With the arrival of autumn, a local specialist hospital is offering Traditional Chinese Medicine advice on how to enhance immunity and prevent disease infection.

This year, respiratory diseases and coronavirus prevention and control are the hottest topic for TCM healthcare, according to experts from Shanghai Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine.

It staged its annual TCM healthcare festival on Saturday.

Chinese have a tradition of eating TCM herbs and receiving TCM therapy during autumn and winter to enhance health, control chronic diseases and prevent seasonal illnesses.

“Due to the influence of the epidemic, residents have a much higher awareness ofhealthcare and infectious disease prevention this year," said Dr Tang Jie, an expert on respiratory diseases atYueyang hospital.

"A combination of western medicine and TCM has played an important role in the long-term anti-epidemic campaign. We recommend people with poor immunity and at risk of infection receive flu shots, and those with respiratory diseases receive pneumonia vaccine, which only targets specific viruses. Meanwhile, TCM can offer individualized therapy and care to improve overall immunity for disease prevention and control.

“TCM has played an important role in the treatment of coronavirus. Its effects are proven during clinical practice both in Wuhan, the former epicenter of coronavirus epidemic,and Shanghai."

Experts also suggest people try gaofang, a seasonal herbal paste tonic.

Yueyang has a tradition of preparing gaofang sincelidong, or start of winter according to the Chinese calendar. It is the only hospital in the city making its own gaofang, while other hospitals only make prescriptions and hire companies to make it.

Doctors from Shanghai Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine conduct free consultations.

Experts showcase TCM exercise.