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Curious Case Of LHQW: Behind The TCM Central To China’s COVID Zero Policies

Mandatory Distribution In Shanghai

 
• By Brian Yang

The role of a traditional Chinese medicine provided to the general public in China to fend off COVID-19 is controversial given limited evidence and even misleading, some say.

China promotes TCM for COVID infections among surging cases in Shanghai and Jilin
LHQW CENTRAL TO CHINA'S COVID ZERO POLICY • Source: Alamy

When Shanghai residents entered their initial two-week lockdown and received care packages from the government on an early April day, they were surprised to find that apart from cabbage, eggs, dry noodles and some meat were packages of a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Lianhua Qingwen (LHQW) capsules made by Shijiazhuang Yiling Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

One Shanghai resident showed her package in a twitter post and another said his household of three had received a total four packs of the capsules. The residents of some districts in China’s biggest city received two packages per person

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