine can prevent or cure the disease, which quickly put a stop to the shopping frenzy.

The episode could be a cautious lesson on news reporting, but it also shows the hope Chinese people are placing in traditional medicine.

In an interview with CGTN's senior correspondent Tian Wei, Prof. Shao Yiming, chief expert on AIDS at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said that combining TCM and Western medicines could be a viable solution. Western medicine mainly focuses on "killing" the virus directly, while Chinese medicine will help the body to recover its immune system.

Prof. Shao cautions that these are the theories behind how traditional Chinese and Western drugs work, but to reach any conclusion, one must look at the clinical results. Any debate must be based on evidence.

On February 6, a TCM decoction was recommended to medical institutions nationwide after data analysis on 214 cases showed the treatment to be effective. On Monday, a Chinese health official said that the decoction had been used in treating 701 confirmed cases in 10 provinces, of which 130 have been cured and discharged.

According to Xinhua, the central government has been promoting the use of TCM in treating COVID-19 patients, and has called for stronger cooperation between TCM and Western medicine in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. Medical personnel from over 630 TCM hospitals across China have been sent to Hubei Province, and TCM has been used in treating over 80 percent of the total confirmed cases in China. 

Schedule: Monday-Saturday

Time (GMT): 1415, 2015

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at opinions@cgtn.com.)