The Distinct Advantages of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Treating Post-Infectious Sequelae

Following the treatment of infectious diseases, patients frequently develop a variety of sequelae, the most well-known being long COVID. In modern medicine, these post-infectious conditions often lack corresponding diagnostic names, let alone standardized pharmacological protocols. Consequently, diagnosing and managing these conditions through the lens of modern medicine can be exceedingly challenging.

For instance, last semester, the child of one of my teachers contracted a mycoplasma infection. After several days of fever, the child was treated with antibiotics, which successfully resolved the fever. However, the child subsequently developed unexplained vertigo so severe that walking became impossible. Hospital evaluations raised suspicions of ataxia or vestibular neuritis, but extensive testing failed to support these diagnoses. Unable to pinpoint a specific disease, the medical team was left without a clear treatment plan.

Eventually, the teacher asked for my opinion. I explained that we had encountered similar situations in our own childhood; these were typically post-viral sequelae. In the past, with larger families and fewer resources, parents often did not pay much attention to such symptoms or intervene, as they usually resolved on their own within a few days.

Nevertheless, to provide her with some peace of mind, I recommended a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula from the Chaihu (Bupleurum) family. In the TCM syndrome differentiation system, vertigo induced by exogenous febrile diseases is classified as a Shaoyang syndrome, for which Xiao Chaihu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction) is the representative formula.

After just three doses, the vertigo subsided. Whether this was due to the medication or spontaneous recovery remains uncertain. Personally, I consider this a typical case of post-infectious sequelae—a condition that may be difficult to explain clearly using modern medical theories.

In reality, such cases are not uncommon. People frequently develop various bizarre symptoms following a common cold; while some resolve on their own after a while, others unfortunately linger and become chronic.

TCM excels in syndrome differentiation and individualized treatment, having accumulated millennia of clinical experience. A remarkable aspect of TCM is that the symptoms documented in classical texts encompass nearly all clinical presentations we encounter today. This demonstrates that ancient physicians were highly astute; they meticulously observed human pathological responses and devised numerous therapeutic solutions.

I recently encountered another case involving a middle-aged woman born in 1977 who had suffered from excessive sweating, aversion to wind, and cold intolerance for over thirty years. Again, no definitive etiology could be identified, leaving modern medicine without an effective treatment strategy.

Those familiar with TCM, particularly the Jingfang (classical formula) or Fangzheng (formula-syndrome correspondence) schools, might immediately recognize this as a presentation of Guizhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction) syndrome or Yupingfeng San (Jade Windscreen Powder) syndrome.

The classical text for Guizhi Tang describes “spontaneous sweating, shivering aversion to cold, and rustling aversion to wind.” Translated into modern terms, this simply means “prone to sweating, cold intolerance, and wind aversion”—a symptom complex commonly seen in many individuals, typically persisting as a post-cold sequela.

How should such conditions be diagnosed? Modern medicine might classify this as autonomic dysfunction, yet there are few viable pharmacological options available for actual treatment.

TCM approaches this differently. Both Guizhi Tang and Yupingfeng San can be effective for such patients. For this specific case, I combined the two formulas and added Fuxiaomai (floating wheat) to create a customized compound prescription.

After three doses, the patient reported reduced sweating, along with diminished cold and wind intolerance. Given the chronic nature of her condition, a complete resolution could not be achieved immediately. Therefore, I advised her to continue with warming-yang TCM herbs to consolidate the therapeutic effects.

Another example is post-infectious xerostomia (dry mouth). Modern pharmacological guidelines rarely offer solutions for this condition, whereas TCM formulas such as Shengmai Yin (Pulse-Generating Beverage) or Renshen Baihu Tang (Ginseng and Anemarrhena Decoction) can be highly effective.

Currently, these conditions exist in a diagnostic gray area. Applying modern medical theory, none of the standard disease classifications fit appropriately. Speculative diagnoses lack support from biological or imaging markers, relegating them to the category of idiopathic intractable and obscure diseases.

TCM employs a different theoretical framework to describe these conditions. For instance, spontaneous sweating with wind aversion is interpreted in TCM as a deficiency of Wei Qi (defensive energy). While this explanation may sound unscientific—and I myself do not entirely endorse it—it does not negate the fact that ancient practitioners discovered practical solutions through lived experience. These solutions are recorded in classical medical texts as specific formulas, developed through generations of empirical observation. When applied clinically, these formulas can alleviate or even eliminate such symptoms.

Furthermore, ancient physicians efficiently organized these related formulas. Most classical medical texts categorize diseases systematically under headings such as “Wind Stroke,” “Cough,” or “Dysphagia.”

For subsequent generations of TCM practitioners, possessing adequate learning skills allows them to consult these classical texts much like reference books, systematically matching patient symptoms to corresponding therapeutic solutions. This makes these ancient compendia exceptionally practical clinical tools.