On February 19, under the leadership of medical staff, Mr. Chen and Ms. Chen walked out of Luzhou Infectious Diseases Hospital Affiliated to Southwest Medical University. Both of them were infected with the novel coronavirus and were cured by a combination of traditional Chinese and Western medicine.

Mr. Chen, 26, had a close contact history with a confirmed patient, and had fever, cough and other symptoms. His nucleic acid test was positive. On February 5, he was quarantined by Luzhou Infectious Disease Hospital. The patient exhibited symptoms such as sputum with blood, dyspnea after activity, loose stool. The tongue turned reddish and had a bit of coating. On the basis of ‘Qingfeipaidu Decoction’ recommended by the Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, he was administered a dose of raw gypsum (30g), Houttuynia cordata Thunb (30g), Lycium chinensis Mill (12g) and Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb (15g). On February 18, Mr. Chen’s symptoms disappeared and he can now be discharged.

Ms. Chen, 54, was also diagnosed with the COVID-19 on February 9. The patient had no cough, tongue had a red hue and little saliva. Following the ‘Qingfeipaidu Decoction’, Asters tataricus and Tussilago farlara were removed, Bupleurum chinensie (18g) and Dendrobium loddigesii Rolfe (15 g) added to decoction. On February 18, Ms. Chen’s symptoms disappeared and she can now be discharged.

Aiming at two confirmed patients, Mr. Chen and Ms. Chen, the Luzhou expert group of traditional Chinese medicine, based on the ‘Qingfeipaidu Decoction’ recommended by the Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, combined with the characteristics of damp and hot constitution in Luzhou area, used the prescription that dredges the Sanjiao, helps the waste and stale gas exit the body to rebuild holistic balance and harmony and relieve cough and asthma. Coix lacryma, Phragmites communis Trin and Artemisia scoparia Waldst were used to remove damp and heat in the body, and to return Yang. Dehumidification does not hurt Yin, moistening lung does not hinder dampness, and has achieved good clinical effect.

Patient He, female, 29 years old, was admitted to Suining Infectious Disease Hospital on February 9, and was treated with antiviral, anti infective, antitussive and expectorant therapy. According to the syndrome differentiation of traditional Chinese medicine, she was pestilential pathogen, and her lungs were being attacked by exopathogens. She was treated with ‘Qingfeipaidu Decoction’. During the treatment, she suffered dry mouth, phlegm in the pharynx, nausea and retching occasionally. According to the syndrome differentiation of traditional Chinese medicine, she was pestilential pathogen and pathogenic factors were accumulated in the lung. ‘Maxingyigan Decoction’ and ‘Dayuan Decoction’ were selected for the treatment. After seven days, the symptoms of the patients had subsided. On February 16, CT infection was absorbed, and on February 14, 15 and 17, nucleic acid was negative. After the discussion of the expert group, it was determined that the patient met the standard of de-isolation and was discharged from hospital on February 19.

At present, many hospitals in the country have taken to combining traditional Chinese and Western medicine to treat patients with COVID-19, which has achieved good results. Sichuan Province has included three kinds of traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of patients with COVID-19 into the payment scope of Provincial Medical Insurance Fund. The application of traditional Chinese medicine alleviated the side effects of gastrointestinal and liver dysfunction brought by western medicine. Many patients improved significantly after several days of treatment. Nucleic acid examination turned negative and reached the terminate isolation standard.