WHO supports the exploration of traditional medical treatment in COVID-19

享瑾美

       The World Health Organization (WHO) recently released a press briefing stating that WHO welcomes all over the world to explore potential treatment methods and innovations for  COVID-19, including the re-development and utilization of traditional medicines and therapies.        According to the briefing, WHO recognizes that traditional medicine has a long history and is a beneficial supplement to modern medicine, and traditional medical workers play an important role in providing health care to the people. Artemisia annua L. and other medicinal plants are considered as possible methods to treat COVID-19 , but its efficacy and adverse side effects should be tested. Even if the treatment comes from traditional practice and nature, its effectiveness and safety should be determined through strict clinical trials. WHO is cooperating with relevant research institutions to select traditional pharmaceutical products that can be used for the treatment of COVID-19 to carry out clinical efficacy and safety experiments.
       The briefing stressed that the information about the effectiveness of some traditional treatments, especially the misinformation published on social media, must be treated with caution, and many of them include the minimum requirements and evidence that plants and substances lack quality, safety and efficacy. Using unverified products to treat COVID-19 may put people and patients in danger or face safety risks, and may give people a false sense of security, thus weakening the effectiveness of preventive measures such as washing hands and keeping contact distance. (Content Source: Economic Daily, May 7, 2020, 8 th Edition Reporter: Yang Haiquan)
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世卫组织支持探索新冠肺炎的传统医学疗法

      世界卫生组织日前发布新闻简报指出，世卫组织欢迎世界各地探索新冠肺炎潜在治疗方法及创新，包括对传统药物和疗法重新开发利用。
　　简报说，世卫组织认识到传统医学历史悠久，是对现代医学的有益补充，传统医学工作者在向民众提供保健方面发挥着重要作用。青蒿等药用植物被认为是治疗新冠肺炎的可能方法，但应对其疗效和不良副作用作检测。即使治疗方法来源于传统实践和自然，也应通过严格的临床试验确定其有效性和安全性。世卫组织正在与有关研究机构合作，选择可用于新冠肺炎治疗的传统药物产品开展临床疗效和安全性实验。
　　简报强调，必须谨慎对待关于某些传统治疗方法有效性的信息，特别是在社交媒体上发布的错误信息，其中许多治疗方法包括植物和物质缺乏质量、安全和功效的最低要求和证据。使用未经验证的产品治疗新冠肺炎可能会使民众和患者处于危险中或面临安全风险，并可能给人一种虚假的安全感，从而削弱洗手和保持接触距离等预防措施的效果。（内容来源：经济日报  2020年5月7日8版　记者：杨海泉）