Chinese Turn To Traditional Remedies to Fight Covid

"It's not because I can't find Western medicine," she told AFP, "but because it's effective and soothing."

"I also make myself a hot soup of pears and hot water with lemon, to boost vitamin C and my immunity."

Some people AFP spoke to were unconvinced.

"We young people know little about traditional medicine," said Grace Hsia, a 30-year-old director. "We usually prefer Western medicines because they have immediate results."

Li Na, a 36-year-old Beijing woman, said: "I took paracetamol for a fever and it worked very quickly.

"Chinese medicines are ineffective. People take them more to reassure themselves that they are taking something."

Source: Agence France-Presse