TCM therapies improve outcomes for hospitalised COVID patients

TCM therapies improve outcomes for hospitalised COVID patients

Non-drug therapies from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can significantly enhance oxygen saturation (SpO2) and alleviate respiratory symptoms in patients with severe COVID-19 infection, when combined with prone positioning, concludes a Chinese study. A total of 198 hospitalised COVID patients were randomly assigned to either a treatment group, which received individualised TCM therapies (consisting of acupuncture, cupping and moxibustion) with prone positioning, or a control group, which received prone positioning alone, over five consecutive days. By day 5, 91% of patients in the treatment group achieved SpO2 levels above 93%, compared with 75.3% in the control group, a significant mean difference (MD) of 15.7. While respiratory rates decreased significantly in both groups during the study, no statistical differences were observed between groups. Respiratory symptom scores were notably lower in the treatment group after day 3 (MD = -1.7), indicating improved symptom relief. Although both groups showed gradual improvement in respiratory function, the intervention group demonstrated greater overall benefit. Adverse events occurred in 31 cases, and two patients required intensive care due to illness progression. The authors highlight the potential of integrating TCM therapies as complementary treatments to improve respiratory function and recovery outcomes in hospitalised COVID patients. (Effectiveness and safety of adjunctive non-drug measures in improving respiratory symptoms among patients with severe COVID-19: A multicenter randomized controlled trial. J Integr Med. 2024 Nov;22(6):637-644).