Objective

To analyze the prescription characteristics of consensus formulae for the prevention and treatment of novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP) also known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with traditional Chinese herbal medicine.

Methods

We collected the following formulae released from the start of NCP outbreak to February 6

2020: foumulae in the “Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol for Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia (Trial)” (3

rd

to 5

th

ed.) issued jointly by the National Health Commission and the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of PRC; the latest clinically-proven effective prescription

Qingfei Paidu Tang

(Lung-clearing and Toxin-expelling Decoction) (February 6

2020 ed.); formulae in the “Prevention and Treatment Protocol for Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia in Beijing” (1

st

and 2

nd

ed.) issued by the Beijing Municipal Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine; prescriptions approved and released by varied health commissions

traditional Chinese medicine administrations and hospitals at provincial and municipal levels; and prescriptions made public by various medical schools and several prestigious doctors for the prevention and treatment of NCP. The R software (V 3.6.1) was used to analyze the frequency of occurrence of herbs and association rules in formulae for preventive and therapeutic purposes respectively.

Results

107 preventive formulae involving 121 herbs were identified. 11 herbs with frequency of occurrence over 20% were

Gancao

(Licorice Root

Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae)

Huangqi

(Astragalus Root

Radix Astragali)

Jinyinhua

(Honeysuckle Flower

Flos Lonicerae Japonicae)

Jiegeng

(Platycodon Root

Radix Platycodonis)

Lianqiao

(Weeping Forsythia Capsule

Fructus Forsythiae)

Cangzhu

(Atractylodes Rhizome

Rhizoma Atractylodis)

Fangfeng

(Siler

Radix Saposhnikoviae)

Baizhu

(White Atractylodes Rhizome

Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae)

Lugen

(Reed Rhizome

Rhizoma Phragmitis)

Guanghuoxiang

(Cablin Patchouli

Herba Pogostemonis)

and

Sangye

(Mulberry Leaf

Folium Mori).

The core combinations of herbs included

Huangqi

Gancao

Jinyinhua

Lianqiao

and

Fangfeng

according to association rules. There were 115 therapeutic prescriptions involving 203 herbs

of which the following 7 herbs were the most frequently used with frequency of occurrence over 20%:

Gancao

Huangqin

(Scutellaria Root

Radix Scutellariae)

Shigao

(Gypsum

Gypsum Fibrosum)

Kuxingren

(Bitter Apricot Kernel

Semen Armeniacae Amarum)

Mahuang

(Ephedra

Herba Ephedrae)

Lianqiao

and

Jinyinhua.

The core combinations of herbs included

Mahuang

Kuxingren

Shigao

and

Gancao

according to association rules.

Conclusion

For the prevention of NCP

the main method used seems to be boosting qi to consolidate the exterior

supplemented by clearing heat

resolving toxins and drying dampness. The commonly used formulae were

Yupingfeng San

(Jade Wind-Barrier Powder) and

Yinqiao San

(Lonicera and Forsythia Powder). For therapeutic purpose

clearing heat

resolving toxins

and drying dampness were the major methods adopted. The most frequently used prescription was

Maxing Shigan Tang

(Ephedra

Apricot Kernel

Gypsum and Licorice Decoction) plus

Huangqin and Lianqiao.

Treatment should vary according to the progression and stage of the disease with modifications based on complications.