Traditional Uygur medicines have played an important role in curbing the COVID-19 epidemic in China, especially in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, an official with China Medical Association of Minorities said.

Li Jun, deputy chairman of the association, said the antiviral medicine Fufang Yizhihao Granules, one of the traditional Uygur medicines, was effective in preventing COVID-19 in Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang, during the early stage of the epidemic.

"The medicine can improve people's immunity, which prevents them from getting infected. The medicine also worked in treating infected patients thanks to its antiviral functions," Li said.

Moreover, as a traditional Chinese medicine that has a reputation among local residents, Fufang Yizhihao relieved people's anxiety to the unfamiliar virus in the initial phase of the epidemic, he added.

Li, also the chairman of Xinjiang Yinduolan Pharmaceutical Industry, which exclusively produced the granules, said the corporation donated about 360,000 boxes of the granules to Xinjiang and some places hard-hit by the epidemic including Wuhan, Hubei province, in early 2020.

"We quickly increased capacity and produced 700,000 packages of traditional medicine decoctions in 10 days to support treatment in the region," he said.

Among Yinduolan's 11 traditional Uygur medicine products, which are used to treat diseases in respiratory, endocrine and urinary systems, six have been included into the national medical insurance directory.

Zukamu Granules and Hanchuanzupa Granules are on the list of national essential medicines.

Sales of some products outside Xinjiang have exceeded regional sales. Fufang Yizhihao Granules have been approved for registration in Uzbekistan and are stepping into the global market, Li said.

Traditional Uygur medicines will be effective only if they are produced from excellent medicinal herbs.

More than 20 varieties of Yinduolan's medicinal herbs have been planted on a large scale at the corporation's bases, which cover more than 333 hectares. "We have successfully transferred some herbs, including Yizhihao, which originally grows at the foot of Tianshan Mountains, to our bases for standardized planting," he said.

Local farmers have been participating in planting the herb with guidance from agricultural academies. Each year, the corporation can provide 20,000 jobs for people at its planting bases and production factories, helping farmers earn an average of 38,000 yuan ($5,700) extra annually, according to a document Yinduolan released.