Lyme Disease & Modern Chinese Medicine

2021-08-13 20:05

August 13 AFP Geneva, August 11 reported that the World Health Organization announced on the 11^th, that three drugs to conduct large-scale international trials to determine whether they can alleviate the condition of patients hospitalized with new coronary pneumonia.

Researchers will test thousands of volunteer patients at more than 600 hospitals in 52 countries to test the efficacy of artesunate, immatini and infliximab, the report said. “Finding more effective and convenient treatments for patients with new coronary pneumonia remains a key need,” said WHO Director-General Tandsey.

According to the report, artesunate is a drug for severe malaria, imatini is a drug for specific cancers, and infliximab can treat immune system diseases such as Crohn’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

WHO says the collaborative study, which has spread across dozens of countries, allows trials to use a single program to evaluate multiple treatments to make convincing estimates of the effects of a single drug on mortality.

The drugs were selected by an independent panel of experts because they have the potential to reduce the risk of death in hospital with new coronary pneumonia, the report said.

The report also said the experimental drug was donated by drug makers and is now being shipped to the relevant hospitals.

Reported that the WHO New Coronavirus Treatment Advisory Group recommended an assessment of the anti-inflammatory properties of artesunate, which has been widely used for more than 30 years to treat malaria and other parasitic diseases and is considered very safe.

Source：金融界网

Since the outbreak of the new crown virus last year, the Guangzhou Respiratory Health Research Institute of China has been doing researches of the virus and its’ variants, and has been achieving important results. It developed the world’s leading clinical treatment system for the viral infection and created a national prevention and treatment system with integrating of Chinese and Western medicine. It conducted studies to develop the vaccine and clinical trials of treatment with integrative Chinese and western medicines. On July 30, Professor Yang Zifeng, a researcher at the Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, gave an interview with the media about the latest research on Delta variant of Covid 19.

“Delta strain of Covid 19 has been found in China, which was imported from abroad.” he said. In facing mutated strains, the institute is studying three aspects, i.e. diagnosis, treatment, and prevention: diagnosis is identifing mutant strains, treatment is drug research, and prevention is vaccine development.

Professor Yang Zifeng pointed out that many research institutions at home and abroad have been carrying out drug researches. “Our team has also carried out drug research on mutant strains, such as Delta, and now we found that some Chinese medicines that had played an important role in the fight against the Covid 19 outbreak last year are now still trustworthy for those mutated variants, such as the ‘three-designated herbal patent medicines, including the Lianhua Qingwen (LH24) Capsule and Clear Lung and Detox Formula, which in vitro showed antiviral effects to inhibit the Delta strain. Further in vivo clinical research is under way.” Professor Yang Zifeng believes that in the situation of the mutant strains impacting our country, it is of great importance to carry out the group prevention and group treatment by using traditional Chinese medicine.

During 2020 outbreak of Covid 19 infections, a lot of scientific studies have been carried on Lianhua Qingwen (LH24) Capsule, which showed that It was effective for coronavirus (HCoV-229E) and COVID-19 and also for to Alpha and Beta variants. It has inhibitory effect on the cell lesions caused by Covid 19 virus infection, and it can inhibit stormy inflammation in the lung and can improve patients’ symptoms, such as fever, fatigue, cough, and significantly improve the CT image of the lungs. It can shorten the duration of disease course and raise clinical cure rate.

In a prospective, randomized, controlled, multi-center clinical study of ” Treatment of new coronavirus pneumonia with Chinese medicine, Lianhua Qingwen (LH24) Capsule.” Participated medical institutions include Wuhan University’s People’s Hospital, Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University’s First Affiliated Hospital and other more than 20 hospitals. Results showed after 14 days of treatment, in the LH24 treatment group, the symptom release rate of the main symptoms, i.e. fever, fatigue, and cough was significantly higher than that of the control group treated with western medicine. On the 14th day of treatment, symptom releasing rate reached 91.5% in LH24 group. The research showed that the combination of the oral LH24 Capsule and the basic maintenance treatments together can significantly improve the cure rate of clinical symptoms and curb the deterioration of sickness of patients.

The role played by Chinese medicine in the anti-pandemic in the last two years is significant, especially in the situation of the appealing of variant strains. It has great theoretical and practical significance to make good use of traditional Chinese medicine to carry out group prevention and group treatment of Covid 19.

From: 2021-07-22 07:41·金融界

Experiments conducted in laboratory cell cultures by teams of Danish and German experts have reportedly shown that artemisinin and its derivatives, Artemether and Artesunate, as well as simple artemisia extracts, have been able to successfully suppress viruses in all cell culture lines, including lung cells. “Artemisinin and its derivatives are effective against two European Coronaviruses strains from Germany and Denmark,” the paper states. These two strains are closely related to most of the new Coronaviruses strains that are endemic around the world. “The team plans to begin Phase I/II clinical trials of artemisinin derivatives in the near future.

Comment: The new corona pneumonia virus is spreading around the world. Although countries around the world are working at full speed on the new crown vaccination work, but the new coronaviruses drug has not yet been successfully developed. Finding drugs that can really inhibit the spread of the new coronary pneumonia virus is the key to a complete victory over the outbreak. This study is the first clear evidence of the possibility of using artemisinin derivatives to develop new crown drugs.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

RA is an autoimmune related chronic progressive inflammatory disorder of joints and affecting about one per cent of the population. It is a disabling and painful condition, which can cause losing joint function and mobility if not adequately treated. In the disease course there may be some spontaneous remissions but over all it is a continuously progressing disease and could lead to joint deformities and losing functions. Systemic extra joint manifestations are also common in RA.  

The pathology of RA is mainly inflammation in multiple joints, which causes pain, hot, swelling, and deformities. It also affects other organs, such as lung, kidney, and blood vessels, and cardiovascular functions therefore it is a systemic disease. 

