Chinese scientists reported that Shuanghuanglian, a traditional remedy, may inhibit the coronavirus, sparking a nationwide rush to stores. While its efficacy remains unproven, this highlights China's push to integrate traditional medicine into modern health responses.
Shuanghuanglian (
Beijing is actively incorporating TCM into its coronavirus strategy. Thousands of TCM specialists were deployed to bolster hospitals in Hubei province.
Skepticism quickly emerged on social media and in media reports. As noted by Le Temps on February 2, 2020, the Communist Party's People's Daily urged caution, warning against self-medicating with traditional remedies without professional advice. Chinese netizens responded with widespread humor.
Writer Fang Shimin, known for exposing scientific frauds, sees this as a broader cultural signal. President Xi Jinping, a staunch TCM proponent who views it as equal to Western medicine, is leveraging the crisis to advance this nationalist message.
Since 2019, TCM has been included in the World Health Organization's International Classification of Diseases following Chinese advocacy. However, the European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC) has criticized the move due to limited scientific evidence.
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