On April 14, 2020, Yiling Pharmaceutical announced that the traditional Chinese medicine herbal formulation Lianhua Qingwen capsules (granules) were approved by The State Administration for Market Regulation People's Republic of China to add functional indications to the originally approved indications: "In the conventional treatment of novel coronavirus pneumonia, Lianhua Qingwen can be used for common type of fever, cough, and fatigue, in treatment lasting for 7-10 days."
During the epidemic in China, Lianhua Qingwen capsules (granules) became the most frequently recommended Chinese herbal patent medicine for treatment of COVID 19. The efficacy of the Lianhua Qingwen capsule (granule) in the treatment of COVID and influenza viruses has been previously confirmed by numerous in vitro, animal and clinical studies (see references). In studies it exerted broad-spectrum antiviral effects on a series of influenza viruses and immune regulatory effects Recently, Runfeng, Li, and his team published a paper entitled "Lianhuaqingwen exerts anti-viral and anti-inflammatory activity against novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2)." in the international journal Pharmacology Research. This is the first basic research article demonstrating the effectiveness of this Chinese patent herbal medicine against SARS-Cov-2. In this study, it was found that “Lianhua Qingwen exerted its anti-coronavirus activity by inhibiting virus replication and reducing the cytokine release from host cells, which supported the clinical application of LH in combination with existing therapies to treat COVID-2019.” The authors further concluded, “ These findings indicate that LH protects against the virus attack, making its use a novel strategy for controlling the COVID-19 disease.”
Composition of Formula:
Lianhua-Qingwen capsule (LQC), developed from the two classical traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulae Maxing-Shigan-Tang and Yinqiao-San, both which have a long history of clinical application in the treatment of influenza. It has become a popular and commonly used traditional Chinese herbal preparation to treat viral influenza. It especially played an important role in the fight against severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2002-2003 in China. LQC is composed of 11 herbs including Fructus Forsythiae (Lianqiao), Flos Lonicerae Japonicae (Jinyinhua), Herba Ephedrae (Mahuang), Semen Armeniacae Amarum (Kuxingren), Radix Isatidis (Banlangen), Rhizoma Dryopteridis Crassirhizomatis (Mianmaguanzhong), Herba Houttuyniae (Yuxingcao), Herba Pogostemonis (Guanghuoxiang), Radix et Rhizoma Rhei (Dahuang), Radix et Rhizoma Rhodiolae Crenulatae (Hongjingtian), and Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae (Gancao), along with menthol and a traditional Chinese mineral medicine, Gypsum Fibrosum (Shigao).
Availability:
Unfortunately, this formula must be ordered online. Thus, it may be a month or more wait when ordering this formula online.
References:
Ding, Yuewen, Lijuan Zeng, Runfeng Li, Qiaoyan Chen, Beixian Zhou, Qiaolian Chen, Pui leng Cheng et al. "The Chinese prescription lianhuaqingwen capsule exerts anti-influenza activity through the inhibition of viral propagation and impacts immune function." BMC complementary and alternative medicine 17, no. 1 (2017): 130. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12906-017-1585-7
Duan, Zhong-ping, Zhen-hua Jia, Jian Zhang, Liu Shuang, Chen Yu, Lian-chun Liang, Chang-qing Zhang et al. "Natural herbal medicine Lianhuaqingwen capsule anti-influenza A (H1N1) trial: a randomized, double blind, positive controlled clinical trial." Chinese medical journal 124, no. 18 (2011): 2925-2933.
Hai, Guo, Yang Jin, Gong Jiening, and Zhang Qinghong. "Effect of Lianhua Qingwen Capsule on Pulmonary Index of Mice with Viral Infection [J]." Henan Traditional Chinese Medicine 3 (2007). http://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTotal-HNZY200703016.htm
Jia, Weina, Chunhua Wang, Yuefei Wang, Guixiang Pan, Miaomiao Jiang, Zheng Li, and Yan Zhu. "Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the major constituents in Chinese medical preparation Lianhua-Qingwen capsule by UPLC-DAD-QTOF-MS." The Scientific World Journal 2015 (2015).https://www.hindawi.com/journals/tswj/2015/731765/
Mo, Hongying, Changwen KE, Jingping ZHENG, and Nanshan ZHONG. "Anti-viral Effects of Lianhua Qingwen Capsule Against Influenza A Virus in Vitro [J]." Traditional Chinese Drug Research & Clinical Pharmacology 1 (2007). http://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTotal-ZYXY200701002.htm
Ouyang, Huixiang, Qingyan TANG, Yongzhong CHEN, Yu WEI, and Guoshu LI. "Clinical observation of Lianhua Qingwen Department of Emergency, Capsules in treatment of the influenza A/H1N1 [J]." China Medical Herald 30 (2010). http://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTotal-YYCY201030007.htm
Runfeng, Li, Hou Yunlong, Huang Jicheng, Pan Weiqi, Ma Qinhai, Shi Yongxia, Li Chufang et al. "Lianhuaqingwen exerts anti-viral and anti-inflammatory activity against novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2)." Pharmacological research (2020): 104761. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7102548/
Wang, Chun-Hua, Yi Zhong, Yan Zhang, Jin-Ping Liu, Yue-Fei Wang, Wei-Na Jia, Guo-Cai Wang, Zheng Li, Yan Zhu, and Xiu-Mei Gao. "A network analysis of the Chinese medicine Lianhua-Qingwen formula to identify its main effective components." Molecular BioSystems 12, no. 2 (2016): 606-613. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Zheng_Li47/publication/286638586_A_Network_Analysis_of_Chinese_Medicine_LianhuaQingwen_Formula_to_Identify_its_Main_Effective_Components/links/56824ad208ae1e63f1eeba64/A-Network-Analysis-of-Chinese-Medicine-Lianhua-Qingwen-Formula-to-Identify-its-Main-Effective-Components.pdf
Yang, Libo, J. I. Zhenhui, Xuedong Gao, and G. U. Chunhua. "Phase Ⅱ Clinical Study of Lianhua Qingwen Capsule for Influenza." Traditional Chinese Drug Research & Clinical Pharmacology 04 (1993). http://wprim.whocc.org.cn/admin/article/articleDetail?WPRIMID=574013&articleId=574013
Yan-xia, LIU Geng-xin ZHANG, and Y. A. N. G. Ji-qing. "The randomized controlled study of Lianhuaqingwen capsule in treating A/H1N1 influenza." Chinese Journal of Difficult and Complicated Cases 1 (2010): 9. http://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTotal-YNBZ201001009.htm