Abstract
Though disciplines in the same field, modern medicine (Western medicine) and traditional medicine (Traditional Chinese medicine, TCM) have been viewed as two distinct and divergent fields of medicine and thus differ greatly in their ways of diagnosing, treating, and preventing disease. In brief, Western medicine is primarily an evidence (laboratory)-based science, whereas TCM is more of a healing art based on the theory of Yin and Yang and the five elements in the human body. Therefore, whether TCM and Western medicine could use similar philosophical approaches to treat disease remains unclear. It is well-known that vitamin D enhances immune function and reduces the spread of some viruses. Indeed, recent evidence shows that the blood calcium level is strongly associated with COVID-19 severity, and vitamin D supplementation has shown favorable effects in viral infections. According to TCM theory, the pathogenesis of COVID-19 is closely associated with cold-dampness, an etiological factor in TCM. Cold-dampness could be attenuated by sun exposure and Wenyang herbs, both of which can restore the vitamin D level in the blood in Western medicine. Therefore, TCM and Western medicine could share similar philosophical methods to fight COVID-19 and understanding their philosophical theories could achieve the maximum benefits for treatment of COVID-19 and other diseases.
Highlights
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been rapidly spreading worldwide for more than a year and is still not under control [1,2]
Western medicine performs diagnosis based on laboratory tests and focuses on eliminating symptoms, while TCM diagnoses through the symptoms and appearances to seek to address the overall systemic problem
As each approach has values and therapeutic methods that can be explained both scientifically and philosophically, both could be mutually beneficial rather than exclusive, and we believe that TCM and Western medicine could share similar philosophical methods to fight COVID-19
Summary
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been rapidly spreading worldwide for more than a year and is still not under control [1,2]. Whether TCM and Western medicine could use similar philosophical approaches to treat diseases remains vague. While Wenyang is the supplement to the Yang Qi of the human body by using warm methods, the cold-dampness syndrome can be treated by Wenyang to promote diuresis. In a study of 84 patients with COVID-19, all patients had cold or wet symptoms, and the method of Wenyang and damp-clearing is usually used in the treatment.[10].
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