Laos health authorities say they are using medicinal plant extracts to treat the early stages of Covid-19

VIENTIANE, Aug 21 (Vientiane Times/ANN): Health authorities say they are using medicinal plant extracts to treat the early stages of Covid-19 as part of a pilot programme.

The plants being trialed are heartleaf (Phak Khao Thong), Vernonia Amygdalina (La Xa Bee) and Chineses’s Ginger (Ka Xai Khao).

Speaking at the recent extraordinary session of the National Assembly, Minister of Health, Prof Dr Bounfeng Phoummalaysith outlined the steps being taken to tackle the virus outbreak. He said plant extracts were being used in the treatment of Covid-19 as advised by the Institute of Traditional Medicine.

The experimental treatment is part of the government’s overarching goal to strengthen health services in Laos in line with the national health policy to promote treatment methods using natural remedies.

The use of medicinal plants to treat or prevent Covid-19 needs to be managed proactively, Dr Bounfeng said.

The Ministry of Health is buying these products from the Institute for distribution to the provinces for the free treatment and prevention of the virus.

The minister said these three types of traditional medicine help to boost the body’s immune system, but they should not be used for more than seven days.

The use of plant remedies in the treatment of Covid-19 is recommended in Laos because of the abundance of naturally occurring medicines found in forests and plant compounds. These are commonly used by people living in rural areas and provide them with a cheap source of treatment for various ailments, he added.

The government’s policy is to encourage the integration of modern and traditional forms of medicine in primary healthcare facilities for the treatment of Covid-19 in local communities.

The goal is to broaden knowledge and capacity in the treatment of the virus using traditional medicine among local communities, the anonymous official from the Institute of Traditional Medicine said.

The initiative is an extension of the health sector development plan for 2016-2020 on the promotion, use and preservation of natural medicinal resources.

Laos has a long history of traditional medicine, with plant and other compounds and extracts being used to treat a variety of diseases and ailments.

Most Asean countries have seen success in the use of plant extracts to treat the early stages of Covid-19, including Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar, which have centres for the study of traditional medicine. - Vientiane Times/ANN