Zhineng Qigong to improve health in patients with COVID-19

INTRODUCTION

Presently, a new social actor that has for ever changed our lives is going right through us.
Coronavirus belongs to a large family of viruses. In human beings, it may cause respiratory infections that may range from an ordinary cold to Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The most recently discovered coronavirus causes the disease COVID-19. [1]

On March 11, 2020 the World Health Organization declared the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 a pandemic. [2] Over the last months, this has caused the restructuring of the health system in tens of countries, and an endless amount of protocols to be applied by medical doctors and citizens, contingency plans, new and shifting information and an endless number of studies. [3]

Due to the prevalence of the infection, several investigations are being carried out to find a treatment for COVID-19, taking into consideration antimalarial drugs combined with antibiotics, antivirals, use of anticoagulants for the prevention of thromboembolic events, and first trials on vaccines. However, there are many side effects and limitations. [4]

The effectiveness of these treatments has not always been positive and this encourages
investigators to look for alternative ways of facing this pandemic. [5]

Different studies have evidenced the use of complementary medicine like Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Qigong as a viable and valuable option in the prevention and treatment of and rehabilitation from respiratory diseases. [6]

Therefore, in Jiangxia Fangcang, Wuhan, a temporary Hospital was opened and converted into a sports center so as to receive patients with mild symptoms of pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2. The treatment adopted was mainly the decoction used by TCM and the teaching of Ba Duan Jin Qigong to improve the health of the people hospitalized. [7]