Chinese Herbs Enhance Immunity Against COVID-19

The effect of Chinese herbs in preventing and treating COVID has been affirmed in many international medical journals. Chen Chao-tsung, executive director of the Taiwan Medical Association (TMA), said that the prescriptions extracted from ancient TCM literature, through research, experimentation on animals, then on humans, followed by clinical tests after refining the drugs, have proved that they can treat COVID-19 and at the same time increase immunity. Dr. Chen introduced several Chinese herbs that can be used to enhance immunity. However, he also reminded patients who just tested negative for COVID-19 that there are six kinds of food they should avoid.

Chinese Herbs Effective in Improving Immunity, and Protection Against COVID

Dr. Chen recommended especially the following several medicinal herbs for daily health care and immunity enhancement.

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorious L)

Of the Compositae genre, its dried flowers are used medicinally. According to the Ming Dynasty “Compendium of Materia Medica,” safflower has the effect of promoting blood circulation and moisturizing effects, relieving pain, reducing swelling, and clearing the pulse meridians. In addition, safflower polysaccharide has a certain effect on promoting the mitosis of T cells, which is key in improving immunity.

Saffron (Crocus sativus)

A perennial bulbous herb, a precious medicinal material. Its efficacy had long been recorded in ancient texts in both the Yuan and the Ming Dynasties. In addition to promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, it exhibits special curative effects in fighting blood clots, increasing immunity, anti-oxidation, and anti-aging.

Phellinus linteus

A kind of fungus growing on mulberry trees. Tang Dynasty texts described the efficacy of Phellinus linteus. Phellinus linteus contains triterpenoids, which have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-cancer, liver protection, cardiovascular disease prevention, and immunity-enhancing effects.

Antrodia cinnamomea

Taiwan’s national treasure is effective in increasing body resistance, nourishing the liver, anti-fatigue, and anti-liver tumours.

TCM Effective in Treating New COVID

The traditional Chinese medicine “NRICM101 (Qing Guan No. 1)” developed in Taiwan has also been confirmed by clinical studies that it can effectively reduce the risk of persons infected by new COVID becoming more severe. The prescription of ” NRICM101″ is composed of 10 kinds of Chinese herbs, including Scutellaria baicalensis, Houttuynia cordata, Isatis indigotica, Trichosanthes kirilowii, Nepeta tenuifolia, mint, mulberry leaves, Magnolia, Radix Glycyrrhizae preparata, and Saposhnikoviae radix.

Dr. Chen pointed out that this medicine has the functions of clearing heat and detoxifying, such as clearing lung heat and anti-virus. He said that “Qing Guan No. 1” has very few side effects. That is why even high-risk groups, such as people over 65 years old with multiple chronic diseases, elderly people over 80 years old, or people who have not been vaccinated because of their physical condition, can also take “Qing Guan No. 1.”

People Who Just Test Negative Have a High Amount of Virus

For many people who think that they will be fine after testing negative, Chen said that according to the data provided by The Lancet, an authoritative medical journal, 28 days after the patient tests negative, there is still a high amount of virus in the body. However, it cannot infect others but will hurt their resident patient only. So, after the virus test is negative, many people still have symptoms of the new COVID.

Chen reminded that it is not appropriate to take “Qing Guan No. 1” at this time because it has five major effects that work for COVID recovery. They are reducing fever, reducing joint pain, reducing muscle soreness and fatigue, reducing viral load, and alleviating cough, and pharyngitis, for which the first three are necessary to help test negative in the first place. The patient who has recovered does not need them anymore. In that case, it is best just to drink a decoction that clears heat and detoxifies, which targets to kill the viruses and treats coughing.

Six types of Food to Avoid Directly After Test Negative

Dr. Chen also reminded the viewers that after the patient’s COVID-19 test is negative, it is better to avoid the following six types of food, otherwise, it will be easy to turn positive again.

1. Fried
2. Spicy
3. Sesame oil, such as sesame oil chicken.
4. Nuts
5. Foods that contain a lot of onions, ginger, and garlic, such as “three-cup chicken.
6. Tonic soups, such as chicken essence, ginseng chicken, Four Agents Decoction (Si Wu) soup, stewed pork ribs with medicine, and Chinese medicines such as ginseng, astragalus, wolfberry, angelica, Chuanxiong, Cinnamomi ramulus, cinnamon, and the like, are not suitable for consumption.

Chen warned that people usually feel tired and fatigued after an illness, thinking that drinking tonic soup will help restore vitality. But on the contrary, it is the time when the body is still not completely clear of toxic substances, any added tonic might help also nurture the virus and help it paves its way back.

In addition, Chen also reminded extreme sports, such as marathons, weight training, and other high-energy sports, should be stopped for a while so as not to hinder the recovery of body vitality.