Supporting frontline workers with Chinese herbal medicine during COVID-19 pandemic

A team of UK Chinese herbal medicine practitioners and researchers, including Global-NAMRIP members Dr Andrew Flower, Dr Lily Yuen Wan Lai and Dr Xiao-Yang (Mio) Hu, have setup a pilot project to support frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Jade Screen team, using funds they have raised themselves, are providing free immune enhancing and anti-viral herbal formulae for people working in the NHS, care homes, and those providing essential support services, that might reduce the risk and potential severity of infection.

Forty people have been treated so far, all self referred, including GPs, nurses, care workers, social workers, drug outreach workers, mental health workers, teachers and a policeman. Although early in the project, the team have seen promising anecdotal feedback. They will be auditing the project and carrying out qualitative research to explore patients’ experiences of using Chinese herbal medicines as part of the initiative.

In addition to infection prevention treatment, the team are aiming to provide herbal formulae to both support the health and improve immunity of front line workers with suspected COVID-19 who are self-isolating at home and their subsequent recovery from persistent COVID-19 related illness.

Further details can be found on the Jade Screen website. The name is taken from an 800 year old herbal formula designed to protect a patient from infectious disease.