Table of contents:
- Potential of herbal medicine and traditional medicine for handling COVID-19 patients
- Traditional medicine as an immunomodulator
Herbal medicine or traditional medicine has been trusted for hundreds of years in the treatment of various diseases. Therefore, every time there is an epidemic disease, traditional medicine is always a consideration to be one of the answers in the prevention. When the COVID-19 outbreak first spread, the Chinese Government officially immediately determined several types of traditional medicine to be used as complementary therapies and then experts in China conducted clinical trials of some of their traditional medicines to become one of the treatment options.
In addition, herbal medicine or traditional medicine is also an option to increase endurance to avoid infection.
Have herbal or traditional medicines proven to be effective in helping to prevent and treat COVID-19?
Potential of herbal medicine and traditional medicine for handling COVID-19 patients
Before discussing further, I want me to emphasize that the most important way to prevent and transmit COVID-19 is by doing 3M (wearing a mask, washing hands, and maintaining a distance).
To date, there is no clinical evidence that any supplement can prevent or protect a person from COVID-19 infection. We have heard about supplements of vitamin C, vitamin D3, zinc, probiotics, and others, but there is no scientific evidence that these nutrients can specifically prevent transmission of COVID-19.
Even so, the increasing popularity of traditional medicine or herbal medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic is not without reason. The Chinese government officially states that its traditional medicines can relieve symptoms, speed healing and reduce the death rate from COVID-19. Although there have been no specific clinical trials, China is using it directly on COVID-19 patients in hospitals.
The potential of traditional medicine is increasingly being seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, with many testimonies from the public and bioinformatics research. Namely research in-silico, a computer simulation in which it is shown that the active compound from a traditional medicine or herbal can bind to the SARS-CoV-2 virus protein.
There are three categories of traditional medicines in accordance with the provisions of the BPOM. First is herbal medicine, in the form of herbs that have been used from generation to generation with proof of experience from generation to generation.
Second referred to as standardized herbal medicines, namely traditional medicines whose raw materials have been standardized and have gone through preclinical tests, safety and effectiveness tests on animals.
Third, called phyto-pharmacy, which is a standardized herbal medicine that has passed clinical trials - safety and effectiveness tests in humans.
So far, Indonesia has a record of experience in using traditional medicines in handling the influenza virus outbreak that hit in 1918. When the flu outbreak hit during that year, because conventional pharmaceutical drugs are very difficult to obtain in Indonesia, traditional medicines are used in handling the influenza virus outbreak. (Spanish flu), namely puyang chilli herbal medicine and ginger herbal medicine.
So even though it has not been studied clinically, herbs that have been used during the influenza epidemic could be relevant to be used for handling COVID-19. As in China, it also directly tests its traditional medicines.
Traditional medicine as an immunomodulator
Immunomodulators are substances or substances that function to restore the imbalance of the immune system that is disturbed by activating the body's defense mechanisms.
Medicinal plants that have immunomodulatory properties usually not only increase the body's immune system but also have anti-inflammatory (anti-inflammatory) properties.
Medicinal plants that have been empirically proven to have immunomodulatory properties, including:
- Gathering mango
- Curcuma
- Turmeric
- Meniran
- Red onion
- Garlic
- Ginger
Medicinal plants scientifically proven to have immunomodulatory properties:
- Curcuma
- Garlic
- Turmeric rhizome
- Kembang Lawang
- Ginger
- Soursop leaf
- Guava fruit
- Moringa leaves (moringa oleifera)
Medicinal plants that have been clinically studied as immunomodulators in COVID-19 patients
- Meniran herbs
- Echinacea herb
- Black cumin (Black Seed)
Research on traditional medicine as an immunomodulator in COVID-19 patients has been carried out in many regions / countries. For example, Pakistan has conducted clinical trials on the effectiveness of a combination of black cumin and honey on COVID-19 patients. The study proves that the combination of the two traditional medicines can significantly help treat symptoms in COVID-19 patients.
This is valuable data although it still needs further clinical proof through clinical trials on a larger scale.
The Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) has issued a guidebook for the use of herbs and health supplements related to COVID-19. So, although there are not many studies that prove the clinical effectiveness of herbal use in COVID-19 patients, traditional medicine has been recommended.
We, the Association of Indonesian Traditional Medicine and Herbal Medicine Developers (PDPOTJI) have also made several efforts. For example, the clinical trial of herbal medicine or traditional Indonesian immunomodulatory medicines in the handling of COVID-19 in Indonesia carried out by PDPOTJI is currently in the writing process of the final report.
We hope that we can provide recommendations for handling the COVID-19 outbreak in Indonesia.
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