Herbal Therapy for Prevention of COVID-19, Part 2

My research indicates that there are a few commonly administered Chinese herbal formulas that can be used preventatively for COVID-19.  Below are some excerpts from that research for those that are interested. Here are my recommendations.

This research indicates that preventative treatment, as well as influenza stage and pneumonia stage treatment with specific Chinese herbal remedies can play a “definitive role” in treatment outcomes. My own clinical experience has indicated that these formulas have been very successful in treating a variety of viral presentations. For preventative stage treatment I suggest the following herbal formulas. This applies to COVID and all other cold/flu exposure concerns.

• Yu Ping Feng San- immune enhancement, names used at clinic- Jade windscreen, Immune Enhance
• Gan Mao Ling- anti viral, respiratory- names used at clinic, Cold Stop 2
• Yin QIao San- anti viral, respiratory, names used at clinic, Cold Stop 1, Initial Defense
• Huo Xiang Zhen Qi Wan – digestive, names used at clinic Early Comfort

My recommendation for administration of these formulas is as follows. Anyone with an immune deficiency, chronic allergies, colds, asthma etc., or exposure to cold/flu/COVID, should begin administration of Yu Ping Feng San now. Standard dosing is acceptable. This applies as well to anyone providing health care, elderly care or other essential services that increase your exposure to strangers and/or environments frequented by the public. This recommendation also applies to anyone exposed to a carrier of COVID-19, however such cases should also incorporate the additional two recommended formulas above immediately. Such individuals should also contact their doctor and request testing and contact my office as needed for therapeutic recommendations. Anyone experiencing cold or flu like symptoms should also administer all three of these formulas immediately. Such individuals should also contact their doctor and my office for recommendations.

I have been stocking my pharmacy with these products as often as they are available, and I have developed a means for safe pick up as needed. I will draft a blog in the near future aimed at addressing the administration of herbs in a case where a COVID-19 infection progresses. 

“There were 3 studies using CM for prevention of SARS and 4 studies for H1N1 influenza. None of the participants who took CM contracted SARS in the 3 studies. The infection rate of H1N1 influenza in the CM group was significantly lower than the non-CM group (relative risk 0.36, 95% confidence interval 0.24–0.52; n=4). For prevention of COVID-19, 23 provinces in China issued CM programs….Based on historical records and human evidence of SARS and H1N1 influenza prevention, Chinese herbal formula could be an alternative approach for prevention of COVID-19 in high-risk population. Prospective, rigorous population studies are warranted to confirm the potential preventive effect of CM.” -Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine

“In the fight against the pandemic of pneumonia from 2019-nCoV Novel Coronavirus infection, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine diligently used the specialties of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), in cooperation with relevant departments to study and formulate pneumonia prevention and treatment programs revealing that Chinese herbs played a definitive role in positive treatment outcomes. Chinese herbal formulas harbor the unique potential to reduce fever and cough symptoms, limit disease progression, and improve overall immunity, and thus a person’s ability to mount an essential immune response to the virus.”  -John K. Chen, Pharm.D., PhD., OMD, LAc and Lori Hsu, MTOM, MS