A new study has found that locally developed traditional herbal formulas Taiwan Chingguan Yihau (清冠一號), or NRICM101, and Taiwan Chingguan Erhau (清冠二號), or NRICM102, are effective in treating COVID-19.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare’s National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine compiled clinical data from nine hospitals to explore the effectiveness of the two formulas.
The study included 302 patients with mild or moderate symptoms, half of whom received NRICM101 and the other half who received standard Western medicinal treatments.
Photo: CNA
Another set of data came from 246 patients with severe symptoms, half of whom received NRICM102 and the other half who received standard Western medicinal treatments.
The results showed that NRICM101 was effective in preventing COVID-19 patients with mild or moderate symptoms from developing severe symptoms, while NRICM102 reduced the mortality rate of those with severe symptoms by 74 percent.
During the 30 days after patients received the treatment, none of those who took NRICM101 developed severe symptoms, but 14 patients who received standard treatment developed severe symptoms, or 9.27 percent.
Photo: Wu Liang-yi , Taipei Times
During the same period, seven of those who took NRICM102 died, or 5.69 percent, while 27 of those who had standard treatment died, or 21.95 percent.
In addition, the two formulas were effective against the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants of SARS-CoV-2, the research found.
Shen Yuh-chiang (沈郁強), head of the institute’s Division of Clinical Chinese Medicine, said that NRICM101 prevents viruses from invading cells or triggering cytokine storms, while NRICM102 reduces activation of neutrophils that might lead to a pulmonary embolism.
Chiou Wen-fei (邱文慧), deputy director of the division, said that the results are to be published in the journal Pharmacological Research.
The institute has agreed to transfer the technology for NRICM102 to eight pharmaceutical companies.
Separately, the Ministry of Health and Welfare yesterday announced looser criteria for NRICM101, which are to go into effect on Thursday next week, after the criteria announced on Thursday drew criticism.
The ministry on Thursday said that only people who are at high risk of developing severe symptoms could take NRICM101 at no expense.
People who are considered at high risk include those aged 65 or older, or those younger than 65 with a body mass index of more than 30, smokers, disabled people, and people with diabetes, chronic kidney disease, tuberculosis, chronic hepatitis, dementia or an autoimmune disease.
Three new criteria are to be added that allow Chinese medicine physicians to prescribe NRICM101 to any patient who has a temperature of 39°C or above for two days, has a bad cough and asthma, or has a severe sore throat and difficulty swallowing.
The new regulations would be adjusted if needed after they have been implemented for two weeks, the ministry said.
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