In public perception, Chinese medicine is often seen as a safe, non-discriminatory and effective treatment, especially for infectious diseases, for which there is great expectation and trust. However, this is not the case, and the notion that Chinese medicine treats infections with no side effects and positive effects is a mistake.
As the treasure of the Chinese nation, Chinese medicine has played an important role in the fight against many diseases for thousands of years. This does not mean, however, that Chinese drugs are treated without risk and can be treated for disease. First, Chinese medicine is also a drug, and the adjective “the drug is tritox” is not empty. Many Chinese drugs have their specific toxicity and adverse effects, for example, those containing horse-collar acid, which, if used in a long or large-scale manner, can cause irreversible damage to the kidneys and lead to severe consequences such as kidney failure.
In the treatment of infection, the efficacy of Chinese medicine cannot be generally recognized. There are a wide range of infectious diseases, including bacterial infections, viral infections, fungi infections, etc. In the case of mild infections, Chinese medicine can help to alleviate symptoms and promote physical recovery by regulating the immune function of the human body. However, in the face of serious bacterial infections, such as sepsis and acute sepsis, it is often difficult to control the condition quickly and effectively by relying solely on Chinese medicine. The timely and reasonable use of antibiotics in modern medicine, where antibiotics are capable of accurately killing or inhibiting specific bacteria, is key to saving lives.
In terms of pharmacological mechanisms, most of the Chinese drugs function through multi-component, multi-target, multi-track, with relatively complex and unclear mechanisms. This is different from the relative clarity and clarity of the mechanism for the operation of the Western medicine. This complexity makes it difficult for Chinese medicine to treat infection as quickly as Western medicine to produce specific treatment effects for pathogens. For example, while treating influenza virus infections, anti-influenza virus drugs in Western medicine can directly inhibit the replicability of the virus, Chinese medicine may need to indirectly counter the virus by regulating the overall body ‘ s state and enhancing resistance, a relatively slow process that may not meet the need for timely control in case of serious illness.
In addition, the quality and safety of Chinese medicines are affected by a number of factors. The origin of Chinese medicine, the collection season, the method of making it, etc. affect its efficacy and safety. There may be differences in the content of the active ingredient for the same odour in different sites of origin; inappropriate methods of artillery may not be able to remove the toxic ingredient in the Chinese drug or change its efficacy. Moreover, during the use of Chinese drugs, there are problems of drug interaction. If the patient takes a variety of Chinese drugs at the same time, or if the Chinese drug is used in combination with the Western drug, there may be drug interactions that affect the efficacy of treatment or increase the risk of adverse reactions.
We cannot blindly assume that Chinese drug treatment for infection has no side effects and is positive. In the face of infectious diseases, the advantages of modern medicine and traditional medicine should be taken into account in a scientific and rational manner, in accordance with the priorities of the medical situation, and treatment should be selected in a rational manner, under the professional guidance of the doctor, in order to achieve the best possible treatment and to ensure the safety of the medication. Both Chinese and Western drugs have their own characteristics and scope of application, and they are properly understood to better protect our health.
