Traditional Chinese medicine widely believed to prevent COVID-19

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is widely believed by Chinese immigrants in Canada to be effective for preventing COVID-19, and many would use it to treat symptoms—despite the lack of scientific evidence. A study which examined the opinions, beliefs of the Canadian Chinese immigrant community towards TCM and COVID-19 prevention was published in the British Medical Journal- Open. Canada is home to a significant Chinese immigrant population, with about half living in the Greater Toronto Area. Many have close interactions with people from areas severely affected by COVID-19 and may have been influenced by Chinese state media “which claimed there are six effective TCM recipes for COVID-19,” the study said. Read: Psyched about medical psychedelics? New centre aims to meet demand from docs looking to learn more As well, TCM is easily available and not subject to the same strict regulations as Western medicine. In mainland China, TCM preventative measures are popular despite the lack of scientific evidence. An online survey was conducted throughout April 2020 of Chinese immigrants, aged 16 or older born in China but living in Canada. General information about participants was collected, as well as actions and knowledge related to COVID-19. Responses from 754 (258 males and 496 females) participants were used. When asked to choose which prevention measures were effective against COVID-19, TCM ranked as the most popular prevention measure, 48.8% (368 respondents). In contrast, only 20.8% (157/754) of people believed Western medicine was effective in preventing COVID-19. Read: Can patient-reported data fill the gaps in cannabis research? More males believed in Western medicine than females, 26.4% vs 17.9%, respectively. However, most of the 157 respondents who believed in Western medicine, 81.5% also believed TCM was effective at preventing COVID-19. Females were more likely to use TCM, 50.8%, compared to 37.2% of males. Of the respondents who indicated they would use Western medicine, most, 74.0% (223/301), said they would also use TCM. Only one in ten would use Western medicine but not TCM, and one in six would use TCM but not Western medicine. Respondents over 55 years of age were more likely to believe TCM would protect them against COVID-19 than younger respondents. Also, older people were more likely to turn to TCM if they experienced COVID-related symptoms. There was no difference between males and females in in their beliefs of TCM as an effective preventive measure, but females were more likely to say they would use TCM if they experienced COVID-related symptoms. Read: Alt med boondoggle: Parents overdose child on calcium

Traditional Chinese medicine widely believed to prevent COVID-19

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