Chinese Medicine can make an important contribution to building a healthy world

Rudolf Bauer

President of the International Society of Ethnopharmacology. Head of the expert group on herbal medicines of the European Pharmacopeia Commission. Founding President of the European Association for the Study of Traditional Medicine. Deputy Director of the Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Director of Chinese Medicine Research Center, University of Graz, Austria.

Song Ping

Chief physician, Professor, Division Chief of the International Coorperation Devision of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. Member of Standing Committee of Society of Dermatology, China Association of Chinese Medicine.

Song Ping: How do you do, Professor Bao Rude, in the global epidemic, we still stand side by side on the international anti-epidemic front line, still adhere to the study of Chinese Medicine. Every time I think of this, I deeply feel that the long distance with thousands of crags and torrents does not break up our deep friendship, the epidemic has made us closer. You are an old friend of Chinese Medicine, travel between China and Austria 8 times a year, you have made an important contribution for the internationalization of Chinese Medicine. There's a question that's been hidden in my heart, what does it mean to have your Chinese named Bao Rude?

Bao Rude: How do you do, Professor Song, we're old friends. My German name is Rudolf Bauer, and my Chinese name was given by my Chinese friends and I love it so much. As far as I know, "Bao" is a common Chinese surname that sounds like my German surname "Bauer". Of course, abalone is my favorite delicious seafood. "Rude" sounds like my nickname "Rudi", Confucianism is the most representative and influential school in traditional Chinese culture, which is very different from Western culture. Gentleness is the bearing of a scholar, so "preserve a gentlemanly bearing" is the Self-cultivation that I pursue. Of course, there is also meaning of my motherland "Germany" in it.

Song Ping: From your name, I feel that you have deep feelings for China and Chinese traditional culture. There are also great differences between East and West cultures, so its the same to Chinese Medicine and Western medicine based on different cultural backgrounds. When I first set foot on the land of Europe, I was pleasantly surprised to find that European people also like herbal medicine, and a lot of herbal products could be bought in markets for body health care, beauty and skin care and so on. With the promotion of China's "Belt and Road" initiative, Chinese Medicine has gradually entered the lives of people all over the world. According to statistics, Chinese Medicine has been spread to 183 countries and regions, 103 Member States approved the use of acupuncture, of which 29 laws and regulations of traditional medicine have been established. Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) has gradually entered the international pharmaceutical system and has been registered as drug in Russia, Cuba, Vietnam, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates. More than 30 countries and regions have opened hundreds of Chinese Medicine colleges and universities to train local Chinese Medicine talents. Especially in 2015, Professor Tu You You of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, making Chinese Medicine shining brightly on the world stage.

Bao Rude: Although I live in the west, but I have deep feelings for Chinese Medicine. I remember that 30 years ago the first German Chinese Medicine hospital was opened in Bad Kötzting, and I was invited to work as a member of the Scientific Advisory commitee responsible for quality control of Chinese herbal medicine. Since then, I have developed an interest in Chinese Medicine and found that Chinese Medicine has great potential. Unlike Western medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine emphasizes the holistic concept and has been used clinically for thousands of years, mainly using herbal medicine to treat diseases. As a herbalist, this is what I am most interested in. The difference between Herbal Medicine and Synthetic Medicine is that Chinese herbal medicine contains hundreds of ingredients, it is a multi-compound-multi-target concept, while Western medicine is primarily a single compound a single-target approach. This is also reflected in Chinese Medicine and Chinese Medicine pharmacology: we should take into account that Chinese Medicine is the active ingredient of the network of collective effects, and ultimately have an impact on our body. Therefore, Chinese Medicine is a systematic interaction, and we think it is a systematic biology. Traditional Chinese Medicine takes the complexity of the human body into account, and responds to complex changes in the body in a complex multi-target way, so we are more likely to be closer to what actually happens. However, its complexity makes scientific research more difficult and challenging. There is also herbal medicine in Europe, and the difference between it and Chinese Medicine is mainly due to the different theoretical background. Herbal mixtures are also used in Europe, but Chinese Medicine has a deep theoretical foundation of oriental philosophy, and European herbs do not have "Yin and Yang". Of course, the varieties of herbs are different. There are also policy differences, in China, Chinese Medicine has government's attention and strong support, and European herbal medicine research has little government support。

