TCM irreplaceable to treat viral infectious diseases: expert

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has played a significant role and is irreplaceable in treating viral infectious diseases from the experiences drawn from the COVID-19 epidemic, said a Chinese TCM expert on Friday.

The TCM has its unique advantage in the face of such a new and unknown disease, said Wang Wei, deputy head of the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, at a press conference in Beijing.

The TCM can conduct pathogenesis analysis based on the symptoms, onset time, region, season and other factors and carry out the treatment based on TCM's syndrome differentiation, said Wang.

The TCM can come up with a treatment plan very quickly for clinical use, Wang noted.

"Many TCM classic books have very rich experience in fighting against epidemics, and we should dig deep into these books," said Wang.

Wang suggested that the scientific laws and basis of the TCM treatment should be further studied in national science and technology projects.