Potential Effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine on COVID-19 and Cardiac Injury: Mechanisms and Clinical Evidence

Coronavirus disease 2019 is a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” from 30 January 2020 to 5 May 2023. While battling Coronavirus disease 2019, the Chinese government has actively promoted the collaborative treatment model of Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine, and clinical and scientific research has applied appropriate and rigorous methodology. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection may damage the cardiovascular system via an unclarified pathogenic mechanism. The National Health Commission of China recommends ‘three formulas and three medicines’ for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019, which have been shown to be most effective in the treatments. Data from randomized controlled trials of ‘three formulas and three medicines’ suggested that the traditional Chinese medicine is safe and can alleviate the symptoms of cardiac injury. Therefore, we further evaluate the benefits and safety of traditional Chinese medicine treatment for Coronavirus disease 2019 patients with cardiac injury across the care continuum.