Song Ping: The novel coronavirus is non-racial, the epidemic does not distinguish the national boundary. The novel coronavirus is the enemy of the world, of all mankind, all countries are carrying out prevention and control, but also in the exploration of progress, there is no complete experience. China has taken the most comprehensive, strict and thorough prevention and control measures, adopted the principle of "early detection, early reporting, early isolation, early treatment" with "defense external input, defense internal rebound" as the main goal. After painstaking efforts, China is now largely and effectively controlling the outbreak. There is no doubt that Chinese Medicine has played a very important role in the prevention and control of the epidemic. As soon as the outbreak occurred, the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences sent a national Medical Team led by Academician Huang Luqi and Academician Tong Xiaolin to spport Wuhan, established the main battleground of the novel coronavirus pneumonia by Chinese Medicine, took over the whole system of Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital's severe illness care unit, Chinese Medicine and Western medicine worked together to prevent and control the epidemic. At the same time, improved the integration mechanism of emergency clinical research, the front and the back worked together to obtain a 14 Chinese Medicine composed of "dissipating dampness and antiphlogistc granular preparation", and obtained the first approval of clinical trial of Chinese Medicine for the treatment of the novel coronaviru by the National Medical Products Administration. "dissipating dampness and antiphlogistc granular preparation" was known abroad as "cure14", which means a cure made up of 14 medicine. This is a major achievement of Chinese Medicine in the fight against the epidemic.

Bao Rude：It is a great pleasure to learn that "dissipating dampness and antiphlogistc granular preparation" as a Chinese Medicine for the treatment of COVID-19 has been approved for clinical trials by the China’s National Medical Products Administration. I know that the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences is doing a lot of research in this field. Not long ago, the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences and the Institute of Pharmacy of the University of Graz in Austria co-sponsored the "International Video Conference on Chinese Medicine's Fight Against New COVID-19 Outbreak", and I conducted a serious and pragmatic exchange with experts from the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences in the form of a video conference on the role of Chinese Medicine in combating the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pneumonia, as well as the next stage of cooperation between China and Austria. I admire the important contribution and achievements made by the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences in the prevention and control of this outbreak. I also learned in the news report that Chinese Medicine plays a very important role in the fight against COVID-19. More than 85% of SARS-CoV-2 infections in China have been treated with Chinese Medicine. China's victory in the battle against the the epidemic is inseparable from the role played by Chinese Medicine.。

Song Ping：As the promoter and host of the China-Austria video seminar, I am pleased that you have highly valued this conference. Chinese President Xi Jinping pointed out that the combination of Chinese Medicine and Western medicine is a major feature of the epidemic prevention and control, it’s also the vivid practice of inheritting the essence and keeping positive innovation of traditional Chinese Medicine. The conference is an important measure for the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences to implement “the Opinions on Promoting the Inherition, Innovation and Development of Chinese Medicine”. The conference was held under the active promotion of the Chinese Embassy in Austria, the Chinese Embassy in Austria Science and Technology Counselor Lei Fengyun delivered a written speech, and the poem "Civilization Blend", wishing China-Austria Cooperation in Chinese Medicine get more fruitful results. At the conference, more than ten experts from China and Austria conducted serious and pragmatic exchanges on the role of Chinese Medicine in combating the outbreak of COVID-19 pneumonia and the next stage of cooperation between China and Austria by video conference held in four separate venues including China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Guanganmen Hospital China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, the Artemisinin Research Center China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences and Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences University of Graz. On the "Understanding and Treatment of COVID-19 pneumonia in Chinese Medicine", "Research on construction of virus-like particles", "pharmacology and mechanism research into three-drug three-way treatment of COVID-19 pneumonia", "Thinking about the research scheme of Chinese Medicine in anti-coronavirus" and other key content reported,Meanwhile, we shared experience and conditions about giving full play to effective prevention and dialectical treatment of Chinese Medicine in the fight against the epidemic in China. I was also impressed by your sharing.

Bao Rude：Yes, this conference was a great success. In this online conference, we discussed the role and achievements of Chinese Medicine in the fight against the novel coronavirus pneumonia, and we need more evidence to confirm the role of Chinese Medicine, so more clinical and experimental research is needed. During the conference, I presented my vision for further research and stressed that standardized clinical research and standard controlled Chinese Medicine products are the basis for global acceptance of Chinese Medicine. At the same time, we need to fully understand the mechanism of Chinese Medicine, as well as the active ingredients of Chinese Medicine and the ways of action. I thank Counsellor Lei Fengyun for his efforts for this conference and further cooperation, and recommend the establishment of a joint Sino-Austrian research project in this regard.

Song Ping: I heard that you also wrote a letter to Counselor Lei Fengyun, please tell me the contents of this letter.

