A China-Australia academic symposium, held through webcast on April 4, introduced traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to the world, sharing its contributions to the global fight against the novel coronavirus, as this thousands-year-old branch of medicine has played a vital role in China’s successful efforts to prevent and control COVID-19.
Zhang Boli, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and president of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, noted at the video symposium that TCM was effective in treating both mild and severe cases.
It is able to reduce the duration of fever, cough and feebleness, improve the lung CT image, lift the number of lymphocytes and lower inflammatory mediators, said Zhang, who is also a member of the work group sent by the central government to guide epidemic control work in Hubei.
“What’s more important is that TCM is able to reduce the ratio of severe cases turned from mild ones, which is significant,” Zhang added.
During the recovery period some patients, particularly those who had severe symptoms, can achieve full recovery and reduce possible sequelae through the combination of TCM and Western medicine.
At the symposium, Vice President of Australian Chinese Medical Practitioners Society Li Jiang introduced and analyzed COVID-19 situation in Australia
Now is the best time to combine TCM with Western medicine, said Ven Tan, chairman of Australian Soong Ching Ling Foundation, executive chairman of Australia China Economics, Trade and Culture Association, and chairman of Tasly Healthpac Group.
At the medical centers of Tasly Healthpac Group, Tan learned of the broad demand for TCM of Chinese students in Australia, China-funded organizations and overseas Chinese.
Zhang Boli suggested that overseas Chinese take TCM in accordance with local climates, their respective symptoms, and differentiation of syndromes. He said it’s not recommended that all healthy people take TCM for prevention, and it’s vital for people to adjust to their physical conditions.
Secretary General Wang Guochen of China Association of Chinese Medicine said that the combination of TCM and Western medicine in China’s fight against COVID-19 marked an important practice to inherit and innovate the traditional medicine branch.
It’s a duty bound for enterprises to join in the fight against the virus, saving the patients at this critical moment of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Executive Chairman Yan Kaijing of Tasly Holding Group.
Yan shared that under the support of the China Association of Chinese Medicine, Tasly established an international sharing platform of TCM, hoping to forge a long-term mechanism for global exchanges on TCM through the internet.
The symposium, hosted by China Association of Chinese Medicine and co-organized by Tasly Holding Group, Australian Chinese Medical Practitioners Society, and New South Wales Association of Chinese medicine, was held at a major venue in Tianjin, with 18 venue branches set up in Beijing, Wuhan and Australia.