It affects women five times more often than men. The onset usually starts after 15 years old until age 80. The peak of incidence in women is around age 40 to 50 and for men will be slightly later. 

The cause of RA is still not clear and it is closely related autoimmunity. It has genetic trend and regional differences in incidence, such as people living in hot climate are less likely to get it. It is associated with the inherited tissue type major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigen HLA-DR4 therefore family history is an important risk factor.

Life style also affects its prevalence such as smoking can increase its incidence and moderate alcohol drinking can lessen its incidence.

RA rarely causes death directly but it could reduce the lifespan of patients. Proper active treatment can extend the lifespan of RA patients by increasing mobility and avoiding systemic complications.  If a patient responds to treatment well, indicates a better prognosis.

Tradition Chinese Medicine Cognition of RA

In TCM RA belongs to “痹症（Bi Zheng）,” which literally can be translated as “blockage damp-heat syndrome,” which means pain, swelling, and stiffness of muscles and joints due to an invasion of the muscles, meridians, bones and joints by pathogenic wind, cold, dampness, and heat etc. It can be sub-classified as “风（Feng） Bi” (Wind Bi), “寒（Han） Bi” (Cold Bi), “湿（Shi Bi）” (Damp Bi), and “热（Re Bi）” (Heat Bi) etc.

 “风 (Feng) Bi” (Wind Bi) is also called “行（Xing Bi）” (Moving Bi), which is caused by a relative excess of the pathogenic wind factor with chief manifestations of migratory pain and swollen of joints of the limbs. This could be rheumatic fever or the early stage of the RA with relatively mild symptoms.

“寒 (Han) Bi” (Cold Bi) is also called “痛（Tong Bi）” (Painful Bi), which caused by relative excess of the pathogenic cold factor with characteristics of agonizing and well located pain of the limbs and the body, relief by heat and aggravation by cold. This phenomenon can be explained by the cold activates the activities of the autoimmune antibodies, which are cryoglobulines and “cryo” means cold sensitive and can aggravate its activities. Cold can make all the RA symptoms worsen because the autoimmune activities are activated. Therefore patients should keep warm or even more to warmer places to live.

“湿 (Shi) Bi” (Damp Bi), is also called “着（Zhuo Bi）” (Stubborn Bi), which is caused by relative excess of the pathogenic damp factor and characterized by heavy feeling and numbness of the limbs and body with well-localized swelling and pain. This could be an advanced stage of the RA with deformities of joint and bone fusion.

“热（Re） Bi” (Heat Bi) is caused by a relative excess of the pathogenic heat factor and characterized by redness, swelling, heat and pain of the joints often with generalized fever manifestations. This is similar to the active inflammation of the joints and muscles of RA. Whenever the RA has a flare up, it shows the “Heat Bi” symptom pattern.

When extra-skeleton-muscular systems are involved, such as the kidney, lung, blood vessels, and the heart, “肾（Shen Bi）” (Renal Bi), “肺（Fei Bi）” (Pulmonic Bi), “脉（Mai Bi）” (Vascular Bi), and “心（Xin Bi）” (Cardiac Bi) could happen. We will discuss them later in the complications sections.

TCM has developed many effective herbal formulas for treating these types of RA. Particularly modernized TCM, the integrative TCM and Western Medicine, which we call modern Chinese Medicine (MCM) has made the treatment much more effective and can help patients to tapering off long-term dependency of harmful immune suppressive and steroids-based treatments and still get RA remission. Acupuncture has also been used very effectively for symptomatic releasing.

Pathogenesis of RA

The main pathological change of RA involves inflammation of the capsule of the joints, which causes swelling and hypertrophy (over growing) of synovial membrane, excessive secretion of synovial fluid, and the fibrosis (scaring) of the joint capsule, erosion of cartilage, and fusion of the joint bones, which causes deformation and lossing mobility. Extra-joint menifestations of RA are: anemia, inflammation in the lungs and the membranes around the lungs and the heart, kidney, vasculitis, Reynaud’s phenomena, and nodular lesions in the skin etc. Autoimmunity plays an important role in the chronicity and progression of RA. 

The course of the disease varies greatly. Some people have mild symptoms, but in most cases the disease is a progressive one. Those with skin nodules may have a poorer prognosis. Patients with persistent synovitis, erosive cartilage damages, extra-joint complications, family history of RA, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP), and increased clinical severity have a poorer prognosis.

If a patient responds to the treatment well the prognosis is better than those who do not respond to treatments. Because MCM treatments are individualized multi-targets regulatory treatment, patients will have more chances to better respond to the MCM treatments than conventional medication’s single target immune suppressive treatment, so MCM treatments can have better clinical outcome.

Clinical Features

Clinically the most obvious symptoms are symetrical multi-joints swelling, pain, hot, and red. Joint inflammation and cartirage damage causes limitation of the range of movements. Rheumatoid nodules can often find in the skin. Vasculitis, which causes Reynaud’s phenomena, can also happen in the patient of RA. Patient can have general global symptoms such as: morning stiffness, fatigue, low grade fever, malaise, lossing appetite and weight etc. Pale complexion is often seen in RA patients because anemia.

Systemic Complications of RA

Lung fibrosis is a complication of RA in the lung and it is rare but could also be a side effect of conventional immune suppressive therapies such as treated with methotrexate and leflunomide. Lung tissue nodules and pleural effusions (fluid in the chest cavity) are also associated with RA. About one quarter of RA patients may develop rheumatoid lung disease. In TCM it is called “肺（Fei Bi）” (Pulmonic Bi).

Kidney problems related with RA includes renal amyloidosis caused by chronic inflammation. RA patients have high level of circulatory immune complex (CIC), which is a combination of autoimmune antigen and antibody complex that may affect the kidney glomerulus directly through vasculitis and/or mesangial infiltrate. Some conventional medications for RA, such as Penicillamine and gold salts can cause membranous kidney disease. In TCM it is called “肾Shen Bi” (Renal Bi).

