A doctor makes herbal soup to prevent COVID-19 infection at Ningbo TCM Hospital in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/Yinzhou Fabu]

Ningbo Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Hospital has been offering free herbal soup to the public, part of efforts to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus disease.

According to the Ningbo City Health Commission, TCM is included as a measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Since August 6, TCM epidemic prevention services, including free herbal soup, sachets and brochures on how to use TCM to guard against COVID-19, have been provided to residents in gathering places such as hospitals, vaccination sites, supermarkets, shopping malls, communities, nursing homes, public transport, and transportation hubs.

Ningbo TCM Hospital has been offering herbal soup with a TCM prescription released by the Zhejiang provincial TCM management bureau since August 9, while other TCM hospitals in the city will soon follow suit.

According to Wang Jie, the director of the pharmacy department at Ningbo TCM Hospital, the soup is especially useful for adults, while sachets are more effective for children. Those who are pregnant or allergic to any medication are not advised to drink the soup.

Shouquanzhai, a TCM pharmacy in Ningbo, also lent a hand to the efforts. The pharmacy plans to provide free herbal soup for residents in six communities starting August 11.