Differentiation and treatment of COVID-19 Dingjiao disease based on the Qi Luo theory
After patients recover from the acute phase of COVID-19,its impact on their body may persist over a certain period of time,which is rendered as"long COVID-19".The brain is the key organ attacked by the virus except the lung,leading to manifestations mainly as headache,taste disorder,olfaction decline,insomnia,anxiety,depression,etc.In this paper,the brain damage caused by COVID-19 is defined as COVID-19 Dingjiao disease,and the"Qi Luo theory"is applied to its syndrome differentiation and treatment.It is proposed that its pathogeneses feature pathogenic factors hiding in qi and collaterals in Dingjiao,and the qi and blood flow blocked in the cranial nerves(olfactory nerve,facial nerve,glossopharyngeal nerve,vagus nerve,etc.).Accordingly,the disease should be treated by activating and dredging qi and collaterals along the brain-gut axis with fragrant herbs.