China's traditional medicine: Coronavirus cure or yet another propaganda?

If sabotaging vaccine research was not enough, China is now promoting its traditional medicine as a cure for the Wuhan virus. China claims to have cured 92 per cent of the cases using its age-old concoctions. But, there is no evidence to prove their effectiveness.

China's President Xi Jinping thinks it's his national duty to promote it butthere is a strong global pushback. China has released a white paper detailing the effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine. It says Chinese herbal formulas and drugs were given to 92 per cent of all confirmed cases especially in Hubei province which is home to Wuhan and the virus.

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Hubei was the worst-hit province in China and China claims that traditional medicine cured more than 90 per cent of all types of cases __ mild, moderate and severe.

However, the world's leading scientific journals and magazines say rigorous trial data is needed to show that these remedies are safe and effective. So far, China has failed to provide any. For them, the subject is more patriotic than scientific. Xi has made TCM his pet project.

Of course, there's an economic interest too. In 2016, President Xi passed a national law requiring local governments to promote TCM.

By the end of this year, China's domestic sales of TCM are expected to cross 400 billion dollars.

Now, Xi Jinping is eyeing a share in the global pie. In November, Xi even managed to get the WHO to give its formal nod to TCM.

The WHO added a chapter on TCM to the International Classification of Diseases. The list recognises globally available medical treatments.

More than 100 countries rely on this document to determine their medical treatments. China prevailed on the WHO to include their unproven traditional medicines.

Global scientific bodies slammed the move. The Federation of European academies of medicine and, the European academies' science advisory council issued a joint statement.

They feared China would use this to promote TCM across the world.

Why is there such resistance to Traditional Chinese medicine?

It has evolved over a thousand years. It includes a range of treatments. Herbal concoctions to acupuncture because most of it is anecdotal.

None of this has been proven to be 100 per cent effective. Also, many of these medicines contain toxic compounds, heavy metals, pesticides, and microorganisms. This may cause serious side effects.

Chinese medicine also uses animal part. Parts from 36 species of animals. Many of them endangered.

Traditional Chinese medicine has pushed several species including tigers, rhinoceroses, sea horses and pangolins to the brink of extinction.

The origins of the Wuhan virus are disputed. But many believe it came from a lab or an exotic animal.

So, how do we encourage a drug that uses parts of endangered animals? More importantly, parts of the very animals that may have spread the coronavirus?

Given the global resistance, China had to rely on its hard power to push this attempt to secure soft power. China has sent traditional medicine to countries like Italy and Iraq along with their healthcare workers as a sign of support.

According to a report by global times, TCM has spread to 183 countries and regions with more than 40 signing TCM-related agreements with China.

Under the belt and road initiative, China will establish 30 TCM centres in participating countries by the end of this year. China has used its influence to get these medicines registered in Canada, Mozambique, Indonesia, Brazil, and Romania.

What about mainland China? How do you force people to accept traditional medicine?

China plans to punish people who criticise traditional medicines. It wants to expand the use of TCM in the Chinese healthcare system. For everything from cancer treatment to infectious disease prevention.

TCM is seen by the communist party as a source of national pride and an integral part of China's cultural heritage.

However, all Chinese citizens agree to it. So, China is introducing a bill. Ban any individual or organisation that criticises TCM.

The draft legislation calls for criminal prosecution. The law is likely to be enforced in Beijing. Unfortunately, the victims of the unproven traditional Chinese medicine will be Chinese citizens themselves.