RA’s complication in cardiovascular system includes higher risk of blood vessel disorder, such as atherosclerosis, because the vasculitis (“脉Mai Bi” of TCM) caused by CIC.  It is a risk factor of heart attack and stroke. Other complications include: pericarditis (inflammation of the pericardium), endocarditis (inflammation of the epthelimum of the heart), left ventricular failure, valvulitis (inflammation of the heart valves) and fibrosis. They are called “心（Xin Bi）” in TCM. Controlling systemic inflammation is the way to reduce cardiovascular complications.

Other less often complications of RA include dry eyes and mouth, serum alkaline phosphatase elevation, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, low white blood cell count (neutropenia), and peripheral neuropathy. Osteoporosis could also happen due to more cytokines released because long lasting inflammation and therapeutically use of steroids.

Diagnosis of RA

Symptoms and signs can be used for clinical RA diagnosis are symmetrical multiple joint inflammation (pain, hot, red, and swellen) and morning body stiffness (morning body stiffness lasting more than one hour for at least six weeks). If these symptoms are there the RA diagnosis can be clinically established.

Medical imagery diagnosis such as X-ray, CAT scan, MRI, B-ultrasound can evaluate the degree of the joint inflammation and damages. X-rays of the hands and feet are generally performed in people with RA. In RA, there may be no changes in the early stages of the disease, or the X-ray may demonstrate juxta-articular osteopenia (bone density decreased in the ends of the bones), soft tissue swelling and narrowing of joint space. As the disease advances, there may be bony erosions and subluxation. X-rays of other joints may be taken if symptoms of pain or swelling occur in those joints. Other medical imaging techniques such as MRI and ultrasound are also useful in diagnosis of RA.

Blood immunological studies sould be done to test the presence of rheumatoid factor (RF), butabout 15% of patients are negative, which does not rule out RA. In the early stage of illness, RF is more likely to be negative and it converting to positive gradually. RF is also seen in other illnesses, for example Sjögren’s syndrome, chronic infections and in approximately 10% of healthy people, therefore the test is not very specific.

Blood testing of the anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs) is more specific but less sensitive. Recently a serological point-of-care test (POCT) is for the early detection of RA. The test combines the detection of RF and anti-mutated citrullinated vimentin (MCV) and shows a sensitivity of 72% and specificity of 99.7% in RA diagnosis.

Other blood tests should also be done to help with the RA diagnosis and monitoring the respond to the treatments, such as erythrocyte sediment rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), complete blood count, kidney and liver function, and other immunological tests (e.g., antinuclear antibody (ANA)) etc.

Treatments for RA

            Although we still don’t know exactly why RA happened, therefore we do not have a curative treatment for it, but we know what is happening, therefore we can control it to get it into a remission. Treatments for RA include supressing auto antibody production and the cytotoxic autoimmune T lymph cells activities to inhibit or halt the autoimmune reactions, which cause continous inflammation. The autoimmune antibody-antigen complex circulating (CIC) in the blood vessels and deposit in the joints and muscles combined with complements causes inflammation. To suppress autoimmune antibodies production and removal of CIC can greatly control the inflammatory activities. These are the main treatment strategies.

The treatment can prevent persistant joint tissue damage and it can release the pain and swelling to be used as symptomatic management also. Anti-inflammatory treatments are also useful to help control the joint tissue inflammation. Physical therapies can improve the mobility and life quality. Treatment protocol must also include treating extra-joint complications, such as anemia, lung, kidney, and cardiovascular problems.

Conventional Medicine

There is no curative treatment for RA up to now and the treatments available are using for alleviating symptoms and to get a remission and slowing down the disease progression. The treatments for releasing symptoms such as pain and swelling and preventing bone damage and joint deformition are trying to hold the progress of the disease and to maintain the quality of life of the patients. The following are the commonly used canventional RA treatments:

• Steroids, such as prednisone can offer quick relief but its side effects of long-term use are not desirable. It can be used as a pulse treatment to get a quick release from acute flare up of the disease and then tapering off when a remission is getting. Long term use can cause many undesirable side effects, such as hypertension, weight gain, water retention, osteoporosis, Cushing’s syndrome, and low libido, etc.

Besides the steroids, the following two main kinds of drugs are also used:

• Pain-killers for releasing pain and stiffness and non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) are used for controlling inflammation, but they do not prevent joint damage or slow down the disease progression. Many of them are hard for the stomach and can cause gastro intestineal problems.
• Disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDS) are used for reducing the rate of damaging of bone and cartilage. DMARDs have been able to induce durable remissions and to delay or halt progression. This tretment mainly use chemically synthesized cytotoxic immune suppressive drugs, such as: azathioprine, cyclosporine A, D- penicillamine, gold salts, hydroxychloroquine, liflunomide, methrexate (MTX), minocyline, sulfasalazine, and cyclophosphamide. Because they are cytotoxic (toxic to the cells) substances and can cause liver, kidney, bone marrow, skin toxic adverse reactions. Cytotoxic drugs can cause cell mutation, which can create new autoimmunity causing new autoimmune diseases and even malignancy. Often their use is limited by their toxicity.

Conventional medicine has limited value in the management of RA therefore to develop alternative approaches is very important in the treatment of RA.

Modern Chinese Medicine Treatments for RA

            MCM RA treatment includes herbal treatments and acupuncture. Although we do not have clear understanding why RA happened, but we know what is happening in the pathogenesis. The autoimmune reaction caused the body produces autoimmune antibody and cytotoxic autoimmune T lymph cells which against the body’s own tissues, such as the sinover membranes, the capsules, the cartilages and the connective tissues of the joints. Therfore we can suppress autoantibody production and the proliferation of autoimmune cytotoxic T lymph cells and removal of the autoantibody-autoantigen complex to control the inflammation of these tissues.  Using pain releasing, dampness drying (reducing swelling), and heat-clearing (controlling inflammation) herbal remedies to release symptoms. If patient already has extra joint manifestation in the liver, kidney, and lung them we can also treating them with herbal protocols accordingly.

