Madagascar is the first country to officially produce a natural remedy for COVID-19. The country, at present, reportedly has 151 cases with no deaths.
The president of Madagascar, Andry Rajoelina last month launched an herbal remedy to be used to prevent and cure the COVID-19. The herbal beverage was developed by the Malagasy Institute of Applied Research and is produced from artemisia, a plant with proven efficacy against malaria. The herbal tea is said to give results within seven days.
It is now available as a bottled brew but president Rajoelina has also said clinical trials are under way in Madagascar to produce a form that can be injected into the body.
What is in it?
The herbal beverage, which is called COVID-Organics, is made from the plants artemisia annua and artemisia afra, two medicinal plants (also called artemisia and sweet wormwood) used for their antimalarial properties; along with other herbs.
About Artemisia Spp.
Artemisia species comprises a variable number of species found throughout the northern half of the world. The plant has an easily identifiable aromatic odour and smells pungent and sweet after bruising.
Artemisia afra species is a well-known medicinal plant widely used for numerous ailments including colds, coughs, diabetes, heartburn, bronchitis, and asthma.
Artemisia annua (sweet wormwood, qinghao) has traditionally been used in China for the treatment of fever and chills. The species grows in Asia and Europe, and is cultivated in Africa and used as a tea for the treatment of malaria. It contains Artemisinin which has been identified as the antimalarial principal of the plant, and artemisinin derivatives are currently established as antimalarial drugs with activity toward otherwise drug-resistant Plasmodium infections.
Other species such as Artemisia abrotanum have been used in traditional medicine for treating a variety of disorders, including upper airway diseases. It has been found to possess spasmolytic activity on the carbacholine-induced contraction of guinea pig trachea.
The WHO & CDC
Many people of the African continent and diasporans are supportive. They believe African countries need to work towards solutions to the problems they face. Others are however advising caution.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is advising people against using ‘untested remedies’ for COVID-19; stating that “Africans deserve to use medicines tested to the same standards as people in the rest of the world.” They further stated:
“Even if therapies are derived from traditional practice and natural, establishing their efficacy and safety through rigorous clinical trials is critical.”
The United States’ (US) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also added their voice; stating that:
“There is no scientific evidence that any of these alternative remedies can prevent or cure the illness caused by COVID-19. In fact, some of them may not be safe to consume.”
The artemisia species of plants however, have been used for centuries, and has helped many people over the years with several health problems. There have also been a number of studies done on the use of these plants.
Way Forward
Despite the response of the WHO, CDC and other agencies, I certainly look forward to more countries exploring natural herbal options to address health issues. Vaccines and drugs are usually the go to, and as some leaders of the world and people wait for vaccines, it is refreshing to see many embrace a natural approach.
Before being ‘forced’ to solve our health problems with drugs and chemical, people used to use natural remedies.
So far, the president of Equatorial Guinea had sent a special envoy with a chartered flight to Madagascar to collect delivery of COVID-Organics. The president of Tanzania, John Magafuli has promised to order COVID-Organics for the people of Tanzania. Also, Madagascar has donated COVID-Organics products to the Republic of Congo.
Going forward let’s explore and support natural herbal remedies for the health conditions faced worldwide.
References
africanews.com
qz.com/africa
sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0254629908003165
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