MANILA – Traditional Chinese medicine called Lianhua Qingwen was not approved as a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) medicine, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clarified.
FDA Director General Eric Domingo said in an interview with CNN Philippines that Lianhua Qingwen should only be used as indicated in the Certificate of Product Registration.
“Lianhua Qingwen capsule was a traditionally used herbal product [that] helps remove heat-toxin invasion of the lungs, including symptoms such as fever, aversion to cold, muscle soreness, stuffy and runny nose,” FDA’s certificate stated.
The herb product is used to manage mild and moderate COVID-19 cases in China. The drug was also recommended by the team of Chinese doctors that visited the Philippines to share their best experiences in managing the disease months ago.
Despite Domingo’s clarification on Lianhua Qingwen’s use, the Chinese Embassy has thanked the FDA for giving the Chinese medicine the greenlight to be sold in the local market.
“It is our sincere hope that its entrance into the Philippine market will contribute to the fight against the spread of COVID-19 in this country and help the patients with mild and moderate symptoms recover,” the Chinese Embassy said in its statement.
Lianhua Qingwen produced by Shijiazhuang Yiling Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., is also approved in Hong Kong, Macao SAR, Brazil, Indonesia, Canada, Mozambique, Romania, Thailand, Ecuador, Singapore, and Laos PDR./PN