In last centurey 1960s and 1970s, some botanical glycosides extracted from several Chinese herbs have been studied and found to have steroids’ effects without its side effects. They have been sueccesviely used for autoimmune disorders, such as RA, systemic lupus erythromatosus (SLE), ulcerative colitis, psoriasis, Hashimoto disease, etc. The botanical glycosides are the main ingredients of Zhang’s herbal product AI-M Capsule which has been effectively used for treating autoimmune disorders listed above. Chinese herbal treatments are much benign and have much less side effects and can be used as a stand-alone treatment and also can be used as an alternative treatment to help to tappering off conventional medications to provide a break for the patients from those cytotoxic medications.

            Immune regulation is the most important treatment for RA. The first choice of the herbal remedy we use is AI-M Capsule. For acute active RA, if the joint is hot, red, swell, and painful and blood tests showed highly elevated ESR, RF, ANA the dose of AI-M Capsule should be five capsules per day (two in the morning, one at noon, and two in the evening taking with food). If the condition is mild or moderate, and the inflammation is not very active and the blood tests showed mild elevations of those RA markers, then the dose is three capsules a day (one capsule each mail and take with food). AI-M Capsule can usually control the acute inflammation within one to two months time and the patient can notice the effects within one week. When acute inflammation has been controlled and become chronic then reduce to three (one capsule three times a day) capsules a day.

The precausion for taking this herbal product is that for child-bearing age women, it may cause menstruaion irregularity if taking it longer than three months. If the treatment needs longer time then it should take one to two months break from AI-M Capsule and alternating with TGP (total glycoside of peony) Capsule. For post menopausal women and for men, taking it longer than three months up to six months will be fine. The effects on the menstruation is reversible once it is stopped, the regularity of the menstruation will be restored.

When the remission is reached, it can be switched to TGP Capsule, which is more regulatoy to the immunity than suppressive. If patient is still on the conventional immune suppresive medicines, then the use of AI-M Capsule and/or TGP Capsule can help to reduce the dose and dependency of the conventional immune suppressors. We have been able successively helping patients to reduce their dependency of those cytotoxic medicines and also provided an alternative to replacing them. When use AI-M Capsule or TGP Capsule to help tapering off steroids, it can prevent withdrew crisis to happen.

Anti-malaria medications, such as chloroquine and hydrooxychloroquine have used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. But these substances can cause side effects such as bone marrow suppression and damaging the cornea and retine. Why this kind of medication is effective for RA is still not very clear. Our Zhang’s herbal product Arte-M Capsule’s active ingredient artesunate is an anti-malaria substance and has immune regulatory and anti inflammatory effects. It is a high efficacy, low toxic and safe immune regulator. The team discovered this substance had won 2015 Nobel Prize. It originally was for malaria and we borrowed it for treating babesia. Now this team is studying to use it for treating SLE and RA. They found the efficacy of threating these autoimmune disorders were more than 90%. Its suppressive effects on the autoimmunity may via nuclear factor kB (nuclear transcription factor kB, NF-kB) signal pathway to inhibite the secretion of tumor necrosis factor a (TNF- a) by the synoviocytes of the RA joints induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). This can suppress the inflammation of the synoval membrane. At the same time it has effects to suppress the secretion of interleukin 17 (IL-17) thus to inhibit the secretion of inflammatory factors by the synovicytes. These effects can reduce the damage of the cartilage and the bone of the joint. Therfore it is an effective immune regulator for treating RA but is not harmful to the bone marrow, cornea, and retina. Our Arte-M Capsule contains 50 mg of artesulate and the dosage is one capsule a time, twice a day. The daily dose of 100 mg is the standard anti-malaria dose. The dose is one capsule three times a day. Arte-M Capsule can be used as second line immune regulator as an alternative of AI-M Capsule and TGP Capsule.

In order to remove of the circulatory immune complex (CIC), which causes inflammation, Circulation P Capsule should be used. Circulation P Capsule can promote the phagocytosis of microphages to engulf the CIC. This formula has anti-fibrosis effects to prevent the scaring in the joints and also the fibrosis in the lung. It is also a pain releasing formula, because TCM theory states that pain caused by brockage of blood circulation and to release pain the first thing first is the removal of the brockadge and facilitating the blood circulation. This formula can promote the micro-circulaton in the cellular level and increasing blood supply to the RA demeged tissues to promote healing.

TCM Herbal Treatments for RA

RA in TCM diagnosis is considered as a “Bi” (dampness heat in the joints) syndrome. Bi means obstruction of circulation of Qi and blood, which usually results from invasion of the meridians by wing, cold, and damp due to weakness of defensive Qi (vitality and immunity). Some TCM formulas can also be used to clear the heat and dampness to expel the dampness (water retention, the swelling) and controlling the inflammation.

The R-788 Capsule can be used for reduce swelling and edema and also as an anti-fibrosis remedy. Guizhi Shaoyao Zhimu Tang (Cinnamon and Anemarrhena Combination), Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang (Cnidium and Chiang-huo Combination) and Duhuo Jisheng Tang (Tu-huo and Loranthus Combination) are all can be used to treat RA.

Chinese medicinal herbal tratment is an alternative of conventional medical immune suppressive and anti-inflammatory treatments. We have been able to help almost every patient to tappering off cytotoxic medications and still controlling the RA activities. This will give patient a break from those toxic drugs.

Acupuncture for RA:

            TCM consideres RA as a “Bi” syndrome which is caused by external pathogenic factors of Wind, Cold, and Damp and to eliminating them the acupoints on the Yang channels should be used.

For releasing systemic symptoms, such as body ache and stiffness the following points can be used: Houxi (S.I. 3), Shenmai (U.B. 62), Dabao (Sp.21) and Geshu (U. B. 17).

