Analysis on the Selection of Herbs in TCM COVID-19 Treatment Protocols Between Malaysia and China

Figures & data

Table 1 Formulas Recommended in Malaysian Protocol

Clinical Periods		Treatment Rule	Recommend Formulas
Mild	Grade 1	Clearing heat and removing filth, clearing dampness and heat	Wuye Yin and Sanren Tang plus-minus
		Eliminating surface dampness, regulating qi and stomach	Huoxiang Zhengqi San plus-minus
	Grade 2	Dispersing lung and stopping coughing, relieving phlegm and dampness	Zhisou San and Sanren Tang plus-minus
		Dispersing lung and stopping coughing, clearing heat and dampness	Sangju Yin and Sanren Tang plus-minus
		Heat-clearing and detoxifying, clearing away dampness	Yinqiao San and Sanren Tang plus-minus
Moderate	Grade 3	Clearing heat and detoxifying, deheat and relieving superficies	Yinqiao Chaige Tang
Severe	Grade 4	Releasing lung and resuscitation, discharge heat and relieving asthma	Qianjin Weijing Tang and Xiaoxianxiong Tang
Critical	Grade 5	Benefiting qi and consolidating deficiency, clearing blood stasis and opening up the door	Jijiu Huiyang tang plus-minus
Convalescence		Strengthening the spleen, promoting circulation of Qi, relieving cough and resolving phlegm	Xiangsha Liujunzi tang and Zhisou san plus-minus
		Strengthening the spleen and tonifying the lung, benefiting Qi and resolving dampness	Shenling Baizhu san plus-minus

Table 2 Formulas Recommended in Chinese Protocol

Clinical Periods	Treatment Rule	Recommend Formulas
		Self-prescribed prescription named Qingfei Paidu Decoction or Qingfei Paidu granules
Mild	Dispelling the superficial evil, expelling dampness with disphoresis and eliminating pestilence	Self-prescribed prescription named Hanshiyi Fang
	Heat-clearing and expelling dampness with disphoresis	Self-prescribed prescription, and Jinhua Qinggan Granules or Lianhua Qingwen Granules
Moderate	Diffusing the lung, reliving internal heat, and expelling dampness with disphoresis	Self-prescribed prescription named Xuanfei Baidu Decoction
	Dispelling cold, expelling dampness with disphoresis, diffusing the lung and suppressing cough	Self-prescribed prescription
	Diffusing the lung, moistening dryness, and relieving detoxify	Self-prescribed prescription named Xuanfei Runzao Jiedu Decoction
Severe	Cooling yingfen and qifen	Self-prescribed prescription, and choose one or two injections intravenous as follows, Xiyanping Injection, Xuebijing Injection, Reduning Injection, Tanreqing Injection, and Xingnaojing Injection
Critical	/	Suhexiang Wan or Angong Niuhuang Wan with the following decoction composed fo Ren Shen 15g, Hei Shun Pian 10g, and Shan Zhu Yu 15g. And choose one or two injections intravenous as follows, Xiyanping Injection, Xuebijing Injection, Reduning Injection, Tanreqing Injection, Xingnaojing Injection, Shengmai Injection, Shengfu Injection, and Shenmai Injection
Convalescence	Strengthening the spleen and the lung	Self-prescribed prescription
	Replenishing qi and nourishing Yin	Self-prescribed prescription

Table 3 Frequency of Herbs of Formulas in Different Protocols

Malaysian Protocol			Chinese Protocol
Number	Herb Name	Frequency	Number	Herb Name	Frequency
1	Yi Ren	8	1	Gan Cao	7
2	Gan Cao	8	2	Shi Gao	6
3	Fu Ling	6	3	Huo Xiang	6
4	Bai Zhu	6	4	Ma Huang	5
5	Ban Xia	6	5	Cang Zhu	5
6	Chen Pi	6	6	Xing Ren	4
7	Jie Geng	6	7	Fu Ling	4
8	Xing Ren	5	8	Ting Li Zi	4
9	Bai Kou Ren	5	9	Hou Pu	4
10	Bo He	4	10	Ca Guo	4
11	Zi Su	4
12	Lu Gen	4
13	Ren Shen	4

Table 4 Distribution of the Four Qi and Five Tastes of Herbs in Different Protocols

	Malaysian Protocol		Chinese Protocol
	Category	Frequency	Category	Frequency
Four Qi	Cold	33	Cold	27
	Warm	32	Warm	25
	Ping	9	Ping	7
	Cool	5	Cool	3
	Hot	2	Hot	1
Five Tastes	Bitter	40	Bitter	35
	Pungent	37	Pungent	26
	Sweet	37	Sweet	26
	Sour	4	Light	5
	Astringent	4	Sour	4
	Light	3	Salty	2
	Salty	2	Astringent	1

Table 5 Distribution of Meridian of Herbs in Different Protocols

编号	Malaysian Protocol		Chinese Protocol
	Meridian	Frequency	Meridian	Frequency
1	Lung	54	Lung	35
2	Stomach	43	Spleen	28
3	Spleen	36	Stomach	27
4	Heart	21	Liver	18
5	Liver	18	Kidney	18
6	Kidney	14	Heart	17
7	Large intestine	10	Bladder	7
8	Gallbladder	5	Large intestine	6
9	Small intestine	5	Gallbladder	4
10	Bladder	2	Small intestine	3
11	Triple jiao	1	Pericardium	1
12	Pericardium	1

Figure 1 Protocol herbs cluster analysis (Left: Malaysia. Right: China).

Table 6 Association Rules of Herbs in Different Protocols

Malaysian Protocol				Chinese Protocol
Posterior Item	Previous Item	Support (%)	Confidence (%)	Posterior Item	Previous Item	Support (%)	Confidence (%)
Yi Yi Ren	Gan Cao	80.0	87.5	Ma Huang	Huo Xiang	60.0	83.333
Gan Cao	Ban Xia	60.0	100	Gan Cao	Shi Gao	60.0	83.333
Gan Cao	Chen Pi	60.0	100	Gan Cao	Cang Zhu	50.0	80
Gan Cao	Jie Geng	60.0	100	Hou Pu	Cang Zhu	50.0	80
Fu Ling	Bai Zhu	60.0	100	Xing Ren	Ma Huang	50.0	80
Yi Yi Ren	Bai Kou Ren	50.0	100	Mang Huang	Cang Zhu	50.0	80
Yi Yi Ren	Xing Ren	50.0	100	Huo Xiang	Cang Zhu	50.0	80
Chen Pi	Ban Xia	60.0	83.333	Shi Gao	Ma Huang	50.0	80
Yi Yi Ren	Ban Xia	60.0	83.333	Xing Ren	Ma Huang Huo Xiang	50.0	80
Jie Geng	Chen Pi	60.0	83.333	Cang Zhu	Ma Hang Huo Xiang	50.0	80

Figure 2 Protocol herbs network analysis (Left: Malaysia. Right: China).