🌿 Folk Prescriptions

During the over-a-month-long battle against SARS, we witnessed medical staff fighting tirelessly against the virus, saving over 90% of patients using advanced instruments and medications. Their relentless efforts quickly identified the pathogen and recently mapped the full genome, laying the foundation for defeating SARS. The scene was dramatic and awe-inspiring, demonstrating the remarkable progress of modern medicine. Yet, at this critical juncture, we must not overlook the role and significance of traditional Chinese medicine.
Experimental Clinical Application of Integrated TCM and Western Medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine is a treasure of Chinese medicine, accumulating rich experience in combating plagues over five thousand years. TCM emphasizes human-centered factors, regulating the body’s immune function and enhancing constitution to resist disease, partially compensating for Western medicine’s limitations. Guangdong Provincial Hospital of TCM’s experience treating over a hundred SARS patients showed that integrated treatment led to average fever resolution in seven days and discharge in eighteen days, attracting attention from WHO experts. Although some data still require analysis and summary, they are undoubtedly worth exploring and promoting.
Regrettably, due to historical reasons, Hong Kong faces challenges and entrenched biases in integrating TCM and Western medicine. Nevertheless, I believe that in times of crisis, we can set aside preconceptions and attempt integration to leverage strengths and minimize weaknesses for better disease prevention and treatment. I offer the following suggestions:
1. Hong Kong’s medical authorities should accept the concept of integrated TCM and Western medicine, attempting to combine it with other treatments. The Hospital Authority could designate one or two hospitals to establish dedicated integrated treatment wards. Under voluntary patient consent, combined TCM and Western medicine could be used to treat SARS clinically. If results are favorable, expansion would follow. This could also pave the way for future establishment of TCM hospitals in Hong Kong.
Western-Medicine-Dominated Integrated Approach
2. Emphasize the principle of "Western medicine-dominated integration," which is not to diminish TCM’s role. In fact, in mainland China, where integrated TCM and Western medicine has been practiced for half a century, many scientific instruments are available for TCM use, yet Western medicine remains dominant. Guangdong Provincial Hospital of TCM also adopted a "Western medicine-dominated integration" approach in treating SARS. Given the intense and rapidly progressing nature of SARS, Western medicine has established reliable clinical experience and effective treatment protocols.
3. TCM lacks standardized, uniform treatment protocols for SARS. Hong Kong’s TCM practitioners have limited experience and should consider sending teams to mainland China for exchange and learning. Ideally, inviting experienced mainland physicians skilled in integrated SARS treatment to Hong Kong would be beneficial.
Neither TCM nor Western Medicine Should Treat SARS in Private Clinics
4. Currently, both TCM and Western medicine practitioners must immediately refer any suspected or confirmed SARS cases to designated hospitals for isolation and treatment. Recent media reports claim some TCM practitioners can cure SARS solely with herbs—such statements mislead the public, delay treatment, and risk spreading SARS. Relevant authorities in both TCM and Western medicine must issue warnings promptly to prevent such misinformation.
5. Promoting the use of herbal preparations for SARS prevention and post-recovery rehabilitation is beneficial and harmless as an auxiliary measure. Professor Leung Ping-chung from Chinese University of Hong Kong has already advocated this. Various preventive formulas and products circulate in the market, but they vary widely. Some TCM experts criticize certain pneumonia formulas for having significant side effects. However, no unified guidelines exist, leaving the public confused. The Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Council should compile several preventive formulas based on mainland experience, tailored for different constitutions. They should also review and clarify claims by manufacturers of health products that allegedly boost immunity and prevent pneumonia, avoiding public waste of money and effort.