Please click the following link if you prefer to read (and print) this article in PDF format.
Prevention & Treatment of SARS-CoV-2 with Chinese Medicine
Master Jeffrey C. Yuen
Over the past 3000 years, China has succumbed and endured over 500 epidemics with many notable traditions of Chinese medicine emerging to address such sufferings and concerns, such as the Shang Han Lun tradition of the Han Dynasty and the Wen Bing school of the Ming-Qing Dynasties. While it is common today to combine the best resources from both Chinese medicine and Western medicine, Chinese medical history is not short on remedies used for the prevention, treatment, and recovery of such pestilences.
Given the current public health threat posed by SARS-CoV-2 and the concerns regarding the safety of vaccines, some of the possible traditional formulas that may be useful in the prevention and treatment of Covid include the use of:
Yu Ping Feng San/Jade Windscreen Formula (玉屏風散) developed by Zhu Dan-Xi in the 13th century), which may be combined with Bai He Zhi Mu Tang/Lily Bulb & Anemarrhena Decoction (found in Zhang Zhong-Jing’s Jin Gui Yao Lue – Essential Prescriptions from the Golden Cabinet) for those who have deficiency of lung qi and fluids due to years of smoking, age, and pre-existing conditions for the prevention of Covid.
Regular pole moxa of Zusanli (St-36), Taiyuan (LU-9), and Hegu (LI-4) would be useful as a preventative measure. The smoke from the mugwort also wards off pestilence and is burned in a number of herb shops and hospitals during this crisis.
Though the pathogen is considered to be “wind-dampness toxins” that can accompany cold or heat depending on seasonal afflictions and the individual’s temperament, it generally results in heat presentation (e.g., cytokine storm) and as such, warrant formulas that utilises the Chinese medical principles of Clear Heat, Effuse Lung Qi, and Detoxify Toxins.
Two notable Chinese herbal patent formulas are Huang Lian Shang Qing Pian/Coptis to Clear the Upper Tablets (黃蓮上清片) and Qing Fei Bai Du Pian/Clear Lungs to Detoxify Toxins Tablets (清肺敗毒片) — both formulas based on the synthesis of the teachings from the Wen Bing/Warmth-Febrile Diseases school.
Common acupuncture points used can include reducing Shao Shang (LI-11), tonifying Shou Sanli (LI-10) and Xia Wan (Ren 12), and even technique on Zusanli (St-36).
During the recovery process, the suggested formulas would be Li Dong-Yuan’s Bu Zhong Yi Qi Wan/Central Qi Tonic (補中益氣丸) to bolster immunity (post-natal qi) and to resolve any residual factors that may be lingering and possibly the 17th century formula Bai He Gu Jin Wan/Lily Bulb to Consolidate Metal (Lungs) Teapills (百合固金丸) for those who have become dehydrated (yin deficient) during the process.
Acupuncture with tonification on Yin Jiao (Ren 7), Yang Jiao (GB-35), Guan Tuan ( Ren 4), dispersal of Feng Shi (GB-31), and even technique on Hou Xi (SI-3).
As these formulas are time-tested within the field of Chinese medicine, they can be a source of therapeutics as the world continues to struggle with Covid and overcome its ramifications in our everyday lives and activities.
Ingredients in Above Herbal Formula
Yu Ping Feng San
Bai He Zhi Mu Tang
Huang Lian Shang Qing Pian
Qing Fei Bai Du Pian
Bu Zhong Yi Qi
Bai He Gu Jin Wan
Jeffrey, once again we are really happy that you are coming to talk to the Dublin community: not just to your acupuncture students, but to everyone who is interested in exploring a Daoist approach to healing and wellness. Even so, many people may be surprised by the topic you’ve chosen for this year’s lecture: Shamanism and the Early Roots of Daoism. This might appear to be something of a departure for you – but actually it follows on from a one-year shamanism programme which you’ve been teaching in New York this year.
It’s always good to talk to Master Yuen — who always has something interesting, challenging and often — literally — life-changing to say. This year, his weekend workshop on Chinese Medical Aromatherapy at the Royal Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire — plus his public lecture on the topic of “Empowering the Self to Confront Illness” — promises to be fascinating from start to finish.
