Table 1 Characteristics of TCM Pathogenesis in NCP and SARS

Original area

Wuhan, Hubei

Foshan, Guangdong

Onset time

Nov, 2019

Nov, 2002

TCM pathogen

Dampness toxin

Epidemic toxin (疫毒)

Main symptoms

Low fever or no fever, some patients only felt fatigue, or dry cough, nausea, diarrhea. Severe dyspnea occurs 1 week later, which can lead to multiple organs failure.

The typical symptom is fever (frequent high fever), following fatigue, head and muscle pain. Some patients present dry cough, less sputum after 3 to 6 days, as well as chest discomfort and wheezing. In severe stage, the occurrence of gasp and acute respiratory distress.

Location of disease

Lungs, involving spleen and stomach, eventually affecting heart, liver and kidney

Mainly in lung

Pathological evolutional periods

1 Medical observation period: fatigue and gastrointestinal dysfunction or fever

2 Clinical period when diagnosed

2.1 Mild type: syndrome of cold dampness obstructing lung (寒湿郁肺), syndrome of lung with dampness heat retention (湿热蕴肺证)

2.2 Moderate type: syndrome of lung with dampness toxin retention (湿毒郁肺证), syndrome of cold dampness blocking lung (寒湿阻肺证)

2.3 Severe type: syndrome of pestilent toxin blocking lung (疫毒闭肺证), syndrome of dual blaze of Qi and blood (气血两燔证)

2.4 Critical type: syndrome of internal block and external collapse (内闭外脱证)

3 Recovery period: syndrome of Qi and Yin deficiency in lung and spleen (肺脾气阴两虚证)

1 Early stage: syndrome of epidemic toxin invading lung (疫毒犯肺证)

2 Progressive stage: syndrome of epidemic toxin　obstructing lung (疫毒壅肺), syndrome of blocking lung with severe dyspnea (肺闭喘憋), syndrome of internal block and external collapse (内闭外脱证)

3 Recovery period: syndrome of Qi and Yin deficiency (气阴两虚证), syndrome of phlegm and blood stasis blocking collaterals (痰瘀阻络证).