Acupuncture and herbal medicine are
effective for the treatment of COVID-19 virus. An article published on the
Healthcmi.com website reported that 87% of COVID-19 patients in Beijing received
traditional Chinese medicine (TCM including acupuncture and herbs) and the
total effective rate for patients receiving TCM is 92%, quoted from the Beijing
Health Commission report.
Coronaviruses are a large group of
viruses that are known to infect both humans and animals and in humans cause
respiratory illness that range from common colds to much more serious
infections. The most well-known case of a coronavirus epidemic was Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome (Sars), which, after first being detected in southern
China in 2002, went on to affect 26 countries and resulted in more than 8,000
cases and 774 deaths. Cases of Covid-19 first emerged in late 2019, when a
mysterious illness was reported in Wuhan, China. The cause of the disease was
soon confirmed as a new kind of coronavirus, and the infection has since spread
to many countries around the world and become a pandemic.
While the cause of the current
outbreak was initially unknown, on January 7 2020 Chinese health authorities
identified that it was caused by to a strain of coronavirus that hadn’t been
encountered in humans before. Five days later the Chinese government shared the
genetic sequence of the virus so that other countries could develop their own
diagnostic kits. That virus is now called Sars-CoV-2. However, to avoid
confusion with SARS the WHO calls it the covid-19 virus (coronavirus disease
2019) when communicating with the public.
Although symptoms of covid-19 virus
are often mild – the most common symptoms are a fever and dry cough – in some
cases they lead to more serious respiratory tract illness including pneumonia
and bronchitis. These can be particularly dangerous in older patients, or
people who have existing health conditions, and this appears to be the case
with Covid-19 disease.
Qing Fei Pai Du Tang is recommended
by the Chinese National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (NATCM)
for treating Covid-19 disease. In a study led by Dr. Li Yu that 701cases of
COVID-19 patients treated with Qing Fei Pai Du Tang, 130 patients were cured,
symptoms including fever and coughing completely resolved in an additional 51
patients, symptom improvements occurred in an additional 268 patients, and
stabilization occurred in 212 patients. In a detailed analysis of 351 patients,
Dr. Li and colleagues noted that 112 patients had a body temperature in excess
of 37.3 degrees Celsius. After taking Qing Fei Pai Du Tang for one day, 51.8%
of patients’ body temperatures returned to normal. After 6 days, 94.6% returned
to normal temperature.
Of the 351 patients, 214 had coughs,
one day of after drinking Qing Fei Pai Du Tang, 46.7% of patients’ coughs
completely resolved. Six days later, 80.6% had significant reductions in
coughing. In related findings from two independent investigations, the herbal
medicine Lian Hua Qing Wen Capsule helped resolve COVID-19 symptoms and
promoted recovery.
The China Association of Acupuncture
and Moxibustion issued Acupuncture Treatment Guidelines for COVID-19 (2nd edition).
The guidelines have been divided into three stages: prevention, treatment, and
recovery.
Prevention stage, acupuncture is to strengthen zheng qi (healthy energy) and
to benefit lung and spleen functions to combat foreign pathogens, basically
improve immune system. The primary acupoints are categorized into 3 groups; 1–2
acupoints are selected from each group during one acupuncture session:
Group 1: BL12 (Fengmen), BL13
(Feishu), BL20 (Pishu);
Group 2: LI4 (Hegu), LI11 (Quchi),
LU5 (Chize), LU10 (Yuji);
Group 3: CV6 (Qihai), ST36
(Zusanli), SP6 (Sanyinjiao)
A
secondary set is added dependent upon individual symptoms.
For fever, the following acupoints
are added: GV14 (Dazhui), CV22 (Tiantu), LU6 (Kongzui)
For nausea, loose stools, enlarged
tongue with greasy coating, and soft (soggy) pulse, the following acupoints are
added: GV14 (Zhongwan), ST25 (Tianshu), ST40 (Fenglong)
For fatigue and poor appetite, the
following acupoints are added: CV12 (Zhongwan), CV9 (Shuifen), CV7 (Yinjiao),
KI16 (Qizhousixue), BL20 (Pishu)
For clear nasal discharge, sore and
painful back, pale tongue with white coating, and moderate pulse, the following
acupoints are added: BL10 (Tianzhu), BL12 (Fengmen), GV14 (Dazhui)
Treatment stage, acupuncture is applied to interrupt disease progress based
on the Pei Tu Sheng Jin (bank up earth to engender metal) principle and to
relieve low mood. The primary acupoints selected for this stage are categorized
into 3 groups.
