🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Recently, China's health authorities issued the "Guidelines for Clinical Application of Antibacterial Drugs" to standardize clinical practices and promote rational use of antibacterial agents. Experts in integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine emphasize that rational use of antibacterial drugs is imperative. Combining traditional Chinese and Western medicine to treat infectious diseases can improve clinical efficacy and reduce adverse reactions caused by antibacterial drugs.
Similar Effects of Chinese and Western Medicines in Treating Infections
In the Department of Infectious Diseases at Beijing Friendship Hospital, renowned expert in integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine, Professor Zhang Shuwen, was preparing a prescription for a patient with severe pneumonia. Zhang explained: "This patient developed dry mouth and cough during antibacterial treatment; adding herbs that nourish yin and moisten the lungs can alleviate these symptoms."
With over 20 years of research on integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine treatment for acute infections complicated by multiple organ dysfunction at Beijing Friendship Hospital, Professor Zhang has gained this experience: The most effective approach to treating infectious diseases should be combining both systems. She pointed out that increasing adverse effects from antibacterial drugs and the emergence of drug-resistant strains often lead to prolonged illness and ineffective treatment. Their current experimental findings show that the mechanism of anti-infection action of Chinese herbal medicine is not direct bacteriostasis or bactericidal activity, but mainly enhancing the phagocytic index of neutrophils in blood and serum total complement levels, thereby boosting the body’s non-specific immune function and improving its defense and anti-infection capacity, thus reducing inflammation caused by bacteria—what is commonly referred to as "anti-inflammatory." Zhang believes that while antibacterial drugs have strong bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects, which Chinese medicine cannot match, Chinese medicine plays a unique role in treating inflammatory responses induced by bacteria. In essence, Chinese and Western medicines achieve similar anti-infection effects through different therapeutic pathways. For example, in severe bacillary dysentery, the key to integrated treatment lies in clearing heat, eliminating toxins, expanding volume, and correcting acidosis—critical measures for preventing shock. These approaches are difficult to achieve effectively with antibiotics alone, but Chinese medicine can fully leverage its strengths.
Dr. Jing Luxian, vice chairman of the Internal Medicine Branch of the Chinese Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine and director of medical administration at Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, one of the editors of the "Manual on Application of Chinese Patent Medicines for Infectious Diseases," believes that Chinese patent medicines have good therapeutic effects on various infectious diseases. Their treatment primarily works through methods such as clearing heat, removing dampness, promoting blood circulation to remove stasis, detoxifying, and reducing swelling, aiming to regulate the body’s own immune function and enhance its resistance to infection. Therefore, when the condition is not severe, appropriately selecting certain Chinese patent medicines, combined with proper rest and diet, may allow some diseases to recover quickly. This reduces the need for antibacterial drugs, avoids adverse reactions and the development of resistant bacterial strains due to irrational use. To ensure optimal efficacy of Chinese medicine during treatment, it is essential to follow the principles of syndrome differentiation and treatment in traditional Chinese medicine, using Chinese medicine reasonably in the management of infectious diseases.
Rational Use of Chinese and Western Medicines Achieves Twice the Result with Half the Effort
"Integrated treatment of infectious diseases with Chinese and Western medicine improves clinical outcomes" was a conclusion reached by research teams led by Wang Bao’en and Zhang Shuwen in the 1970s. At that time, Professor Zhang Shuwen and her research team observed the integrated treatment of adult acute pneumonia based on the theory that "the lung and large intestine are related externally and internally." They compared two groups: 100 patients receiving both Chinese and Western medicine (herbal medicine combined with antibiotics) versus 100 patients receiving only Western medicine (antibiotics alone). The results showed that the time for normalizing temperature, white blood cell count, and inflammation absorption were all shorter in the combined therapy group than in the group treated with antibiotics alone.
Professor Zhang said that since infectious disease patients are usually critically ill, they still rely on clinical manifestations and laboratory indicators to select appropriate antibacterial drugs. Meanwhile, they must pay attention to toxins produced by bacteria and the systemic toxic response caused by invading pathogens and their toxins. Based on clinical symptoms at different stages, they comprehensively apply Chinese medicine to reduce complications and lower mortality. For instance, in treating Gram-negative bacillus sepsis, while choosing antibacterial drugs targeting the causative pathogen, formulas dominated by purgatives such as rhubarb alone or rhubarb, mirabilite, scrophularia, and licorice can be used. Practice has proven that such treatment can reduce fever, enhance the body’s defensive functions, antagonize endotoxins, and clear intestinal stagnation and toxic substances, helping control the progression of infection and prevent the three major symptoms of Gram-negative bacillus sepsis: high fever, coma, and shock.
Professor Zhang pointed out that previous studies indicate that combining traditional Chinese medicine with syndrome differentiation during clinical use of antibacterial drugs can improve clinical outcomes, shorten disease duration, and reduce mortality. Currently, more research is needed to investigate the mechanisms by which Chinese medicine combats drug resistance and to establish guidelines for treating various infectious diseases with traditional Chinese medicine, so as to scientifically and rationally guide clinical medication.