Traditional Chinese Medicine for COVID-19? Farlong brings Qing Fei Pai Du Tang to US consumers

24 Apr 2020 --- US-based Farlong Pharmaceutical will open up the sales of three Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formulas to consumers, including Qing Fei Pai Du Tang (QPD), which has allegedly been recommended by the Chinese National Health Commission as a treatment for COVID-19. Farlong states that TCM doctors use the formula – which contains 21 herbal medicines – to dry lungs and support the organs. However, many companies have been warned in recent weeks for implying that their products can have an effect on COVID-19.

“In the past, patients had only taken these formulas under practitioners’ recommendations. With the coronavirus outbreak and a growing demand from consumers to be proactive in protecting their health, we are expanding availability directly to the public. I don’t think people will be discouraged from seeking standard medical care if they use these products, as they will help to relieve symptoms in a natural way,” Jing Struve, CEO and Executive Director of Farlong Pharmaceutical, tells NutritionInsight. 

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been quick to clamp down on products with misleading claims that the products are safe or effective for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. Meanwhile, the US state of Oregon recently introduced stricter measures to crack down on products featuring unsubstantiated claims about COVID-19. 

“The FDA primarily regulates pharmaceuticals and, according to dietary supplements legislation in the US, herbal products cannot claim to diagnose, treat or cure any specific disease without first having gone through FDA approval. Because this is an expensive endeavor, this leaves practically every herbal medicine outside the boundaries of disease claims in the US,” Case Adams, California Naturopath, Board Certified Alternative Medical Practitioner and Editor and Founder of the Journal of Plant Medicines, tells NutritionInsight.

However, he notes that, with regard to the personal use of herbal medicines, it is always advisable that they be prescribed by a medical doctor or otherwise licensed or certified health professional. There can be side effects and herbal medicines can conflict with the effects of pharmaceuticals. Self-treating, especially for those with COVID-19, is not advised, Adams highlights.

Jing Struve, CEO and Executive Director of Farlong Pharmaceutical.Part of a treatment plan
According to a Chinese abstract published in the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, QPD has been approved as part of a coronavirus treatment plan. The abstract states: “Qing Fei Pai Du Decoction was recommended for the treatment of COVID-19 by the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China and National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine. TCM shows good clinical efficacy and great potential in the treatment of COVID-19. Previous studies of TCM have shown broad-spectrum antiviral activity, providing a variety of sources for the discovery of new antiviral drugs.”

Adams also explains that the QPD formula and parts thereof were studied with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) patients in 2004, and more recently among COVID-19 patients. “It was part of a study of 102 COVID-19 patients, then it was specifically studied on 701 COVID-19 patients. Faster recovery times were the most appealing clinical feature, although it is a formula that is typically applied after personal diagnostics,” he notes. 

Business booms
In addition to QPD, sold as “Lung Detox,” Farlong is also launching two more formulas to consumers. Lung Booster 1 is made with Ling Dan Cao granules, touted as cooling the body’s internal temperature, detoxifying and soothing the throat, clearing lung-heat and resolving phlegm. According to Farlong, the formula was mentioned by Guangzhou Medical University, Yunnan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Yunnan Health Department Health Supervision Bureau as one of the recommended natural herbs for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. 

Meanwhile, Lung Booster 2 uses Lian Hua Qing Wen granules, comprised of 14 natural herbs with medicinal properties used to clear the infection, detoxify and relieve lung heat. Farlong states it is widely used in China to treat symptoms from influenza such as a fever, chills, muscle soreness, nasal congestion, runny nose, cough, headache and dry throat.

Struve notes that the company has been extremely busy since the pandemic reared its head. “In the beginning of the outbreak, we were trying our best to keep up. Within a week of the outbreak, 90 percent of our inventory of herbs were sold out. We received orders of QPD from almost every acupuncturist and naturopathic practitioners within our network. Ling Dan Cao granules and Lian Huan Qing Wen granules were also sold out within a few days. Luckily, our manufacturer in China was able to send us more supplies quickly and now we are fully stocked again.”

This rising demand was also reported by Virun Nutra-Biosciences this week. Philip Bromley, CEO and Co-Founder of Virun, told NutritionInsight that now is a “great time to start a new brand in the supplement space.”

To keep readers informed of these rapid developments, NutritionInsight is updating its daily news feed for the coronavirus-related information and insights you need to guide your business through this challenging period.

By Katherine Durrell

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