Zhang Boli, "People's Hero" fighting coronavirus with TCM

Renowned traditional Chinese medicine expert Zhang Boli was awarded with the national honorary title, "the People's Hero," on Tuesday for his outstanding contribution to the country's fight against the COVID-19 epidemic. Over the past few months, Zhang Boli, 72, has made the world recognize the power of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) by leading an expert team to treat COVID-19 infections in Wuhan, once the Chinese city hardest-hit by the novel coronavirus disease. Zhang, head of the Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, arrived in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province on Jan. 27, the third day of China's Lunar New Year and the fifth day into the megacity's lockdown for epidemic control. Zhang and over 300 other doctors formed a TCM medical team. They were stationed at a makeshift hospital in Wuhan's Jiangxia district using TCM decoctions with other treatments such as massage, acupuncture and physical exercises, to treat COVID-19 patients. TCM showed obvious results in helping COVID-19 patients recuperate. None of the 564 patients with mild symptoms at the TCM-oriented temporary hospital saw their health condition deteriorate.