Chinese medicines proven effective in treating COVID-19 (4)

4. Jinhua Qinggan Granule (金花清感颗粒)

A pharmacist weighs Chinese herbal medicines for patients infected with the novel coronavirus at the Anhui Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Hefei, Anhui province on Feb 18, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]

The Jinhua Qinggan Granule was developed during the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic. It consists of 12 herbal components including honeysuckle, mint and licorice and can clear heat and detoxify lungs.

It has a curative effect in treating mild and moderate patients and can also improve the recovery rate of lymphocytes and white blood cells, as well as reduce the rate of patients turning more severe.

In early February, 102 mild patients in Wuhan took Jinhua Qinggan Granule in their treatment. Only 11.8 percent worsened, and it took only one and a half days for patients to reduce fever.

A comparative experiment showed patients who took Jinhua Qinggan Granule tested negative for coronavirus two and a half days earlier than a group that did not take the granule. The group treated with the granule also took eight days to show improvement, while the other group took 10.3 days.