For low grade fever Dazhue (Du.14). 

For localized synptoms: such as the selection of the acupoints according the anatomical location of the painful joints.

For pain in the shoulder, following points should be used: Jianyu (L.I. 15), Jianliao (S.J. 14), Jianshen (S.I. 9), and Naoshu (S.I. 10).

For pain in the scapula, following points should be used: Tianzong (S.I. 11), Bingfeng (S.I. 12), Jianwaishu (S.I. 14) Gaohuangshu (U.B. 43)

For pain in the elbow, following points should be used: Quchi (L.I. 11), Chize (Lu.5), Tianjing (S.J. 10), Waiguan (S.J. 5), and Hegu (L.I. 4)

For pain in the wrist, following points should be used: Yangchi (S.J.4), Yanggu(S.I. 5) and Waiguan (S.J. 5).

For pain in fingers, following points should be used: Houxi (S.I. 3), Sanjian (L.I. 3), and Baxie (Extra).

For pain in the Hips, following points should be used: Huantiao (G.B. 30), Yinmen (U.B. 37), Femur-Juliao (G.B. 29).

For pain in the knee joint, following points should be used: Lianqiu (St. 34), Dubi (St. 35), Medial Xiyan (Extra), Yanglingquan (G. B. 34), Xiyangguan (G. B. 33), and Yinlingquan (Sp. 9).

For pain in the leg, following points should be used: Chengshan (U.B. 57), and Feiyang (U.B. 58).

For pain in the ankles, following points should be used: Jiexi (St. 41), Shangqiu (Sp. 5), Qiuxu (G.B. 40), Kunlun (U.B. 60), and Taixi (K. 3).

For pain in the toes, following points should be used: Gongsun (Sp. 4), Shugu (u.B. 62), Dabao (Sp. 21), and Geshu (U.B. 17).

For the prevention and treatment of Covid 19 infection with modern Chinese medicine method, I have some thought which is based on my reading and also on the phyto-pharmacology of our herbal products. 

    The Covid 19 corona virus has strong infectivity and can spread very easily and fast within humans. But its morbidity and mortality are not very high. Therefore the main concern is preventing the infection from developing into serious sickness in case one got infection. 

    According to many information sources that about 40% of infected people are asymptomatic, another 40% or so are mildly ill with symptoms, and about 20% will be sick and among them 6 to 8% could be serious or critic sick even need ICU care or ventilator for aided breathing. Once critic sick, the death rate will be around 50%. Those seriously sick patients even recovered, the sequel will be quite severe, such as lung fibrosis and brain, heart or kidney damage, Therefore to prevent the infection from developing into a serious sickness is vitally important in the treatment of the infection.

    The first thing first is preventing infection of the virus that is to wear mask and also washing hands and keep social distance. In our herbal preventive method, we use Allicin Capsule, when you need to shop or to be with people, put a capsule of Allicin in the mouth, do not swallow to let it slowly release the Allicin in the mouth that can raise the local concentration to prevent the virus coming in to the mouth and nose. Another way is daily take Allicin Capsule one capsule twice a day. This is the method we are using for our own family

In case one contracted the virus, then taking therapeutic dose of Allicin Capsule, (two capsules three times a day) to suppress virus reproduction in the body. At same time to prevent the infection from developing to become a serious sickness. According to the experiences in China, the Lian Hua Qing Wen Capsule (LH24) Can be used for this purpose also.

 The virus causes the first major damaging pathological change is DIC (diffused intra-vascular coagulation). Because our body’s receptor of the Covid 19 virus is the ACE-2 enzyme in the endothelial cells of the blood vessel, once it get in the body the virus first combine with this enzyme and causes the endothelial cells inflammation that made the internal surface of the blood vessel wall rough that causes the blood coagulation to form thrombosis. It can cause multiple system damages. When the blood clots go to the brain causes stroke, to the heart causes heart attack, to the lung causes lung thrombosis, and to the kidney causes kidney failure. This is a very serious pathogenesis in the Covid 19 infection, the conventional medicine use anti-coagulation medicine, such as Aspirin or blood thinners. In our herbal products, the Circulation P Capsule is one of the main treatments for DIC and it can prevent the intra-vascular coagulation to happen. Therefore to take Circulation P Capsule is not only as a general health support and it can also be very useful in the treatment of DIC caused by Covid 19 infection.

    One more dangerous pathogenesis of the Covid 19 infection is that it causes stormy-secretion of the cytokines, such as interleukin 2 and interleukin 6 etc. that causes explosive inflammation in the lungs. The explosive inflammation not only kills the virus, it also kills the patient. A proper self-limited inflammation is our body’s mechanism to eradicate the infection, but the explosive inflammation can dramatically damage the lungs and suffocate the air-exchanging function of the lung and cause the patient to die. For blocking this pathogenesis conventional medicine uses dexamethasone, a steroid; in our herbal products, we can use AI-M Capsule, Arte-M Capsule, and TGP Capsule to prevent this stormy cytokine secretion and the explosive inflammation. The Chinese herbal medicine formula Clear Lung and Detox Formula is also useful in the treatment of the lung inflammation.

With these herbal treatments we can prevent the serious or critic sickness to happen and save the life.

    For those already had serious sickness and recovered survivors, we have to prevent and treat their sequel, that is to promote healing and treat the lung fibrosis. The Circulation P Capsule and Cordyceps Capsule have been used in treating lung fibrosis in the silicon lung (a miner’s disease) and also used for treating liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in the hepatitis C and B patients. They have obvious reversing fibrosis effects.

Covid 19 Notes (7/2/2020)

People who are infected now (July, 2020) have a greater chance of survival than those infected three or four months ago. The reason is that doctors and scientists now know more about Covid-19 than they did before.

We now know “Five important things” that we don’t know before.

