On The Shelf
Aina Abell
Recently, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), a division of the National Institutes of Health, warned against the use of “alternative treatments” for COVID-19. The agency stressed that there is currently no scientific evidence that alternative remedies, including herbal therapies, teas, essential oils, tinctures, and silver products such as colloidal silver, can prevent or cure COVID-19; some of them may even be unsafe to consume. The warning was a response to media reports of people seeking out these treatments amid the pandemic, said NCCIH.
Background
Several countries have touted the use of alternative and herbal remedies to treat COVID-19. Government officials in China, for instance, have promoted traditional medicines as treatments for the disease and have even sent these remedies to other countries such as Iran and Italy as international aid.
In addition, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has suggested drinking an herbal tea to treat COVID-19. Madagascar’s president, Andry Rajoelina, claimed an herbal tonic called Covid-Organics, which was developed by the Malagasy Institute of Applied Research, was a promising cure, convincing some African leaders, including the presidents of Tanzania and the Republic of the Congo, of its effectiveness.
Some of these claims are not completely unfounded. For example, Covid-Organics’s chief ingredient is reported to be sweet wormwood (Artemisia annua), which gave rise to the antimalarial drug artemisinin. And other natural remedies have historically been shown to enhance immunity.
The problem is that none of these treatments has undergone rigorous testing.
In a letter in the Natural Medicine Journal, the official journal of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, the journal’s team echoed NCCIH’s warning. It urged integrative health professionals to “dispel the myths and misinformation” about COVID-19 and natural medicine and clearly communicate to patients, colleagues, and manufacturers that “there are no vitamins, minerals, herbs, nutrients, or other natural medicines that have been shown in human clinical trials to prevent or treat COVID-19.”
In a May 04, 2020, statement, the World Health Organization (WHO) said it welcomes innovations and new therapies for COVID-19 based on traditional medicines, but they must be “tested for efficacy and adverse side effects … through rigorous clinical trials.”
The organization maintains that there is currently no evidence that any medicine—traditional or otherwise—can prevent or cure COVID-19. Patients, health care providers, and government leaders should take caution against misinformation about the effectiveness of alternative remedies because it could distract from evidence-based preventive methods, such as handwashing, social distancing, and use of face coverings, wrote WHO.
What to tell your patients
Patients should know that there is currently no scientific evidence to support that alternative remedies are effective in preventing or treating COVID-19. While many herbal or dietary supplements and prescription drugs may come from natural sources, ‘natural’ does not always mean that it’s a safer or better option for your health, said NCCIH.
Encourage patients to talk to their pharmacist or primary care provider before taking any herbal supplements or self-treating for COVID-19 symptoms.
Emphasize that avoiding exposure to SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 illness, remains the best method of prevention. Preventive actions recommended by CDC include
- Frequent handwashing
- Social distancing by maintaining at least 6 feet of distance between yourself and others
- Avoiding close contact with those who are sick
- Wearing a mask or cloth face cover when around others
- Covering coughs and sneezes
- Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces
- Monitoring your health daily and being alert for COVID-19 symptoms
Encourage patients to contact their health care providers and seek medical care early if they experience COVID-19 symptoms to reduce the risk of developing a more severe illness.
Symptomatic patients and those who may have been exposed to the virus should contact their health care providers and get tested. Direct patients to state and local guidance for information on COVID-19 testing in their area.
For the latest information and other resources on COVID-19, visit APhA’s Pharmacists’ Guide to Coronavirus at www.pharmacist.com/coronavirus.