KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 22 (Sin Chew Daily) — Chinese medicine Lian Hua Qing Wen capsules (連花清瘟膠囊) used in China to treat COVID-19 patients with fever are not a preventive medication, says Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) Associate Professor Dr Te Kian Keong, who is also head of the university's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Department of Chinese medicine.

He said consuming such capsules as a preventive measure may offer a paradoxical effect.

Dr Te reminded consumers to check whether the medication is labeled with MAL followed by the numbers when buying the product.

He said based on China's Treatment Protocol for COVID-19 Patients (Tentative 8th Edition), Lian Hua Qing Wen capsules are one of the traditional Chinese medications recommended for treatment of patients suffering fatigue and fever.

"Hence, this capsule is not used as a preventive medication. This perception needs to be rectified. It will cause one's body to turn cold as the capsule contains ingredients to relieve the heat. With the paradoxical effect, one's body may show other symptoms," he added.

Dr Te is also a member of the Traditional and Complementary Medicine Council under the Ministry of Health Malaysia.

He said western medications are used to treat coronavirus patients in Malaysia, while Chinese medications offer preventive effects.

Dr Te urged those seeking preventive treatments to visit a Chinese medicine clinic or go for online consultation with a TCM practitioner.

"Every individual's body is unique. One can look to Chinese medications, food and healthy lifestyles to generate positive energy in the body," he said.

Dr Te also reminded the public to abide by the guidelines of the Ministry of Health in practicing social distancing and staying away from crowded and enclosed places.

A reader wrote to Sin Chew Daily that a message went viral on the WhatsApp platform claiming that Lian Hua Qing Wen capsules made in China is an efficacious medication to treat COVID-19 infections.

The voice message said someone had bought the capsules online for a friend hospitalized for COVID-19.

The patient, who had been ill for four to five days with breathing difficulties, fever, cough and insomnia, was given antibiotic, cough and flu medications by the doctor.

A friend bought him Lian Hua Qing Wen capsules from an online portal and he was able to sleep two hours later after taking the capsules. He recovered after taking three boxes of the capsules. Each box contains 24 capsules.

Some claim that the capsules are good as a preventive drug. Online portals are selling this capsule where consumers place orders for the medication yet to be verified and consume them as a preventive prescription for COVID-19.

Dr Te said clinical treatment varies and one prescription may not be applicable to all patients.