1. COVID-19 was initially thought to be the “sickness and death caused by pneumonia-lung infection- and, as a result, a ventilator is considered the best way to treat patients who cannot breathe”. Now we know that the virus first invades endothelial cells of blood vessels which cause blood clotting in the blood vessels of the lungs and other parts of the body, leading to reduced blood oxygenation. Providing oxygen through a ventilator alone is useless and must prevent and dissolve tiny clots in the blood vessels of the lungs. This is why drugs such as Asprin and Heparin (blood thinner to prevent clotting) were used in treatment regimens in June 2020 and grammatically reduced the fatality.

(The arrows pointing to are the blood clots.)

• Due to the reduction of oxygen in the blood, the patient dies even before going to the hospital. Because “Happy HYPOXIA”, oxygen saturation decreases, but COVID-19 infected patients are asymptomatic until severely reduced, sometimes drops down to lower than 70%. Usually, if oxygen saturation drops below 90%, we feel to have trouble breathing. Patients with Covid infection do not trigger this breathing difficulty, so it is often too late for patients to go to the hospital. Now, knowing “hypoxia”, we are monitoring the oxygen saturation of all Covid-19 patients, simply using a pulse oximeter if the reading of oxygen saturation of the pulse oximeter drops down to 93% or less, take the patient to the hospital as soon as possible. This gives doctors more time to correct oxygen deficiencies in the blood and provides a better chance of survival.
• In February 2020, we did not have anti-coronavirus drugs. Only use symptomatic and supportive treatments for the complications, such as ventilator for difficulty of breathe. As a result, most patients are seriously infected because the virus load dramatically increases. Now we have 2 important drugs, Favipiravir and Remdesivir, which are antiviral drugs that can kill the new coronavirus. With both drugs, we can prevent serious infections in patients, so we can cure them before they develop hypoxia. We acquired this knowledge only in June 2020 and not in February 2020.
• Many Covid-19 patients die not only because of the virus, but also because the patient’s own immune system reacts in an exaggerated way called a “cytokine storm”. This stormy and intense immune response not only kills the virus, but also kills the patient. In February 2020, we don’t know how to prevent this from happening. Now we know that steroid drugs, dexamethasone can be used to prevent cytokine storms and stormy immune responses in patients.
• It is now also known that hypoxytic patients can improve with a reclining position. Israeli scientists have found that patients with Covid-19 infection could produce a substance “alpha Defensin” that causes micro-clots in the blood vessels of the lungs, and uses the drug Cholcicine, which was used for preventing and treating gout, to fight this substance’s effects.

As a result, patients are now (after June 2020) more likely to survive than in February 2020.

With the knowledge about the virus increase, there will be much less panicked with the Covid-19 pandemic than before.

Let’s follow these simple precautions:

• Keep 6 feet away from others
• Wear a mask
•  As far as possible work at home
• To buy groceries and vegetables on net shops
• To stay at home during the city lock down
• Wash hands and sanity

We can defeat the virus.

If someone tells you that everyone is going to be infected, tell them you’re willing to wait longer and buying time…. When we know more about COVID 19 infection and there will be better treatment.

QCZhang’s comments:

• For use alternative non-conventional medicine, such as modern Chinese medicine’s approaches, we can use Allicin and Circulation P Capsule for preventing and treating the defused intra-vascular coagulation (DIC) to prevent thrombosis of brain (stroke), lung thrombosis (hypoxia), heart attack,  and kidney failure.
• For cytokine storm and explosive inflammatory reaction, we can use AI –M, TGP, and Arte-M Capsules as alternative of steroids with much less side effects.
• For anti-viral effects to reduce the load of the virus in the body, Allicin, Glycyrrhizin, and HH Capsules can be use.   
• Of cause, the first thing first is to avoid the contract the virus by self-protection, and enhance our own immunity. Buying time to wait until the vaccine is available.

New Corona Virus are Mutated, More Susceptible to Infect Humans!

Daily Economic News from weibo.com

With a new mutation of corona virus, it is more susceptible to human infection! There have been cases of two-way infections between humans and animals worldwide, and a new U.S. study on June 12th showed that the new corona virus is likely to have “mutations” that are more likely to infect human cells. A mutation called “D615G” makes the virus’s synaptic protein population more and more stable, making it easier to enter human cells. Fauci, an infectious disease expert in the United States, has said that the process of genetic mutations in the virus is consistent with the process of transmitting humans from animals. There was previous case in the Netherlands, when workers contracted the new corona virus from otters.

How to distinguish symptoms to see whether you are infected with corona virus?

Summary from Wuhan, China ” Fever Clinic” Doctors:

How to distinguish the following conditions?

 (1) Dry cough, sneezing,     =  Air pollution

(2) Cough, mucus, sneezing, runny nose,    = Cold

(3) Cough, mucus, sneezing, runny nose, whole body soreness, weakness, mild fever,  = Flu

(4) Dry cough, sneezing, taste and smell disorders, fatigue, body pain, high fever, breathing difficulty,  = Corona Viral Infection

Are You Prepared?

All infectious disease experts in the United States agree that the new coronavirus will infect 20-60% of the population in 18 months, how should we prepare?

Heyuan Co., Ltd. U.S. Consulting 4 days ago (that means it was published around 06/17/2020)

Fig1.  Comparison of the fatalities

COVID19 is an uncontrollable virus

New coronavirus also known as COVID19, and the now infectious disease, experts agree that it is uncontrollable. The scary point of the new coronavirus is:

1. Human transmission: IN 2002 SARS and 2012 MERS viruses were controlled because they only have a strong rate of transmission between animals and people and human transmission rate is very weak, so as long as the restriction of human contact with infected animals can be effectively controlled.

2. Strong transmission: The H1N1 influenza virus in 2009 infected 1 billion people worldwide in six months, and THE COVID19 virus is a similar influenza virus, but it is more contagious than H1N1. So what we’re seeing now is the initial stage of virus infection. The Covid 19 new crown  virus has come into this world, it will not disappear, it will become a part of us humans.

