The medical team from the People's Hospital Affiliated to the University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Fujian province brings TCM scented sachets into the makeshift hospital in Shanghai. These herb-filled pouches help to improve people's mood while being treated. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
Many of those who have been quarantined in the makeshift hospital may remember this experience being a rather sweet-smelling one, courtesy of scented sachets filled with traditional Chinese medicinal herbs.
The medical team from the People's Hospital Affiliated to the University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Fujian province started placing these sachets beside the beds of patients on April 7 when the makeshift hospital was opened.
This isn't the first time the hospital has used such herbs during the pandemic. In 2020, another team of medics from the hospital brought these sachets to Wuhan of Hubei province.
On May 25, when the makeshift hospital was closed down, medical workers even gave out these sachets as presents to the last group of patients.
"The scented sachets were made from a unique recipe developed by the People's Hospital Affiliated to the University of TCM in Fujian province. The fragrance can improve one's mood and help clear the mind," says Zhao Hongjia, deputy director of the medical team from Fujian.
The medical team from the People's Hospital Affiliated to the University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Fujian province brings TCM scented sachets into the makeshift hospital in Shanghai. These herb-filled pouches help to improve people's mood while being treated. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
According to TCM theories, aromatic herbs such as clove, moxa grass and Eupatorium fortunei can help enhance immune systems. These plants were once widely used in ancient China to help prevent epidemics.
Today, such scented sachets can be easily bought in stores and are especially popular during Duanwu Festival, which falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, or June 3 this year.
One of the most renowned retailers of such sachets is Lei Yunshang Group from Suzhou of Jiangsu province. While most of the herbs in these sachets are the same all over China, "the proportion and specifics in our recipe is a secret", says Zhang Yong, a Lei Yunshang spokesperson.
According to Zhou Xin, the general manager of the Lei Yunshang pharmaceutical store on Huashan Road in Shanghai, the company introduces new sachet designs every year, featuring patterns and images of auspicious objects on the embroidery.
"We have turned the sachets into fashionable accessories such as necklaces, key chains and pendents on handbags, and successfully attracted many young consumers," Zhou says.
