Local herbal remedies are now being studied to fight COVID-19
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Can virgin coconut oil, lagundi, and tawa tawa help in the country's fight against COVID-19?
Before the advent of pharmaceutical and synthetic drugs, herbal remedies are used by our ancestors to treat common diseases. Now, while a vaccine for the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 is still in the works, three medicinal plants are being considered by health experts.
In a recent 24-Oras news report, the Philippine government is now looking into three local herbal remedies to help fight the spread of the pandemic.
According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, four trial tests are already being conducted to treat COVID-19 cases.
“Meron na po tayong [mga] gamot na sina-subject po natin sa clinical trial involving Filipino patients. At itong gamot pong ito ay yung chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine, Remdesivir, Lopinavir, Ritonavir, at Interferon.
“Ang apat na pag-aaral po ay may kinalaman po sa herbal drugs,” he said in a press briefing.
Local medicinal plants and herbs like virgin coconut oil (VCO), lagundi, and tawa-tawa are now being considered by experts as contenders to fight COVID-19.
The Philippine General Hospital (PGH) is closely looking into the possibility of utilizing VCO as supplemental therapy for COVID-19 patients.
Roque said, “Ang una pong pag-aaral ay pinapatupad po ng Philippine General Hospital at tinitingnan po nito ang potensyal ng virgin coconut oil at sa supplemental therapy doon po sa standard medicines na binibigay sa mga pasyente ng COVID-19.”
In a GMA News Online report on April 22, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) also launched a study on the effects of VCO on COVID-19 patients.
"Yung pangalawang pag-aaral po na ini-implement po ng DOST Food and Research Institute ay mag-e-evaluate po ng epekto ng virgin coconut oil sa pagbaba ng sintomas ng COVID-19,” he added.
The DOST is also studying the effects of tawa-tawa, a known supplement for dengue, as a treatment for the novel coronavirus.
Can malunggay help protect you from the Coronavirus Disease or COVID-19?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO). there is still no specific vaccines or cures for COVID-19.
Watch the 24-Oras report here:
