"TCM should become part of the comprehensive treatment of SARS, combined with Western medicine, as soon as possible across China and the world. It should be more than just a discretionary aid," said expert Huang Mingda.

Huang, from Chinese Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, made the remarks in an exclusive interview with China Daily Monday.

The proposed program, which extends to policy-making, clinical treatment, technical support, and medicine research, is expected to share the latest TCM research to combat SARS with the public and medical profession, Huang noted.

He said Premier Wen Jiabao had commented on the proposal, saying that both TCM and Western medicines should be used to prevent and treat SARS.

Huang urged to seize the moment and launch the program, which he believes should be managed by the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (SATCM)

Medical practice in South China's Guangdong Province, where the first outbreak of SARS in China was reported, had proved that TCM could improve treatments and reduce death rates by improving the body's immune system, SATCM reported Monday.

By April 14, the No 1 Hospital attached to Guangzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine University had successfully treated all its 36 SARS patients and kept its medical staff safe from the deadly virus with the help of TCM, according to the administration.

Based on the experience in Guangdong, SATCM has launched guidelines for doctors recently including recommended uses of TCM to prevent and treat SARS.

Huang said the use of TCM in Guangdong and Beijing had proven its effectiveness, and the treatment results have also been approved by experts from the World Health Organization.

However, the value of TCM in fighting the disease has not been well-publicized by the State in other regions in the country, Huang noted.

"What the State needs to do now is to kick off such a program immediately to make TCM a major force against SARS in all hospitals and among the public," Huang said.

His views are echoed by Wang Shuchen, head of Xiyuan Hospital of the Chinese Academy of TCM, who said neither Western medicine nor TCM can effectively kill the virus presently.

However, TCM has the unique effects of reducing fever, driving away dampness and detoxifying the body, while improving the body's immune system in its battle against SARS, Wang added.

Qiao Enxiang, a doctor from the Sino-Japan Friendship Hospital, said the Chinese people had overcome countless epidemics throughout their long history with the help of TCM and were experienced in fighting unknown viruses.

Qiao noted that TCM advocates had produced more than 50 monographs about preventing and treating epidemics, offering a great contribution to present work against the virus.

(China Daily May 13, 2003)