Tuesday 24 August 2021

The Use of Herbal Medicines/Food Supplements in the Treatment of Covid-19 - Dr. Winsome Christie

Dr. Winsome Christie
The approach of using indigenous herbal medicines or food supplements to prevent, treat, or cure the coronavirus disease has not been completely addressed since the disease appeared in 2019.

Globally (Silveira, et.al.,2020), it is interesting to note that China, India, the African Continent, and the European nations have been cautiously allowing the use of these agents in Covid-19 related illnesses.

In China (Xu XW, et. al. 2019), since the outbreak of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003 the General Office of the National Health and the Office of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine has encouraged the combination of herbal Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Western Medicine  in the treatment of respiratory complications in Coronavirus infections. These prescriptions are recommended to be used at different stages of the viral illness once there is evidence that clinical trials prove the efficacy and safety of the herbs compared to standard antiviral therapies.  Currently many TCM practitioners across China are working with regular medical doctors to control Covid-19 disease using these protocols.

The herbs used include Boneset (eupatorium perfolatum), cordyceps, echinacea purpurea, blessed thistle (Criticus Benedictus) to mention a few. (Wollumbin, 2020)

In India (Silveira, et.al.,2020), the Ayurvedic Practitioners have also worked out clear protocols which includes their millennial historical medical system. The herbs are used as a first line of defense for early-stage patients include Zingiber officinale (ginger), Curcuma longa (turmeric), Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) Moringa oleifera (moringa) Piper nigrum (black pepper). These are just a few that I picked out of the established protocol because in Jamaica and the Caribbean we are quite familiar with these.

The World Health Organization (WHO) regional office for Africa (Silveira, et.al.,2020), has issued a statement supporting the use of traditional medicine that is based on scientifically and evidenced based medicine which can be supported by rigorous clinical trials. In Madagascar there is a self-proclaimed COVID-19 “herbal cure” being promoted at high governmental level under the name COVID Organics. The African Union is also giving support to this initiative for the use of the herb artemisia in the product branded COVID Organics, ("COVID-Organics: Madagascar seeks South Africa’s scientific assistance | Africa news", 2021)

In Europe Traditional Herbal Medicine Products (THMP),(Silveira, et.al.,2020), are regulated by the European Medicines Agency (EMA ) and may be used for non-prescription medicinal products for the relief of mild , self-limiting conditions, including flu symptoms and cough. In the absence of a positive result test Covid-19 patients are just flu patients and are allowed to self-medicate with THMP and other non-prescription medications like paracetamol, codeine, and other preparations.

Currently on our side of the globe which is Western medicine based, the integration of herbal medicine is not allowed especially in the U.S. and the FDA considers fraudulent the selling of any herbal products with attached claims. The FDA have even sent warning letters to companies who are offering products which claim to treat or cure the symptoms of Covid-19 according to Silveira, et.al., (2020).

In the U.K. (Silveira, et.al.,2020), herbalists are being encouraged to integrate herbal advice with any conventional treatment or management strategies that are appropriate for their patients and observe the infection control and management guidelines formulated by the Department of Health. The College of Medicine recommends dietary adjustments to boost the immunity against the coronavirus by turning to vegetables and fruits which possess many antioxidants and polyphenol compounds.

Currently in Jamaica (Silvera,2021) with the current spike of Covid-19 cases and the fact that the hospital system is stretched to capacity many Doctors are advocating for home care and are recommending prescriptions which include regular conventional medicines interspersed with elements of complementary care such as inhalations of aromatic substance(s).


Dr. Winsome Christie

President of The Pharmaceutical Society Of Jamaica

References 

COVID-Organics: Madagascar seeks South Africa’s scientific assistance | Africanews. (2021).

Retrieved 24 August 2021, from https://www.africanews.com/2020/05/06/covid-organics-african-union-madagascar-who//

Wollumbin, J. (2020). The Five Stages of Covid-19. Presentation, Academy Of Integrative Health and Medicine La Jolla California.

Silvera, J. (2021). Doctors are Pushing for early home care for Covid-19. The Gleaner. Retrieved from http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com

 Silveira, D., Prieto-Garcia, J. M., Boylan, F., Estrada, O., Fonseca-Bazzo, Y. M., Jamal, C. M., Magalhães, P. O., Pereira, E. O., Tomczyk, M., & Heinrich, M. (2020). COVID-19: Is There Evidence for the Use of Herbal Medicines as Adjuvant Symptomatic Therapy?. Frontiers in pharmacology, 11, 581840. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2020.581840          

Xu XW, Wu XX, Jiang XG, Xu KJ, Ying LJ, Ma CL, Li SB, Wang HY, Zhang S, Gao HN, Sheng JF, Cai

HL, Qiu YQ, Li LJ Clinical findings in a group of patients infected with the 2019 novel coronavirus

(SARS-Cov-2) outside of Wuhan, China: retrospective case series. BMJ. 2020 Feb 19; 368():m606



2 comments:

Micspen said...

Long article that is vaguely useful but is interesting in the sense that someone who knows about drugs and particularly ayurvedics is willing to write outside the box.She should explore/translate Neem which has properties similar to Ivermectin and I suppose a competent pharmacologist.

Megatony said...

Interesting reading, thank God for the vaccines. As for me and my house, we have taken the vaccine.

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