Traditional Chinese Medicine is used to remedy literally thousands of physical ailments. It therefore comes as little surprise that there are TCM solutions addressing the prevention and treatment of COVID. Among them, hot drinks, porridge and even a foot bath.
The remedies have been recently publicised to the general public after the Nanjing Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine brought together a group of experts to come up with various TCM prevention formula.
近日，南京市中医药管理局召集专家组，研究出多种中医防治方剂后，向社会公开了这些偏方。
As reported by the Yangtze Evening News on 17 December, the various concoctions formulated are in accordance with the “Guidelines for Home based Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention of COVID Infected Persons”.
据扬子晚报12月17日报道，各药方均按照《新冠病毒感染者家庭中医药干预指南》配制。
Common to most of the treatments is that considered to be one of the most important herbs in TCM, astragalus (黄芪). Also called milk vetch, astragalus is derived from a type of bean or legume, and has been used in TCM for centuries.
大多数治疗的共同点是被认为是中医中最重要的草药之一的黄芪。黄芪也称为紫云英，源自一种豆类或豆科植物，在中医中使用已有数百年历史。
According to WebMD, astragalus is “often promoted for its effects on the immune system, liver, and cardiovascular system”. From a COVID perspective, astragalus can also be prescribed for the treatment of upper respiratory infections.
据 WebMD 称，黄芪“经常因其对免疫系统、肝脏和心血管系统的作用而受到宣传”。从新冠肺炎的角度来看，黄芪也可以用于治疗上呼吸道感染。
Interested readers may refer to the aforementioned news report for the Chinese names of necessary ingredients, all available for purchase at their local TCM pharmacy.
有兴趣的读者可以参考上述新闻报道，了解所需成分的中文名称，这些成分都可以在当地的中药房购买。
4 TCM Home Treatments for Prevention & Cure of COVID
预防和治疗新冠肺炎的 4 种中医家庭疗法
TCM Tea
中药茶
12g baked astragalus, 12g tangerine peel, 6g perilla leaf, 5 red dates (jujube), 3 slices of ginger. Mix with boiling water once each day and drink frequently instead of tea.
烤黄芪12克，陈皮12克，紫苏叶6克，红枣（枣）5枚，生姜3片。每天一次用开水冲服，经常代茶饮用。
Dangshen & Astragalus TCM Congee
党参黄芪中药粥
15g Codonopsis pilosula (a.k.a poor man’s ginseng), 15g astragalus, 30g Chinese yams, 60g non-glutinous rice (Japonica rice). Wash the ingredients, add an appropriate quantity of water and cook into porridge.
党参15克，黄芪15克，山药30克，粳米60克。将原料洗净，加水适量，煮成粥。
Ginger Perilla Brown Sugar TCM Hot Drink
姜紫苏红糖中药热饮
3-5 pieces ginger with skin, 6g perilla leaf, brown sugar as desired. Add the ingredients to 500ml water and boil for 15 minutes.
带皮姜3-5片，紫苏叶6克，红糖适量。将上述材料加入500毫升水中，煮沸15分钟。
TCM Foot Bath
中医足浴
10g astragalus, 10g angelica sinensis, 10g cinnamon stick, 10g red Chinese peony, 10g Notopterygium root, 10g safflower, 10g mugwort leaf, 10g ginger. Add the ingredients to an appropriate amount of water and boil for 30 minutes. Then add to cooler water in a foot bath.
黄芪10克，当归10克，肉桂10克，赤芍10克，羌活10克，红花10克，艾叶10克，生姜10克。将上述材料加入适量水中，煮沸30分钟。然后加入足浴中的冷水中。
