A strategy of traditional Chinese medicine against COVID-19: linking current basic research and ancient medicine texts

Abstract

A strategy of integrating Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with Western medicine is proposed for better case management of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that is rapidly spreading in the world. We have reviewed the abundant classic TCM literature and from it linked several key texts to findings from biomedical research against SARS-CoV-2, including in silico studies of the efficacious compounds in TCM formulae. We have identified three TCM formulae: Yin Qiao San ( 銀翹散 ), San Ju Yin ( 桑菊飲 ), and Xie Bai San ( 瀉白散 ) as they seem to hold high potentials against SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19 patients. The strategy calls for early administration of these TCM formulae to decrease the rate of transformation from mild/moderate status into severe/critical status, thereby reducing the demand for ICU facility and ventilators.