Clinical efficacy and safety of Qingshu Yiqi decoction as a complementary and alternative therapy for COVID-19 with Delta variant: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

Therapeutic potential of traditional Chinese medicine on heat stroke

As global warming progresses, heat waves are becoming increasingly frequent and intense, meanwhile the incidence of heat stroke (HS) has increased sharply during the past decades. HS is typically associated with significant morbidity and mortality, and there is an urgent need for further research to solve this difficult issue. There currently exists difficulties regarding on-site emergency treatment methods and limited in-hospital treatment approaches, and better treatments are required as soon as possible. Theories and therapies from various traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) academic groups have been widely reported. Therefore, an exploration of prevention and protection methods should consider TCM experiences as an alternative. This article primarily reviews TCM herbal therapies and external therapies that have been described in various clinical reports and demonstrated in relevant studies. Herbal therapies, including herbal formulas, Chinese patent medicines (CPMs), single Chinese herbs, and associated extracts or monomers, are summarized based on the shared perspectives of the underlying mechanisms from TCM. In addition, external therapies including acupuncture, bloodletting, cupping, Gua sha and Tui na that have rarely been rarely mentioned and considered in most cases, are introduced and discussed to offer a unique perspective in the search for novel interventions for HS. In summary, TCM may provide abundant potential clinical benefits and research directions in the fight against HS.

Focusing on development of novel sampling approaches and alternative therapies for COVID-19: Are they still useful in an era after the pandemic?

The different viral characteristics of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 have fundamentally changed people's view concerning COVID-19. Many alternative sampling approaches and therapies have been developed that may be better suited to the Omicron variant, such as a saline gargle to detect SARS-CoV-2 and nasal irrigation with chlorine dioxide. The mechanisms of these methods of sampling and alternative therapies are briefly summarized here. Development of novel alternative sampling/therapeutic approaches for COVID-19 is crucial due to the uncertain future of emerging respiratory viruses, and their efficiency/safety needs to be verified in a post-pandemic era since viral infections of the respiratory tract have a similar route of transmission as SARS-CoV-2.