Professor Yin Hang of Tsinghua University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences: Traditional Chinese Medicine Demonstrates Significant Efficacy in Pandemic Prevention, Yet Modernization Remains Challenging | VB Group Interview
What is the role of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in epidemic prevention and control? Is TCM effective in preventing and treating epidemics? What is the direction for the modernization of TCM? In the wake of this epidemic, TCM has garnered increased attention, while some remain concerned about its actual efficacy.
To address public concerns, on March 13, 2020, VB Group Interviews invited Professor Yin Hang from the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Tsinghua University to host a live Q&A session. VCBeat has compiled and edited his key insights.
Professor Yin Hang’s research spans interdisciplinary fields, primarily focusing on chemical biology, immuno-oncology drug development, protein design, and computational simulation. Professor Yin’s team has published over 100 research papers in prestigious journals such as Science, Nature, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), with their work frequently highlighted as featured research. The team’s scientific achievements have led to 11 patent applications, several of which have already been commercialized.
According to publicly available information, Professor Yin Hang has received numerous awards, including the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the David W. Robertson Award for Excellence in Medicinal Chemistry from the American Chemical Society, the Outstanding Young Professor Award from the US-China Chemistry and Chemical Biology Professors Association, and the CAREER Award from the U.S. National Science Foundation.
According to the Law of the People's Republic of China on Traditional Chinese Medicine, traditional Chinese medicine is a collective term for the medical practices of all ethnic groups in China, including Han and ethnic minority medicines. It reflects the Chinese nation's understanding of life, health, and disease, and constitutes a medical system with a long historical tradition and unique theories, techniques, and methods.
Traditional Chinese Medicine is a treasure of the Chinese nation, playing a unique role in preventive care, treatment of major diseases, and disease rehabilitation.
Regarding the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in preventing and treating epidemics, a topic of widespread public concern, Professor Yin Hang cited a set of data:As of 24:00 on February 28, the effective participation rate of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in regions outside Hubei Province reached 95.10%. The proportion of discharged and cured cases that received TCM treatment has been continuously increasing, currently exceeding 70%. As of 24:00 on March 3, a total of 88 patients who were treated solely with TCM and subsequently cured had been discharged, including 55 cases in Wuhan.
This demonstrates that the increased participation rate of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) contributes to improved cure rates, confirming the genuine and effective role of TCM in epidemic prevention and control.
The application of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) on the front lines of the epidemic response has gained widespread recognition. For instance, within less than 20 days, TCM experts developed an anti-epidemic solution—Qingfei Paidu Decoction—which was rapidly promoted across China.
Qingfei Paidu Decoction draws on multiple classic formulas from *Shanghan Zabing Lun* (Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases) for treating exogenous febrile diseases caused by cold pathogen, and has been formulated and optimized through the collaboration of traditional Chinese medicine experts.
On January 27, the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine launched a special project titled “Research on Screening Effective Traditional Chinese Medicine Formulas for the Prevention and Treatment of Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia,” initiating clinical efficacy observations of Qingfei Paidu Decoction in treating patients with novel coronavirus pneumonia across four pilot provinces: Shanxi, Hebei, Heilongjiang, and Shaanxi.
As of February 5, 2020, four pilot provinces used Qingfei Paidu Decoction to treat 214 confirmed cases. With a treatment course of three days, the overall effective rate exceeded 90%. Among these patients, more than 60% showed significant improvement in symptoms and imaging findings, while 30% had stable symptoms without exacerbation.
On February 7, the National Health Commission issued a notice recommending the use of “Qingfei Paidu Decoction” across various regions for the treatment of patients with mild, moderate, and severe cases of pneumonia caused by novel coronavirus infection. It may also be appropriately utilized in the management of critically ill patients, based on their individual clinical conditions.
In addition to Qingfei Paidu Decoction, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulas and proprietary Chinese medicines such as Huashi Baidu Formula, Xuanfei Baidu Granules, Jinhua Qinggan Granules, Lianhua Qingwen Capsules, and Xuebijing Injection have also demonstrated significant efficacy in the treatment of COVID-19.As of March 3, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) was used in the treatment of 92.58% of confirmed cases nationwide.
Professor Yin Hang believes that for patients with mild and moderate conditions, the early use of traditional Chinese medicine can rapidly alleviate symptoms, shorten hospital stays, and reduce the progression from mild or moderate to severe cases.
For patients with severe and critical conditions: the implementation of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine demonstrates significant advantages in alleviating symptoms such as fever, shortness of breath, and cough, thereby facilitating the transition from severe and critical stages to mild and moderate stages.
