SHANGHAI (Reuters – Shanghai distributes millions of TCM products to local residents. It claims these TCM items can help treat COVID-19, the largest outbreak of its kind.

China’s capital city is under extended lockdown. On April 5, more than 17,000 COVID-19 new infections were reported. This includes 311 cases of symptoms in a country with a population exceeding 26 million.

Fang Min of Shuguang Hospital stated that Omicron is extremely transmissible and should be treated with TCM as quickly as possible.

According to him, “The general public can take TCM treatment during severe epidemics. This has good preventive effects.” He said at a Tuesday news conference, noting that TCM treatments have been provided for over 21 million people.

Reuters received several boxes of Lianhua Qingwen over-the-counter influenza medicine from neighborhood committees. Some others who contracted COVID also claimed that they received TCM medicine to be dissolved in hot water.

Fang stated that 98% of Shanghai’s COVID-19 victims are receiving TCM treatment. TCM workers also have spread out to quarantine and designated hospitals since March’s latest outbreak.

China’s healthcare authority recommended that COVID-19 sufferers use several TCM medicines and components, including Lianhua Qingwen. But, the lack of solid clinical data makes it difficult to recommend their use.

Singapore is home to a significant ethnic Chinese population. However, in November it stated that no randomised clinical trial had shown any evidence that any herb product (including Lianhua Qingwen) could be used for COVID-19.

The author recommended that all herbs formulated to treat common cold or flu be used only for the management of symptoms like headaches, blocked noses, sore throats, and congestion.

The Food and Drugs Administration in the United States warned Lianhua Qingwen vendors to cease selling the COVID-19 treatment.

According to the Shanghai Daily which is part of the local government, officials in Shanghai’s Hongkou district have distributed 722,000 Lianhua Qingwen packets. They aim to provide preventive TCM medicine such as tea bags and herbs for all residents.

Shijiazhuang Yiling Pharmaceutical (the maker of Lianhua Qingwen) has stated that a 2020 clinical study showed it can, in conjunction with traditional therapy, alleviate COVID-19 symptoms, such as cough and fever.

China has approved several treatment options, including Pfizer Inc’s Paxlovid, and Brii Biosciences Ltd use an antibody-based medicine for COVID patients. However, it’s not known how widespread they’re used.