Professor Zhou Zhongying's Opinion on Differential Diagnosis and Treatment of SARS

Professor ZHOU Zhong-ying has put forward his distinctive opinions on the pathogenesis, development, treatment and prevention of SARS. He believes that the occurrence of SARS is related to invasion of “qi of extraordinary weather conditions and insidious pathogens; the pathological changes occur from the exterior to the interior along the triple energizer, and the hyperactive heat toxin may attack the pericardium and lead to loss of consciousness and collapse; the pathological changes occur mainly in the lung which is excess in nature, and the excess syndrome may change into deficiency syndrome; and the main pathogenic factors are heat toxin, damp toxin and blood stasis. The differentiation of syndromes should be based mainly on the theory of the triple energizer and the theory of the defensive, qi, nutrient and blood systems and treatment should be given according to different phases, severity and syndromes of the disease. In addition, attention should also be paid to the relationship between the anti-pathogenic factors and pathogenic factors, the changes of the syndromes, the flexible application of syndrome differentiation and giving full play to the advantages of traditional Chinese medicine.