For mild to moderate cases, 2–3
acupoints are selected from groups 1 and 2 during each acupuncture session. For
severe cases, additional 2–3 acupoints are recommended from group 3.
Group 1: LI4 (Hegu), LR3 (Taichong),
CV22 (Tiantu), LU5 (Chize), LU6 (Kongzui), ST36 (Zusanli), SP6 (Sanyinjiao)
Group 2: BL11 (Dashu), BL12
(Fengmen), BL13 (Feishu), BL15 (Xinshu), BL17 (Geshu)
Group 3: LU1 (Zhongfu), CV17
(Danzhong), CV6 (Qihai), CV4 (Guanyuan), CV12 (Zhongwan)
A secondary set is added dependent
upon individual symptoms.
For persistent fever, the following
acupoints are added: GV14 (Dazhui), LI11 (Quchi), EX-UE11 (Shixuan), EX-HN6
(Erjian)
For chest tightness and shortness of
breath, the following acupoints are added: PC6 (Neiguan), LU7 (Lieque), CV14
(Juque), LR14 (Qimen), KI6 (Zhaohai)
For coughing with sputum, the
following acupoints are added: LU7 (Lieque), ST40 (Fenglong), EX-B1 (Dingchuan)
For diarrhea with loose stools, the
following acupoints are added: ST25 (Tianshu), ST37 (Shangjuxu)
For cough with yellow and sticky
sputum and constipation, the following acupoints are added: CV22 (Tiantu), TB6
(Zhigou), ST25 (Tianshu), ST40 (Fenglong)
For low grade fever, nausea, loose
stools, and a pale-red tongue with a white-greasy coating, the following
acupoints are added: BL13 (Feishu), ST25 (Tianshu), SP14 (Fujie), PC6 (Neiguan)
Recovery stage, acupuncture is applied to eliminate pathogens from the
body and to recover lung and spleen functions. The following primary acupoints
are recommended: P6 (Neiguan), ST36 (Zusanli), GV14 (Zhongwan), ST25 (Tianshu),
CV6 (Qihai)
A secondary set of acupuncture
points are added dependent upon individual symptoms. For lung and spleen qi
deficiency, sets of points are added for specific conditions:
If lung symptoms (e.g., chest
tightness, shortness of breath) are pronounced, CV17 (Danzhong), BL13 (Feishu),
and LU1 (Zhongfu) are added.
If spleen symptoms (e.g., poor
appetite, diarrhea) are pronounced, CV13 (Shangwan) and SP9 (Yinlingquan) are
added.
For patients with qi and yin
deficiency, the following acupoints are recommended for specific presentations:
If there is fatigue and shortness of
breath, CV17 (Danzhong) and CV8 (Shenque) are added.
If there is dry mouth and thirst,
KI3 (Taixi) and TB4 (Yangchi) are added.
If there are palpitations, BL15
(Xinshu) and BL14 (Jueyinshu) are added.
If there s profuse sweating, LI4
(Hegu), KI7 (Fuliu), and ST36 (Zusanli) are added.
If there is insomnia, HT7 (Shenmen),
EX-HN3 (Yintang), EX-HN 19 (Anmian), and KI1 (Yongquan) are added.
Additional guidelines were published
for patients with sputum and stasis blocking the channels with underlying lung
and spleen deficiency:
For patients
with lung, spleen and heart symptoms (e.g., chest tightness, shortness of
breath), BL13 (Feishu), BL20 (Pishu), BL15 (Xinshu), BL17 (Geshu), LU1
(Zhongfu), and CV17 (Danzhong) are added. If sputum is
unproductive, ST40 (Fenglong) and EX-B1 (Dingchuan) are added.
The aforementioned acupoints can be
stimulated with acupuncture, moxibustion, or massage. If acupuncture is used,
needles should be manipulated with the mild reinforcement and attenuation (Ping
Bu Ping Xie) technique during the 20–30 minute needle retention time. If
moxibustion is applied, the moxa should warm the points for 10–15 minutes.
Treatment is administered once daily.
Reference:
https://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/2010-acupuncture-and-herbs-covid-19-coronavirus-findings