Evaluating the Acute and Chronic Systemic Impacts of COVID-19 from a Traditional Chinese Medicine Perspective: An Evidence-Based Approach [full paper]

The COVID-19 pandemic has elicited various systemic health impacts, which were particularly observed during our intensive Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) interventions in Hong Kong. This study focuses on the application of TCM diagnostic and therapeutic processes on patients long under our care, spanning years or even decades. During the acute phase of COVID-19, predominantly characterized by the Delta variant in early 2022, we relied solely on TCM’s differential diagnostic-cure process. This involved employing the three spectrums of Superficial-Internal, Cold-Hot, and Deficient-Excess to represent the states of the five organ systems: Heart, Liver, Spleen, Lung, and Kidney. Our therapeutic strategy was aimed at restoring the balance of Qi and Blood, facilitating the optimal circulation of Qi, blood, bodily fluids, and nutrients, thereby enhancing communication between the five organ systems. This balance is hypothesized to promote the emergent effects of human health and activity. For the chronic phase post-COVID-19 infection, many patients exhibited persistent symptoms such as long-term cough and recurrent flu-like infections. Furthermore, pre-existing chronic conditions in these patients appeared to be exacerbated post-infection. This suggests that any compromise in one part of the human body system can significantly diminish the emergent effects of health-related activities. Through the continued application of TCM’s differential diagnostic-cure process, focusing on the balance of the three spectrums within the five organ systems, we observed enhanced emergent effects and recovery in health activities. This paper presents the evidence-based medical observations that underscore the effectiveness of TCM in managing both acute and chronic impacts of COVID-19. By detailing the theoretical basis and practical applications of TCM in this context, we contribute to the broader understanding of integrating traditional medical systems in the treatment of modern pandemics.