(Photo:VCG)

The Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles on April 10 invited Zhang Boli, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and president of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, to speak live over the internet with students and overseas Chinese in the U.S. on how to use Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to prevent and treat COVID-19.

The webcast was held to introduce the unique effect and value of TCM in the fight against COVID-19, and to help overseas students and Chinese better prevent the disease, according to a report by Science and Technology Daily.

Zhang, a member expert of the Central Guidance Team in Hubei, has been fighting on the front line against COVID-19 since January. During the webcast, he introduced how TCM is applied in China to fight the disease. He said TCM is not only an early intervention method, but also plays an important role in the whole treatment process.

The professor elaborated on the characteristics and advantages of TCM in preventing and treating COVID-19 and its sequelae, including the effects of the drugs in combination with Western medicine on treating patients with mild symptoms and preventing the disease from worsening to critical condition. Such combination has dramatically reduced the death rate of patients in critical condition, according to Zhang. In addition, Chinese medicines, acupuncture, massage, Baduanjin Exercise (a certain type of fitness qigong) and other therapies have helped patients tested positive after recovery to improve cardiopulmonary function and blood heat situation to eliminate sputum bolt, Zhang said.

In the Q&A session, Zhang gave suggestions to overseas students and Chinese on home quarantine, disease prevention, making good use of TCM or alternative resources in the case of limited TCM accessible in the U.S., and care of patients with mild symptoms. He said that, to maintain a steady state of mind during home quarantine, people should develop good habits, maintain a healthy diet, and take some Chinese herbal medicines to enhance the body's immunity. He also answered questions on the effectiveness of TCM in COVID-19 prevention and treatment and about the promotion of TCM overseas.

Zhang said that at present the medical community does not have a thorough understanding of the disease, for which the cure is yet to be found. In this case, saving lives is the top priority. The Chinese government is highly concerned with overseas students and Chinese, and will do its utmost to offer help. Meanwhile, China is also doing what it can to help other countries affected by the pandemic. "The pandemic knows no border, and the diseases knows no race," Zhang said, adding that all nations should unite and work together to fight against mankind's common enemy -- COVID-19.

Zhang Ping, consul general of the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles, said that the pandemic has been spreading rapidly in the U.S., and that he hopes students, overseas Chinese, and employees of Chinese-funded enterprises in the U.S. would strengthen self-protection. He said that the motherland and people always care about their people overseas. President Xi Jinping has made clear instructions for strengthening the guidance and support for overseas Chinese nationals. The consul general said he hopes that everyone can better understand the use of TCM in COVID-19 prevention and better protect themselves.