Table of contents:
- The news about Herbavid-19, a potion for the treatment of COVID-19
- 1,024,298
- 831,330
- 28,855
- Comparison of the content of Herbavid-19 and TCM, concocted by Yinqiao San
- There are traditional medicines that claim to be able to treat Coronavirus
The DPR RI's Task Force (Task Force) Against Covid-19 distributed thousands of Herbavid-19 herbs to COVID-19 referral hospitals.
This traditional medicine became controversial after it was claimed to be able to cure infections caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Even though when it was distributed, Herbavid-19 did not yet have a distribution permit from the Food and Drug Research Agency (BPOM).
What is the content of this herbal medicine in Chinese kanji? Are the ingredients safe for consumption and able to cure patients from COVID-19?
The news about Herbavid-19, a potion for the treatment of COVID-19
Source: Task Force Against COVID-19 / @ Satgaslintero19
Before discussing the content of Herbavid-19 which is claimed to be able to treat COVID-19, let's first discuss the origin of its appearance.
The DPR RI's Covid-19 Task Force Team ordered 3000 packages of traditional medicine and distributed them directly to several COVID-19 referral hospitals, including the Kemayoran Athlete Hospital Emergency Hospital and the Solo Moewardi Hospital.
They claim that this traditional medicine is able to treat COVID-19 patients and ask the hospital to share it with patients.
This donation is said to have confused some doctors handling COVID-19. Because at that time Herbavid-19 had not yet obtained a distribution permit from BPOM. The content of this traditional herbal medicine is not even known.
On the front of the package is written the Chinese kanji 中 药液 (中药 traditional chinese medicine, TCM or traditional Chinese medicine and 液 liquid or liquid).
The other side is affixed with a sticker that reads "AGAINST COVID-19 - DPR-RI Task Force - Herbavid-19". Herbavid-19 later became the name for this traditional medicine.
The distribution of this traditional medicine then received criticism from many parties. Starting from the question of the content of the content, why can you claim to be able to treat COVID-19, to whether the drug is imported from China.
COVID-19 Outbreak updates Country: IndonesiaData1,024,298
Confirmed831,330
Recovered28,855
DeathDistribution MapDeputy for Information on the Covid-19 Task Force for the DPR Arteria Dahlan said they shared this because of the experience of her colleague who recovered from COVID-19 with the help of Herbavid-19.
"It is not true that the DPR RI's COVID-19 Task Force imported traditional medicines from China," said Arteria in her statement, Tuesday (28/4).
He explained that the Herbavid-19 formula refers to the Handbook for Handling COVID-19 in Wuhan in the International Health Journal Publication. However, it was not explained what journal was meant.
"The herbal medicinal ingredients, 8 types of ingredients are in Indonesia, only 3 types have to be imported, honeysuckle, forsythia, and seeds burdock, "Said Arteria.
Two days after Arteria's statement, Thursday (30/4), the distribution permit from the Food and Drug Inspection Agency (BPOM) for this traditional medicine was issued under the number TR203643421. Herbavid-19 was successfully registered in no time.
The DPR RI's COVID-19 Fighting Task Force was recorded as the registrar and Utomo Chinese Medical Center as the factory.
Comparison of the content of Herbavid-19 and TCM, concocted by Yinqiao San
Source: Task Force Against COVID-19 / @ andre_rosiade
It is not certain what Herbavid-19 contains. Hello Sehat tried to contact BPOM and the DPR RI COVID-19 Task Force but did not get a response.
Arteria Dahlan had claimed unilaterally that this traditional medicine came from the Yinqiao San recipe and was made by Indonesian TCM experts.
Regarding the content of Herbavid-19, the Chairman of the Association of Doctors for Developing Traditional Medicines and Indonesian Herbal Medicine, dr. Ingrid Tania gave an explanation.
Yinqiao San is a traditional Chinese medicinal formula that has an empirical history or has been used by the Chinese community for more than 3 generations. This medicine is used for respiratory disorders and has experience of being used for SARS infectious diseases.
Even so, the Yinqiao San formula which is said to have experience in SARS has not been supported by strong clinical trial studies.
Meanwhile, Herbavid-19 (according to the claim of the Task Force Against COVID-19) has a modified composition from the original formula.
Eight ingredients come from Indonesia, namely, reeds, basil, mint leaves, patchouli leaves, jali-jali, ginger, bamboo leaves, and licorice root. Then the three materials imported from China are honeysuckle, forsythia, and seedsburdock.
"This means that the Herbavid-19 formula is no longer an empirical formula. This is a new formula that has no experience being used in Chinese society or Indonesian society, ”explained dr. Inggrid to Hello Sehat.
Doctor Inggrid continued that the formula should have gone through a safety test. Even though it has received a distribution permit from the BPOM, that does not make Herbavid-19 a drug for COVID-19 patients.
He also explained that there needs to be a study that usually involves experts with the Ministry of Health. They will usually develop standardized herbal medicinal designs or formularies. This design was made through repeated discussions, evaluation of data on benefits, safety, and effectiveness.
Clinical trials of a drug are not as simple as imagined, at least there are stages of testing for a drug to be used. Doctor Inggrid said such unilateral claims without clinical trial evidence could not be justified.
"Even if there is a health emergency, efforts can be made so that the safety review can take place quickly and effectively while still paying attention to safety standards," said dr. Ingrid.
There are traditional medicines that claim to be able to treat Coronavirus
It seems that we have often heard claims of traditional medicinal ingredients that can treat COVID-19, but the truth is not yet clear.
Regarding the rampant claims of this, Tuesday (5/5) BPOM issued a public explanation containing a three-point statement
First, herbal medicine that already has a Distribution Permit Number (NIE) of the POM, then the product has been evaluated on its safety, efficacy and quality aspects, "the statement said.
Second, the claim for the efficacy of an herbal medicine must be proven, either based on empirical data or scientifically through pre-clinical and clinical trials. If an herbal product is proven to be efficacious for treating a disease, then the claim for efficacy will be printed on the product label / packaging design.
And third, that until now the POM has never approved claims for the efficacy of herbal medicines that can treat all types of diseases, including COVID-19 virus infection.
