According to the Chinese guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19, patients are usually treated with conventional medicine and additively with TCM preparations in order to exhaust all possibilities.This approach is based on experiences during the SARS outbreak in 2003. However, a Cochrane review on the combined treatment of SARS with Western medicine and TCM [Liu 2012] came to the conclusion that the additional use of TCM compared to Western medicine alone apparently had no benefit in terms of mortality.However, benefits in improving symptoms, such as fever, cough and difficulty breathing, are highlighted.The doses of corticosteroids could be reduced and the absorption of the lung infiltration improved, as did the quality of life of those affected.However, due to the quality of the studies included, the evidence is rated as weak.According to an analysis of the use of TCM preparations against COVID-19 in 23 Chinese provinces, the following ten medicinal plants were used most frequently [Luo 2020]:Tab. 1 contains plant ingredients and extracts from TCM, for which an effect against corona viruses is assumed on the basis of mostly preclinical study results.3-Chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro) is important for viral replication and thus represents a promising target for the development of therapeutics against coronaviruses including SARS-CoV-2.The State Administration for Traditional Chinese Medicine (satcm.gov.cn) highlights three formulations or preparations for COVID-19.The traditional preparation "Qingfei Paidu Tang" (Tab. 2) is in first place.According to the current Chinese COVID-19 treatment recommendations (as of March 20, 2020), the "lung cleansing and detoxification decoction" is suitable for mild, moderate and severe cases based on the clinical observations.It is said to have improved symptoms such as fever, cough, fatigue and impaired lung function.The second is a ready-to-use product called Jinhua Qinggan Granules.It contains twelve herbal components and is said to have been found useful in 2009 during the H1N1 influenza pandemic.The third formulation called "Lianhua Qingwen" - Capsules/Granules, which is also a very common preparation for treating cold and flu, consists of 13 herbal components.According to recent research, Lianhua Qingwen significantly inhibits the replication of the novel coronavirus in Vero-E6 cells infected with the virus and counteracts inflammation [Li 2020].TCM is very important in China.According to the Chinese news agency Xinhua, the achievements of TCM against COVID-19 were described as follows during a press conference in Wuhan on March 23, 2020: A total of around 74,000 COVID-19 patients or 91.5% of the total confirmed cases in the Chinese mainland have been treated with TCM preparations or finished preparations.The treatment is said to have proven effective in over 90% of cases.The TCM prescriptions are said to have been effective in relieving symptoms, slowing disease progression, improving cure rates, reducing mortality and promoting patient recovery.As far as the Chinese news agency.Around fifty clinical trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of TCM treatments for COVID-19 patients are currently underway in China.The authors of a recent review [Yang 2020] dealing with the data and prospects for TCM against COVID-19 hope, given the often moderate quality of studies with TCM preparations against severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), that the current clinical trials on COVID-19 efficacy and safety are using more rigorous protocols to ensure compliance with internationally acceptable standards.The Chinese government is not only promoting TCM to combat the health consequences of the epidemic domestically.It should also become an “export hit”.According to China Daily, Chinese medical relief teams have already taken 100,000 boxes of Lianhua Qingwen to hard-hit Italy.Other European target countries should be Germany, France, Spain and the Netherlands.|National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine [Internet].Research progress identification of effective formula in traditional Chinese medicine [cited 2020 February 7].http://bgs.satcm.gov.cn/gongzuodongtai/2020-02-06/12866.htmlHT Cui, YT Li, LY Guo, XG Liu, LS Wang, Jia JW, Liao JB, Miao J, Zhang ZY, Wang L, Wang HW, Wen WB.Traditional Chinese medicine for treatment of coronavirus disease 2019: a review.TMR 2020;5(2):65.doi: 10.12032/TMR20200222165Liu X, Zhang M, He L, Li Y. Chinese herbs combined with Western medicine for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012 Oct 17;10:CD004882.doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD004882.pub3.ReviewYang Y, Islam S, Wang J, Li Y, Chen X. Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Treatment of Patients Infected with 2019-New Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2): A Review and Perspective.International Journal of Biological Sciences 2020;16(10):1708-1717http://german.china.org.cn/txt/2020-03/26/content_75861995.htmLuo H, Tang QL, Shang YX, Liang SB, Yang M, Robinson N, Liu JP.Can Chinese Medicine Be Used for Prevention of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)?A Review of Historical Classics, Research Evidence and Current Prevention Programs.Chin J Integr Med. 2020 Apr;26(4):243-250.Li RF et al.Lianhuaqingwen exerts anti-viral and anti-inflammatory activity against novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2).Pharmacological Research 2020. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrs.2020.104761