Bao Rude：That's right. I am pleased to have informed the news of the success of this conference, and on behalf of the experts present, I would like to express my gratitude to the Chinese Embassy in Austria for its strong support, as well as to his written message and poem. "In the current situation of the continued spread of the novel coronavirus epidemic, it is necessary to establish a mechanism for Sino-Austrian cooperative research projects on anti-epidemic Chinese Medicine." I wrote. Such epidemics have a long history in human society, and Chinese Medicine has played an important role in the history of human combat against severe infectious diseases (such as during the SARS epidemic in 2003, China through the combination of Chinese Medicine and Western medicine and other effective therapies to cure a large number of patients), the contribution has been great, the effects of artemisinin on the treatment of malaria in various countries proved it. But if we are to gain further worldwide recognition, we need to provide more scientific evidence. The letter also suggests further research: "First, by polymerase, protease, or furin protease inhibition to look for immunomodulatory activity that directly regulates the immune system to fight the virus, inhibits highly destructive cytokine storms."I sincerely look forward to, "I would be very happy to establish a joint project in this field." We also need financial support in Austria, hoping to get the support of the Austrian Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and Scientific Research and other departments. "

Song Ping：Since the outbreak, not only cooperation with Austria, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences carried out remote exchanges and seminars, to share China's experience in the fight against the epidemic with Tanzania Ministry of Health, Hannover Medical University, the United States Mayo Medical Center and other medical institutions, academic groups in more than 20 countries under the guidance of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, so that more countries know, understand and use Chinese Medicine. The question of exactly where the novel coronavirus came from has long been the focus of international public opinion.

Bao Rude：My field of study is not epidemiology, so it is difficult to comment on the origin of the virus. In my opinion, it has nothing to do with human beings in origin, that is, it is not man-made, and it is a threat to human life. With regard to naming, I believe that there is an international agreement to avoid the offence of names to any cultural, social, ethnic, region, profession or ethnic group. Today, the The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) names viruses based on their genetic structure. We also know that the name of the 1918 "Spanish flu" was misleading, since the first known case was reported at a military base in Kansas, USA, where the 1918 pandemic infected about 500 million people worldwide and killed about 20-50 million people. We should follow the official disease designation of the World Health Organization in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). WHO has declared "COVID-19" the name for this new disease, in line with guidelines previously developed by the World Organization for Animal Health (Office international des épizooties, OIE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). ICTV calls it "Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Type 2 (SARS-CoV-2)"。

Song Ping：On July 8th the United States formally proposed to the United Nations to withdraw from the World Health Organization in July next year at a critical time for the global fight against the outbreak. What would you like to say about this?

Bao Rude: As mentioned earlier, disease is a threat to all humans. Therefore, we need to work together on a global scale to fight disease. The World Health Organization plays a very important role in this regard in supporting all countries, no matter rich or poor. I am sorry that the United States wants to withdraw from WHO.

Song Ping: China is promoting the modernization and industrialization of Chinese Medicine. The 21st century is the century of life science, the core of it is medicine. Medicine is developed or not, the development of medical science and technology concerns the whole society, economy, people's livelihood, national defense and security, which is a big pattern. This novel coronavirus outbreak makes us feel the importance of medical science and technology even more. It is closely linked to the health and life of the population, social-economic development and national security and social stability. The crisis has promoted the development of the historical process, and the epidemic reminds us that science and technology are the core influencing factors of human destiny, and that the development of good medical science and technology is in the overall interest of the people of the world. The development of medical science and technology is directly related to the whole people's livelihood, the development of health industry, national security and social stability, and the development of Chinese Medicine science and technology is undoubtedly an important part of it. How do you evaluate the current level of Chinese Medicine research?

Bao Rude: Traditional Chinese Medicine is an important part of traditional medicine around the world, based on the accumulation of thousands of years of clinical experience. In the vast sea of Chinese Medicine classics, recorded a large number of valuable clinical experience, which is the basis of our research, of course, this is also of high value for modern drug development. Although we still know very little about the study of Chinese Medicine, compared to the molecules of a newly discovered synthetic drug, we were also initially unaware of its effects. Therefore, human can’t get progress unless we continue to explore the unknown. I think Chinese Medicine has high research value for the treatment of chronic diseases and lifestyle-related diseases, now known as "noncommunicable diseases", because these diseases are associated with our abnormal function. In our more than ten years of cooperation with the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, we have made chronic diseases and lifestyle diseases a key area of cooperation. For example, I worked with the Academician Tong Xiaolin to carry out the study of Chinese Medicine to change the intestinal flora of diabetic patients, and achieved good results. Of course, Chinese Medicine also has a very good effect on infectious diseases. For example, the discovery of artemisinin by Tu Youyou has saved the lives of millions of malaria patients, and Chinese Medicine therapies in treating the novel coronavirus pneumonia also proved it.

