China is willing to share its experience in fighting the COVID-19 epidemic using TCM treatment with the world, said Zhang Boli, a renowned traditional Chinese medicine expert, during the 5th China-Arab Expo Health Industry Forum in Northwest China’s Yinchuan city.

Zhang Boli, an academician of the Chinese Engineering Academy, one of China’s top academic institutions, was awarded with the national honorary title People’s Hero for his outstanding contribution to the country’s fight against the COVID-19 epidemic last year.

Photo: Xinhua

According to Zhang, TCM’s accessibility is important. TCM showed obvious results in helping COVID-19 patients recuperate, relieving symptoms, slowing the progression of the disease, reducing mortality and boosting recovery, he said. Especially in the recovery phase, TCM treatment is highly effective in reducing the probability and severity of related sequelae, he said.

Chinese traditional medicine has played an important role in the global fight against the epidemic, he said. Last year, China shared TCM therapy, effective prescriptions and clinical experience for dealing with COVID-19 with 63 countries and regions in a global live broadcast, offering the “Chinese solution” to the world.

Zhang emphasized China is willing to share its experience in fighting the epidemic with the people of the world and gave examples. China has provided Chinese medicine and protective materials to countries such as Italy and the Philippines, and to overseas Chinese, foreign students and Chinese overseas aid agencies.

Zhang said combining TCM with telemedicine can create innovative and outstanding achievements in fighting the virus worldwide.

With the help of telemedicine, Chinese TCM experts have been able to provide treatment to many overseas people.

TCM and Western medicine should complement each other, instead of replacing each other, Zhang stressed. “We will promote coordinated development of TCM and Western medicine to provide better medical care for the people.”

“It is a blessing that people can be treated by two kinds of medicine,” Zhang said.

(Compiled by Xiong Xinyi)