The Department of Foreign Affairs’ Foreign Service Institute, in partnership with Philippine Archipelago International Trading Corp., recently hosted a webinar featuring prominent figures in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that was said to be instrumental in the pandemic management in China.
Titled “Learning from the China Experience-Control and Surge Prevention,” the webinar highlighted both countries’ responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Two most important lessons from the panelists were early intervention and integration of Chinese and western medicine with comprehensive rehabilitation treatment.
There are three TCMs to treat the COVID-19 in China, and one of which is Lianhua Qingwen, registered and widely distributed in the Philippines.
However, the Department of Health and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clarified that Lianhua Qingwen is a prescription medicine approved by the FDA in the Philippines, but is not registered as a COVID-19 medication.
Moreover, it was only on August 7, 2020 that Lianhua Qingwen was able to acquire FDA registration, but for purposes of being used as a traditional herbal product.
Academician Zhang Boli gave emphasis to the importance of medication in the cure, control, and prevention of COVID-19. “Quarantine without medicine is only half the success,” he underscored.
The latest research findings from the team of professor Yang Zifeng from the State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease in Guangzhou, China showed that this TCM has an effective inhibitory action on the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2.
To reduce this ‘more transmissible’ variant, health and safety measures must be followed.
People are encouraged to get inoculated not just for an extra layer of protection but also to limit the spread of the virus and minimize severe disease.