Song Ping: Chinese Medicine has certain advantages in early prevention and treatment. Traditional Chinese Medicine often speaks of preventive treatment of disease(healing the unsick), the so-called preventive treatment of disease includes prevention before disease onset, preventing disease from exacerbating and relapse prevention. For individuals who close contacts of novel coronavirus pneumonia, the key point is early intervention, full intervention, early prevention, to prevent the occurrence of novel coronavirus pneumonia. Traditional Chinese Medicine said that "the Zheng Qi(Vital Energy) is in existence, Xie Qi(Pathogenic Qi) can not cause disease; when Xie Qi invades, there must be deficiency of vital energy". It is suggested to do every efforts to maintain the body's Zheng Qi, to prevent the invasion of external Xie Qi, to use traditional Chinese Medicine to prevent, so we can reduce the onset of disease or not to become ill. Take Chinese Medicine in the early stage of the novel coronavirus pneumonia can prevent from mild illness to severe illness. To the critical period, it is necessary to integrate Chinese Medicine and Western medicine treatment to reduce death. To the recovery period, use drugs and non-drug therapies such as acupuncture, fire cupping, Baduanjin, auricular plaster, Guasha(scraping), diet therapy, etc., to improve the quality of life of patients after recovery, giving full play to the important role of traditional Chinese Medicine in rehabilitation. What do you think of the idea of healing the unsick?

Bao Rude：Prevention and early treatment is a very valuable aspect of Chinese Medicine. Chinese Medicine emphasizes the treatment of the disease, and advocates early intervention to avoid serious illness, thereby reducing medical costs. In this case, the regulation of the immune system may be an important key factor, therefore, Chinese herbal medicine regulation of the immune system research, should be paid attention to. A large number of drugs and treatments used clinically in Chinese Medicine provides the evidence required by the modern medical system, although there is still a lack of systematic clinical studies. Modern drug therapy also requires standardized pharmaceutical products, its active ingredients and the mechanism of effects should be clear. These studies should follow the holistic view advocated by TCM and personalized dialectical treatment. In other words, we should keep the complexity of the drug and continue to study the mixture, that is, "compound", rather than just the study of the Chinese medicine monomer. On the positive side, in today's era of omics technology development, genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and so on, give us more up-to-date research ideas, and we can conduct such research in a holistic, systematic way.

Song Ping : Acupuncture, massage and herbal medicine have been recognized more and more in Europe in recent years. As the head of the TCM Expert Group of the European Pharmacopeia Commission, you have made a fruitful contribution to promoting Chinese herbal medicine to the European market. In addition, as the head of the Eurasia-Pacifc Uninet (EPU) in the field of Chinese Medicine, you are undoubtedly instrumental in promoting the spread of Chinese Medicine in Europe. In terms of international cooperation in Chinese Medicine, the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences and EPU have successfully completed cooperation on scientific research projects such as chronic diseases and geriatric diseases, and have received strong support from the Ministry of Science and Technology of China and Austria, which has become a successful example of the model of international cooperation in Chinese Medicine.

Bao Rude：We attach great importance to the study of Chinese Medicine, especially in the aspect of quality control, principle of action and mode of action. Chinese herbal medicine is in the service of all mankind, we must pay attention to the safety, reliability and effectiveness of it as well. Therefore, how to supervise the quality of Chinese herbal medicine has become a very important task for us. The European Pharmacopeia Commission established the Herbal Committee in 2008, and began the establishment of the Herbal Quality Standards System since 2006in 2009. In order to promote this work, I travel between China and Europe several times a year to communicate in-depth with the Chinese Medicine regulatory department. By our continuous efforts in recent years, there have been 73 Chinese herbs including Acanthopanacis Cortex introduced into the European Union Pharmacopeia, accounting for more than one-third of the 184 herbs in the European Union Pharmacopoeia.. EPU is Europe's largest and dominant academic network, which has made a positive contribution to the promotion of scientific research exchanges among member institutions by joint establishment of research centers, seminars, conferences, and cooperative research grants for professors. EPU also positively promotes exchange projects for ph.d candidates and postdoctoral researchers, as well as summer school exchange projects, we have successfully cultivate a number of international talent. I have been coordinating the Sino-Austrian research project for more than ten years. As a founding chairman and board member of the Chinese Medicine Research Association, I have always been committed to promoting high-level Chinese Medicine research in Europe. I have trained many Master's and Doctoral candidates in the field of Chinese Medicine in Germany and Austria, and I organize a three-week summer school for Austrian pharmaceutical students in China every year to familiarize them with Chinese Medicine and plant the seeds of Chinese Medicine in their hearts. Our research results were also recorded in many scientific publications and books.