For individuals in the recovery phase: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) plays a role in reducing pulmonary fibrosis and restoring lung function. For those still experiencing symptoms such as shortness of breath and fatigue, conditioning through tonifying the lung and strengthening the spleen, as well as nourishing yin and promoting body fluid production, is recommended. This can be achieved by taking TCM formulations or through dietary adjustments using ingredients that serve both medicinal and culinary purposes.
Research by expert teams has confirmed that, compared with the use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) or Western medicine alone, the integrated approach of combining TCM and Western medicine can more rapidly alleviate symptoms such as fever, cough, and fatigue; shorten hospital stays; increase the rate of negative nucleic acid test conversions; effectively reduce the progression from mild and moderate cases to severe cases, and from severe to critical cases; and improve cure rates while reducing mortality.
In summary, throughout the fight against the pandemic, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) was deeply involved in the entire process of treating COVID-19, producing a significant synergistic effect. It demonstrated clear clinical efficacy, set a global benchmark, offered substantial economic advantages, and helped alleviate public panic, thereby contributing to social stability.
Traditional Chinese medicine, with a heritage spanning millennia, has shone brilliantly in the fight against epidemics. Yet, what path should its future development take? The widely accepted answer at present is the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine. This modernization is a complex endeavor and a systematic project, involving numerous industries and areas of research.
“Modernization of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) does not mean manufacturing TCM according to Western methods or Westernizing it; rather, it encompasses two aspects. First, the modernization of TCM must be applied under the guidance of TCM theory. Second, it requires a macro-level exposition of the fundamental content of TCM using modern science, along with a clear micro-level elucidation,” stated Professor Yin Hang during the VB Group interview livestream.
For example, the analgesic efficacy of acupuncture has long been recognized by the medical community and validated through large-scale, double-blind clinical trials; however, there remain gaps in its macroscopic explanation within modern scientific frameworks and in the microscopic elucidation of its underlying mechanisms.
Regarding the key directions for the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine, they mainly include six aspects:
First, the protection and sustainable utilization of traditional Chinese medicine resources;
2. Research on the Material Basis and Mechanism of Action of Traditional Chinese Medicine;
3. Research on the standardization and quality control technologies of traditional Chinese medicine;
Fourth, research on new traditional Chinese medicine compound drugs;
5. Efficacy Evaluation and Clinical Studies of New Traditional Chinese Medicine Drugs;
6. Modernization Research on Traditional Chinese Medicine Industry Technology.
Professor Yin Hang stated, “The modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) should employ new thinking, theories, and methods from modern science to study the traditional theories and rich clinical experience of TCM.”
For example, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) includes herbs with different properties, such as warm-natured and pungent-cool agents. From the perspective of modern molecular biology, cation channel proteins within TRP ion channels exhibit thermosensitivity. Warm-natured herbs can modulate these thermosensitive ion channels. This provides an explanation of the TCM medicinal properties—such as warm, hot, and cool—from the standpoint of molecular mechanisms.
For another example, Chinese herbal medicines with different properties and flavors often act on different signaling pathways; heat-clearing herbs predominantly target inflammation-related signaling pathways such as NF-κB. Professor Yin Hang stated, “Pharmacological research on Chinese herbal medicines must not only analyze compounds and metabolites but also integrate their biological mechanisms of action.”
Research on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) requires the application of modern scientific methods to investigate its mechanisms. For instance, animal models need to be established to study TCM herbs with efficacy in improving vision. However, there are still considerable technical challenges in establishing such animal models for vision improvement.
To advance the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), numerous universities and research institutions have begun to delve into TCM research. On April 10, 2018, the Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine at Tsinghua University was officially established. Spearheaded by the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Tsinghua University, the institute aims to leverage its inherent strengths and scientific research layout to create an interdisciplinary, highly integrated, and distinctive platform for TCM research.
Professor Yin Hang stated, “We aim to contribute our efforts to advancing frontier basic research in innovation, cultivating high-level specialized talent in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), establishing a leading TCM think tank, and enhancing our international influence.”
On February 29, 2020, the new international standard project “Traditional Chinese Medicine—Scutellariae Radix,” proposed by Professor Yin Hang’s team from the Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine at Tsinghua University, received voting support from 14 member countries of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). It was officially approved as an ISO/TC249 international project and has formally entered the ISO standard development process. The international standard for Scutellariae Radix is expected to be published within the next three years.
Professor Yin Hang stated, “In the future, the Institute of Chinese Materia Medica will continue to advance the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), actively participate in the internationalization of TCM, and promote its global adoption, thereby fostering international recognition and application of TCM.”
Click here to watch the replay of Professor Yin Hang’s exclusive live interview with VB Group.