WUHAN, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- The first batch of 23 patients walked out of the first temporary hospital featuring traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Wednesday in Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in central China's Hubei Province.

"I am just so happy," said Shang, a female patient discharged from the hospital.

The make-shift hospital in Wuhan's Jiangxia District was transformed from a sports center.

Medical staff from 20 TCM hospitals of five provinces took charge of the infected patients in the hospital with support from the district TCM hospital. It is Wuhan's first temporary hospital that followed the treatment and management mode of TCM hospitals in China.

"I started to develop symptoms on Feb. 13, and came to the hospital two days later," said Liu, who was among the discharged patients. "I felt pain in my chest, and I had difficulties breathing."

Liu took TCM medications for three days, and all the symptoms disappeared.

"I am quite satisfied with the treatment," she said.

TCM has proven to be quite effective and played an important role in preventing patients with mild symptoms from deteriorating in their conditions, said Zhang Boli, with the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

"So far, none of the patients' conditions in the hospital have turned critical," said Liu.

　But many patients showed signs of anxiety, depression and loss of sleep, and it has been an important issue to help them cushion the impact of the virus outbreak, Liu added.

"The hospital took a variety of measures, such as doing moxibustion and massages," Liu said. "These measures improved their sleep quality and digestive systems."

In the hospital, the doctors taught them how to do acupuncture and practice taichi, one of the discharged patients said.

　TCM helped their bodies and minds recover quickly, which highlighted the advantages of TCM therapies, Liu Qingquan said, adding that the hospital effectively combined western medicine and TCM to help the patient recover.

The hospital also prepared two weeks of TCM medications for the discharged patients on Wednesday to help consolidate the treatment.

According to the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, TCM has joined in the rescue work for more than 60,000 infected people in the country.

"It is a great thing to see the patients walk out of the hospital," said Liu Qingquan. "I believe with proper treatment, more patients will be discharged."