Song Ping: The international medical community has pointed out that this new coronavirus will coexist with humans for a long time. At the opening ceremony of the 73rd World Health Assembly video conference held on May 18, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the initiative of building a "community of destiny for human health". What's your comment on this?

Bao Rude：As mentioned earlier, I fully agree that the fight against these diseases requires a global effort, and we hope that the nations of the world have a common goal of promoting human health and improving global health governance. Solidarity and multilateral cooperation are essential to containing and mitigating the epidemic. Specifically, we must work together in joint international research projects to share our knowledge and expertise to ultimately improve the global human health.

Song Ping: Chinese Medicine has a history of treating plagues for thousands of years. There are documentation and historical origins in the history of China with various therapies and a wealth of experience, thereby formed its own unique theory and methods. To some extent, it is in the process of Chinese Medicine to treat large-scale epidemic diseases, promoting the development of Chinese Medicine. Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment of disease, not only concerned about the virus itself, but also concerned about the various symptoms and changes after the virus this "external noxious factors" invasion of the human body, pay attention to the whole condition of the patient, dialectical treatment, strengthening the body resistance to eliminate pathogenic factors to achieve the purpose of treatment. After the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pneumonia, Chinese President Xi Jinping has been stressing that we should attach equal importance to both Chinese Medicine and Western medicine, integrate Chinese Medicine and Western medicine, and promote the role of Chinese Medicine to safeguard people's lives and health. The guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of new coronavirus pneumonia issued by the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China contain a special section on Chinese Medicine. During the entire epidemic prevention and control period, Chinese medical institutions around the country sent more than 4,900 medical personnel to support Hubei, the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine sent five teams of 773 personnel to Wuhan, the utilization rate of Chinese Medicine in China has reached more than 90%. It has been proved that Chinese Medicine has an important role in the prevention and control of this novel coronavirus epidemic, it has significant effects in alleviating fever, cough, fatigue and other symptoms, and could improve the absorption of inflammation of the lungs, accelerate the virus turning negative, especially in preventing the condition from getting worse. From the clinical observation, the discomfort symptoms of patients with mild illness treated by integration of Chinese Medicine and Western medicine disappeared faster, the treatment cycle of severe patients was shortened, and the satisfaction of patients in different stage of disease with Chinese Medicine interventions was also high. While we treating, we summarizing experience to screen effective prescriptions and optimize treatment programs. In the post-epidemic era, can Chinese Medicine contribute to building a healthy China while also contributing to building a healthy world for the international community?

Bao Rude：I believe that Chinese Medicine can make an important contribution to building a healthy world. However, it requires global acceptance, and ultimately, a integration of Chinese Medicine and Western medicine. The wide acceptance of Chinese Medicine can only be based on scientific evidence, which is why I have stressed many times the urgent need for extensive international scientific research on Chinese Medicine.

Song Ping：Medicine is divided into two kinds: modern medicine and traditional medicine. Modern medicine is rooted in modern science, and modern medicine has no country." Traditional medicine is empirical medicine rooted in the traditional culture and philosophy of different countries. The thinking mode of dialectical treatment in Chinese Medicine contains the profound philosophical thought of the Chinese nation, and the medical ethics concept draws on the concepts of "benevolence" and "courtesy" in Confucian culture. It is by the influence of these thoughts, Chinese Medicine is very inclusive, it does not exclude Western medicine, on the contrary, it adheres to the emphasis on integration of Chinese Medicine and Western medicine, advocating the integration medicine. It can be said that both Chinese Medicine and Western medicine are the heritage of human civilization. Civilization is colorful because of exchanges, and civilization is enriched by mutual learning. China advocates the integration of Chinese Medicine and Western medicine and fully embodies the concept of promoting civilized exchanges. How do you think about the promoting of international community to strengthen civilized exchanges and mutual learning in the post-epidemic era?

Bao Rude：The integration of Chinese Medicine and Western medicine requires mutual understanding. This works well in China, but it still needs to be improved in western countries. The exchange of knowledge and the communication of people is the key point. That's why I take 25 pharmacy students to China every year, and accept study visit applications of Chinese scientists to Austria. I have always been committed to the exchange of medical experts of Eastern and Western medical experts and the integration of ideas. Modern society requires us not only to understand medicine, but also to understand the cultural background behind medicine. As a result, our next generation will be more open, inclusive and knowledgeable. I hope that the virus can be contained as soon as possible so that we can continue our exchanges and cooperation soon.