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A research team led by Dr. Zhang Shiping of the Teaching and Research Division interviewed over 6,000 Hong Kong residents who were infected with COVID-19. The team found that approximately 70% of the respondents had received treatment with traditional Chinese medicine. Those who used only traditional Chinese medicine had an average of 6.63 days of positivity. This study provides valuable insights into the successful implementation and acceptance of traditional Chinese medicine in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The research team interviewed a total of 6,333 individuals. Approximately 70% of respondents had received treatment with traditional Chinese medicine. The most frequently used traditional Chinese medicines among the respondents were Lianhua Qingwen 蓮花清瘟(about 52%), prescriptions from traditional Chinese medicine practitioners (about 17%), Jinhua Qinggan 金花清感(about 15%), Huoxiang Zhengqi 藿香正氣(about 8%), and other Chinese patent medicines (about 6%). Using the number of days testing positive for the pathogen as an evaluation benchmark, the average number of days for those who only took traditional Chinese medicine was 6.63 days, while those who only took Western medicine had an average of 6.86 days. The difference of 0.23 days was statistically significant. The study also found that about 70% of respondents actively used dietary therapy based on traditional Chinese medicine. Respondents agreed that both dietary therapy and traditional Chinese medicine could help reduce the risk of getting infected with the coronavirus, alleviate symptoms after infection, lower the chance of developing severe disease, and is beneficial for mitigating long-COVID syndrome.

This research project was funded by the Chinese Medicine Development Fund*.

*This project was funded by the Chinese Medicine Development Fund. Any opinions, research, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Department of Health, the Consultation Council on the Chinese Medicine Development Fund, the Executive Committee of the Chinese Medicine Development Fund, the Hong Kong Productivity Council or the School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University.