3. No seasonality: In general, influenza viruses are not suitable for survival in high temperatures and humidity, and in low-temperature dry climates are suitable for mass reproduction of influenza, so influenza mostly occurs in spring, and in summer outbreaks decrease, and outbreaks rise during the autumn/winter rotation. From the evidence available to date, the COVID-19 virus can be transmitted in all regions, including hot and humid regions.

This results in only two final results:

1. Everyone is infected and recovers into a virus- immune status that the virus becomes part of the common seasonal cold virus. Natural immunity introduced in the UK before was the process.
2. But the end result makes it the same as other coronaviruses that cause influenza. While we are seeing a decline in new cases in China now, this may only be temporary, and it is likely to rebound later. All infectious disease experts in the United States predict that 20-60% of the U.S. population will be infected with the virus within 18 months, and in the best case scenario is that 340,000 people in the U.S. will die if 20 percent of the population of the U.S. is infected and 0.5 percent dead. In less desirable circumstances, 60 per cent of the population is infected and the 1 per cent fatality rate, there will be 2,040,000 deaths.

According to the information we have collected in recent days, it is only a matter of time to conclude that infection with the virus is something that cannot be avoided. Of course, the longer you can hold on, the better the chance, because there will certainly be better treatment options in the future (mainly the development of antiviral drugs). So far, however, there are no drugs specifically designed to prevent and treat new coronaviruses.

Those infected with the virus should receive treatment for preventing conversion to severe sickness and symptoms; while patients with serious conditions should receive the best supportive treatment for all of their symptoms. Specific treatments are under study and will be tested through clinical trials. So we should be well prepared to analyze our own risks.

Fig 2. Fatality related with age. 

Everyone has a different risk perception, but a fatality rate above 0.5% is already very dangerous. The chart above shows that the death risk of younger than 40 years of age is 0.2%. The death risk of 40-50 years of age is close to 1%. The death risk of 60-70 years of age is up 3.6-8%. And the death risk of over 80 years of age is as high as 14.8%. Age is on the one hand, and in the Fig 3 let’s see what else in the body is that increases the risk.

Fig 3. Fatality related with basic diseases.

The highest mortality rate for COVID19 was 10.5% for patients with cardiovascular disease, with 7.3% of the second-highest mortality rate being with diabetics, followed by 6.3% of patients with chronic respiratory diseases, 6% of patients with hypertension, 5.6% of cancer patients and 0.9% without disease. Other data also put the death rate among middle-aged men who smoked was 8-10%, compared with 2% for women who did not smoke at the same age. If you’re 50-60 and still smoke, you should start worrying about your risks. If you also have high blood sugar or high blood pressure, then you can say this is a very urgent situation.

At least we can do it:

1. Wash your hands for more than 20 seconds: Studies have found that hand washing is effective in preventing viruses because the frictional effects that occur when we are washing hand, so the length of time is important. In addition, wash hands frequently with alcohol-contain washing fluid and hand sanitizer or wash your hands with soap and water. Because cleaning hands with alcohol-contained hand sanitizer or washing hands with soap and water can kill the virus on your hands.
2. Avoid contact with multiple people: This is a respiratory-transmitted virus that clings to water droplets in our breathing, coughing and sneezing. Once the water droplets evaporate, the virus can no longer spread. The distance between man and man is 1-2 meters.
3. Masks: it better than nothing: There is no evidence that wearing a mask is effective in preventing viral infections. This means that masks can prevent some bacteria from entering your mouth or nostrils. What’s more, it prevents your own hands from touching your mouth and nose (most people do these things subconsciously). If you’re really infected then wearing a mask can also prevent you from infecting others.

How can we be prepared:

So far, we still have almost a year to strengthen our immune system, because in a year’s time, it’s likely to affect 50 percent of the population (ideally 20 percent), and no country is safe, and it’s impossible to sustain a travel ban for a long time.

Enhanced immune base:

•  Good sleep quality
• High protein, high nutritional density diet
• Exercise enhances immune base. Good sleep quality high protein, high nutritional density diet and exercise. Cold exposure (cold water), heat exposure (sauna), breathing exercise to help you relieve stress (chronic stress can lead to immune disorders).
• Supplement ion zinc (if properly used, there is great potential for a complete cure of the virus) chloroquine the only  FDA-approved antiviral drug)
• Selenium (garlic, broccoli, beef, eggs, supplements) (most effective nutrition for reducing toxicity)
• probiotics (supplements) (regulating the immune system)
• Mushroom supplements (supplements) (regulating immune system)
• Vitamin A (liver) (regulating the immune system)
• Vitamin D (sunshine, supplements)

It is recommended to be well prepared, because the rain will come, do not have no umbrella at hand.

来源：漢和源株式会社  Source: Yuhe Source Co., Ltd.

Translated and edited by QCZhang

Dr. Zhang’s comment:

The article does not take Chinese medicine into account. As you can read posts of this blog, I have included many effective prevention and treatment methods of Chinese medicine in this blog. Chinese medicine had been clinically proven that it can dramatically reduce fatality and also the rate of critical sickness in Covid 19 infections.

New Covid 19 Sequelae Emerges! Important Serious Damages, this article is from the public No. : Australian Micro-News WeChat: XWWB66/

More than 7 million people worldwide have been infected with the new coronavirus. The number of patients who died due to the new coronavirus is more than 400,000!  Humans are helpless about the plague that has ravaged the world, and the virus is still spreading throughout the world. Those who survived the devastation are still struggling with their illness. It is reported that in the worst-hit areas of Europe and the United States, more and more “rehabilitation” patients have a sequelae.

