Since arriving in Wuhan, 72-year-old academician Zhang Boli has been working around the clock for more than two months investigating the use of traditional Chinese medicine on patients with the novel coronavirus.
Zhang Boli, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, speaks at a press conference in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei province, March 23, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]
Since Zhang Boli arrived in Wuhan as part of the Central Guidance Team on Jan.27, the 72-year-old academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) has been working around the clock for more than two months.
Zhang, who is also a deputy to the 13th National People's Congress, said he felt duty-bound to help his country at this time of crisis.
Jiangxia makeshift hospital
COVID-19 patients in Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak in China, have received treatment in collective isolation and under classified management, according to decisions made by the Central Guidance Team. Zhang and other experts in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) strongly advised the use of TCM on all of the isolated patients.
With the approval of the Central Guidance Team, Zhang and 208 other experts formed a TCM medical team and started treating patients at a makeshift hospital in Wuhan's Jiangxia district. They decided to apply a comprehensive treatment solution primarily using the Qingfei Paidu Decoction and Xuanfeibaidu Formula, complemented by tai chi, baduanjin and acupuncture therapy.
Proven efficacy of TCM
After treatment with the TCM formulas, none of the 564 mild and common patients at the makeshift hospital developed into severe cases. In contrast, WHO statistics show that overall, around 6% to 10% of mild COVID-19 cases develop into severe ones. "More importantly, the blood biochemical indices of the recovered patients, such as the number of lymphocytes and leukocytes, showed significant improvements," explained Zhang.
The effective practices at Jiangxia Hospital were swiftly applied by other makeshift hospitals, with 90% of such hospitals in Wuhan adopting TCM treatment. Having clearly demonstrated its efficacy, TCM has become an important part of the "Chinese approach to fighting COVID-19."
Valuing research and treatment
While promoting the use of TCM, Zhang also stepped-up related scientific research to provide a basis for clinical decisions.
Zhang is leading a research program to evaluate the clinical value of TCM combined with western medicine in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19, which was launched on Feb. 3. In order to improve the research coverage and allow data to be published in a timely manner, his team developed a dedicated system for the acquisition and analysis of COVID-19 clinical data.
A nurse treats a patient with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapy at a makeshift hospital in Jiangxia district in Wuhan, central China's Hubei province, Feb. 25, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]
Meanwhile, TCM experts studied the details of 1,000 patients in varying conditions from nearly 20 hospitals across the country. They concluded that COVID-19 can be considered in TCM terminology as "a disease caused by noxious dampness," giving direction to TCM treatment. Under Zhang's guidance, his team also evaluated the clinical efficacy of various TCM treatments, and carried out drug screening and development.
Promoting TCM's widespread use
Many of the medical teams dispatched to Wuhan have now started to head home, but Zhang's return date has yet to be decided.
After the closure of the Jiangxia makeshift hospital, Zhang shifted the focus of his work to the rehabilitation of recovered patients. "Many severe patients still have such symptoms as heart palpitations and fatigue even after they've been discharged from hospital. Some patients also suffer from damage to their lungs and other organs. We need to assess their conditions and then apply targeted rehabilitation treatments," Zhang said.
On March 24, a platform offering rehabilitation services for medical workers infected with the virus was put into operation. "The platform is sponsored by the CAE and the Tencent Foundation, with Wuhan Union Hospital and Wuhan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine providing specific services. We're trying to help the medical workers recover completely and return to normal work and life within two to three years," explained Zhang, who is in charge of the platform.
Meanwhile, the situation in other countries is also worrying to Zhang. "We have empathy for the current situation in Europe and the United States," he said.
He said that many foreign organizations have invited him to share China's experiences in combating the pandemic, especially regarding the use of TCM.
"We've given prescriptions to various countries based on their climate and other conditions. In addition, we've also sent them some TCM."
This article was published in Science and Technology Daily in Chinese, and translated by Zhang Liying.
(You can also read it at： http://www.china.org.cn/china/special_coverage/2020-04/06/content_75899205.htm)
张伯礼代表：战疫时刻，激发中医药深厚内力
科技日报记者 操秀英 杨朝晖 编辑 龙云
自大年初三随中央指导组奔赴武汉至今的两个月里，72岁的全国人大代表、中央指导组专家、中国工程院院士张伯礼日夜奔忙。
“读书人在世，有3件事不能避：为国请命不能避，为国赴难不能避，临危受命不能避。”这是张伯礼赴武汉时的心声，也是他的行动。
江夏方舱的尝试
当时，根据疫情中央指导组及时决策，按照专家们的意见实行集中隔离，分类管理。此时，张伯礼等中医专家力主让集中隔离的患者全部吃上中药。
后经中央指导组同意，张伯礼等人组建了一支拥有209位专家的中医医疗队，进驻江夏方舱医院。他们确定了对舱内大多数病人采用协定的以清肺排毒汤和宣肺败毒方为主的通治方，辅以太极、八段锦和穴位贴敷的综合治疗康复措施。
数据证明决策有效
采用通治方后江夏方舱医院26天运营中收治的新冠肺炎轻症和普通型患者564人，没有1例从轻症转向重症,而按照世界卫生组织的统计，新冠肺炎轻症患者中约有6%到10%转成重症。“更显著的证据是，出院病人的淋巴细胞数、白细胞数等血液生化指标发生了明显改善。”张伯礼说。
江夏方舱医院的探索迅速推广到其他方舱医院。中药使用率在汉方舱医院超过90%。中医药的出色表现成为新冠肺炎治疗“中国方案”的重要组成部分。
科研与救治两手抓
在发挥中医药临床救治过程中，张伯礼指导的科研工作也在加速推进，有力支撑临床救治决策。
实际上，在2月3日启动的“国家科技应急攻关项目——中西医结合防治新型冠状病毒感染的肺炎的临床研究”，正是由张伯礼负责。他深入武汉“红区”诊察病情，首要任务就是开展证候学调查。为了提高调查研究的覆盖面和数据获取的及时性，并考虑临床救治实际条件，研究团队开发了专门用于新冠肺炎临床数据采集和分析系统。
另一方面，对来自全国近20家医院的1000例不同病情分级患者中医证候信息的分析，中医专家判断此次新冠肺炎是“湿毒疫”，为辨证治疗指明了方向。张伯礼指导团队也开展中医药临床疗效评价研究，以及药物筛选与新药研发工作。
光大中医药的脚步不停
目前，各省援助医疗队已陆续撤离武汉，但张伯礼依然归期未定。
江夏方舱医院休舱后，张伯礼的工作重心转移到出院病人的康复治疗上。“很多重症患者出院后依然有心悸、乏力等症状，部分病人的肺功能、脏器功能受到损害，我们首先要进行评估，再对症分情况进行康复。”
3月24日，张伯礼牵头负责的全国被感染医务人员康复管理平台正式启用。“这是由中国工程院和腾讯基金会支持的平台，由武汉协和医院和武汉市中医医院具体负责，我们争取用两到三年的时间，让这些医护人员完全康复，回到正常的工作生活轨道。”张伯礼说。
他也在为国外的疫情焦虑。“看到欧美一些国家的情况，我们感同身受。”张伯礼说，已经有不少国外的单位和组织和他联系，请他介绍中国抗疫经验，尤其是中医药的应用，“我们给一些国家根据当地气候特点和情况拟了药方，也寄去了一些中药。”
