key: cord-0800390-8nzdtqmd authors: Gong, Ya-bin; Yang, Zhi-ling; Liu, Yu; Zhang, Yan; Jiang, Kai; Shi, Xin-Jie; Deng, Yu-hai; Zhang, Xi; Wu, Wei; Zhang, Chun-yan; Zhou, Jia title: Two cases of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) treated with the combination of acupuncture and medication in bedridden patients: 针药结合治疗新冠肺炎卧床患者2例 date: 2020-07-17 journal: World J Acupunct Moxibustion DOI: 10.1016/j.wjam.2020.07.005 sha: 892dd30fc2ecba34ca3f0a21620968789643a52d doc_id: 800390 cord_uid: 8nzdtqmd The paper reports the experiences in treatment of two cases of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with the combination of acupuncture and medication in bedridden patients confirmed in C7 Inpatient Ward, Wuhan Leishenshan Hospital, China. The combined treatment of acupuncture with the oral administration of “Shanghai leishen No.1 formula” was given every day. The prescription was modified weekly according the symptoms of the patients. Besides, the antivirus, anti-infectious and symptomatic treatment of western medicine was combined. Both of the two cases were improved and discharged. It is anticipated that the treatment experiences in these two cases may provide the instruction and enlightenment for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. (Tentative Third Edition) issued by National Health Commission (NHC) of the PRC in January 2020, it is specified that COVID-19 is in the category of pestilence in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The basic pathogenesis of this disease is characterized by dampness, heat, toxin and stagnation. According to the illness condition, local climatic features and different body constitutions, the corresponding regimens and syndrome/pattern differentiation are recommended [1] . and Guidance for Acupuncture and Moxibustion Interventions on (Second edition) [3, 4] , in association with the characteristics of the patients, the combined therapy of acupuncture and medication was applied to the treatment of COVID-19 in Wuhan Leishenshan Hospital and had obtained the satisfactory effect [5] . The following report is the experiences of the combined therapy of acupuncture and medication for 2 cases of COVID-19 in bedridden patients in the Seventh Inpatient WARD, the Third Infection Department of Wuhan Leishenshan Hospital. Both of the two patients received acupuncture combined with oral administration of the modified Chinese herbal decoction, This therapy was given consecutively for 12 days till the patient was discharged. After every 12 treatments with acupuncture, at the interval of 3 days, the next course of treatment started. Such treatment lasted till the patients were getting better and discharged. Besides, it was suggested that the patient could take a shower only 2 hours after the needles were removed each day. The modified Shanghai herbal medication was taken orally consecutively till the patients were discharged. When discharged, the herbal medication for 2-week dose was prescribed. was absorbed as compared with before. On March 28, 2020, the patient was discharged. All of the cases were the elderly, of weak constitution and deficient in the Acupuncture is effective on fever due to exogenous pathogens. In Case 2, for treatment of fever, the strong stimulation with acupuncture was given at LI11 daily. Acupuncture was applied mainly at LI11 and LI4. LI11 is the he-sea point of the hand-yangming meridian and is commonly used in clinic in combination with LI4 for reducing excess yang of yangming meridian. Animal experiment indicates that acupuncture at "LI11" reduces the levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and prostaglandin in cerebrospinal fluid and increases arginine vasopression (AVP). It is deduced that acupuncture brings its role of defervescence by changing the levels of central febrile mediators [11] . Taiyin and yangming are related externally and internally. and the flow of oxygen was reduced to be 3 L/min from 5 L/min. After treated for 23 days, the patient could walk without help and discharged. Besides, the imaging examination showed that the lesion foci were absorbed as compared with before. This case indicates the recovery of the lung for "dominating qi and respiration". On the base of acupuncture, the modified Shanghai leishen No.1 formula was administered orally for benefiting qi, strengthening the spleen and smoothing liver qi, activating blood circulation in collateral, resolving damp and detoxification, and the intravenous nutritional support was provided. All of these three therapeutic methods co-achieve the quick recovery of the physical strength, the regaining of ant pathogenic qi and the elimination of epidemic toxin in these two patients. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has accumulated a large amount of clinical experiences in prevention and treatment of pestilence since the ancient 11 time and it has played an important role in the battle against COVID-19. Acupuncture is the feature of TCM in treatment. In the two cases reported in the paper, it shows that the combined regimen of acupuncture and medication displays the significant effect on the systematic symptoms in the bedridden patients with COVID-19. The quicker and better therapeutic effect has been obtained by TCM with the combination of modern medicine. The combination of acupuncture and medication is feasible and effective in clinical treatment of COVID-19 and this therapy deserves to be promoted, under the premise of self-protection of medical staff, in the countries where COVID-19 outbreak has not been controlled yet. National Health Commission (NHC) of the PRC. Diagnosis and treatment plan of corona virus disease National Health Commission (NHC) of the PRC. Diagnosis and treatment plan of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (Tentative Fifth Edition, Revised) China Association of Acupuncture-Moxibustion. 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