1. Damage to the lungs: Recently, many of Italy’s new coronary pneumonia “rehabilitation” people still have the physical discomfort. These patients are still being treated with cough, fatigue and other sequelae. When some people return to work, they can’t even take a short walk because of short breathing and muscle aches. Italian football superstar Paolo Maldini said he has recovered from a minor infection, but has left a legacy. “I tried to go to the gym today for some training, but after just 10 minutes, I couldn’t hold on.” A similar situation has occurred in Hong Kong. The Infectious Diseases Centre of Princess Margaret Hospital in Hong Kong followed up the first 10 discharged patients and found that three of them had impaired lung function by 20 to 30 percent. The after-effects are mainly manifested in the faster walking that causes shortage of gas, cannot do normal exercise, or even cannot go back to the previous work. Wang Guiqiang, director of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Peking University’s First Hospital, pointed out that severe lung infections can develop pulmonary fibrosis. Some seriously ill patients will develop lung fibrosis after treatment, affecting daily life and later advances to a stage that needing lung transplant. At present for pulmonary fibrosis, there is no special treatment and the disease is irreversible.
2. Damage to the liver and the kidneys: In addition to damage to the lungs, there is growing evidence that the new coronavirus can also leave a legacy on the liver and kidneys of infected people. Legendary American rapper Scarface is recovering from infection and symptoms had disappeared, leaving kidney failure worsening due to the virus, now he is on dialysis treatment. But experts say recovery from kidney damage may be a long way off. Two months ago, studies have shown that kidney damage is common in people with new coronavirus infections. The paper, Caution 0n Kidney Dysfunctions of 2019-nCoV Patients, looked at 59 cases of infection from Wuhan, Huangshi, and Chongqing cities. It was found that 63% of patients showed symptoms of renal insufficiency, and CT scans showed 100% of patients with abnormal renal imaging. Experts in the UK and Canada have also found that 8 to 12 per cent of new crown virus patients in intensive care have liver or kidney failure and need to rely on year-round dialysis to survive. Huang Bo, deputy director of the Institute of Basic Medicine of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, said liver and kidney damage in infected people may be caused by lung dysfunction. “When breathing dysfunction occurs, oxygen exchange is blocked, other organs are oxygen-dishful, and kidneys that are particularly sensitive to oxygen often experience severe functional damage.
3. Damage to the brain: In addition to the lungs, liver and kidneys, studies have found     that many recovering patients have very serious central nerve sequelae. A neurological study of patients hospitalized with new coronavirus pneumonia in Huazhong University of Science and Technology showed that more than 30% of the 214 patients had neurological symptoms, which were manifested in three categories: First,central nervous system symptoms such as headache, dizziness, consciousness disorder, acute cerebrovascular disease, epilepsy, etc. Second, peripheral nervous system symptoms such as taste loss, loss of smell, loss of appetite, nerve pain, etc. Third, skeletal muscle damage.  A 24-year-old Japanese man living alone developed a high fever after contracting the new coronavirus, accompanied by headaches and weakness of his limbs. A few days later the man was unconscious at home and was diagnosed with meningitis and a positive PCR test for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Experts say the meningitis is highly likely caused by new coronary pneumonia. When the man woke up, he found that his memory of recent 1 or 2 years had been lost. The attending doctor, Yukio Mori, said it was the new coronary pneumonia virus invaded the central nervous system. Last month, a 56-year-old new coronary patient was confirmed to have a new coronavirus in CSF; this is rare, but it had occurred many times worldwide. As for why patients lose memory, experts believe this is because the part of the patient’s brain responsible for memory is damaged, leading to memory loss and other sequelae. According to observations of the pathological tissue, many infected people’s brain parts have pathological changes: brain tissue congestion, edema, and partial neuronal degeneration. There are also many asymptomatic infections with blood clots into the cerebrovascular vessels, which eventually lead to a stroke. Reference news reported a week ago, the United States media said that medical staff announced on the 22nd, the new coronavirus appears to have caused the patients in their 30s and 40s were not serious sick but had sudden stroke.

• Damage to the heart: The damage caused by the new coronavirus to the patient’s heart is not easy to ignore. A 48-year-old patient from east London has revealed that her new coronary pneumonia has left her with severe heart damage. “I’ve been feeling cold for nine weeks after the cure, and then the doctor told me that I had congestive cardiomyopathy (a weakened heart function, a larger heart cavity, a heart that could not pump enough blood)” and that it might be the case for the rest of my life, and that most people would slowly get better, but some people might have to install pacemakers or even need a heart transplant. Dr. James Russell, a professor of medicine at the University of British Columbia, and several other researchers found that in the study of 8,000 patients with new coronary pneumonia, more than half of the patients with severe heart damage and even caused death. Dr Russell said complications were more severe in new corona patients who had been on an ICU, especially those who had been on a ventilator. They are likely to have problems with the lungs, brain, heart, and muscles in the future.

“Assisted breathing is a double-edged sword”: Not long ago, “Black-faced doctor”     Hu Weifeng also developed cerebral hemorrhage symptoms after using assisted breathing equipment. His attending doctor noted that “going to ECMO is a matter of ninety percent chance of deaths.” ‘

Some people may ask, patients are cured, why there will be sequelae? In fact, from a medical point of view, to assess whether a disease will produce sequelae after treatment, generally after the recovery of the disease more than 6 months to start. Because the human body has a certain degree of self-healing, many times the disease caused by the damage to the body organs, after the elimination of pathological factors, the body can self-repair, and then return to normal without any sequelae. But according to this standard to assess the new corona pneumonia, the time is not enough. After all, from its outbreak is still less than half a year, coupled with the human new coronavirus is still in a gradual understanding of the process, the unexpected after-effects are also reasonable.

Finally, dealing with this new virus, cure does not mean that the success of treatment, whether there will be serious complications left over will take time to verify. The battle between humans and viruses is far from over… Now is not the time to take it lightly.

Dr. QC Zhang translated from a Chinese source. 6/11/2020