Homoeopathy, an alternative medicine system, can be used to treat patients infected with coronavirus, a deadly virus that turns into pandemic worldwide, including Bangladesh, homeopathy experts claimed.
“We advise people to take preventive medicines like Arsenicum Album 30 to prevent the Covid-19. If this medicine is taken, then immunity in human body will be strong and people can remain protected from the coronavirus infection,” Dr Md Al-Emran Ali, former head of Materia Medica department of Government Homoeopathic Medical College Hospital (GHMCH) told.
He claimed that there are many medicines in homoeopathy, which can be used to treat Covid-19 patients based on similarity of symptoms. “Of the medicines, Rhus Tox, Bryonia Alba, Antimonium Tartaricum or Antim Tart and Camphor are common medicines to treat people infected with the Covid-19 disease,” the homeopathy expert added.
However, no guideline has been published by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) yet about using the homeopathy medicine in treatment and preventive medicine for Covid-19 disease.
“The process is going on to finalise guideline on using homeopathy medicine in treatment and preventive medicine for Covid-19 disease,” Dr Monowara Sultana, Director (Homeo & Traditional Medicine) of the DGHS, told the Daily Sun.
The GHMCH, situated in Mirpur of the capital, has been providing homeopathy medicine as preventive medicine for people free of cost while its physicians are also advising some medicines for suspected Covid-19 patients based on their symptoms.
“Anyone can get the homeopathy preventive medicine Arsenicum Album 30 from our hospital’s medicine counter free of cost through collecting a ticket at Tk 10 to remain protected from the coronavirus infection,” Dr Syed Mahbub Alom, Residential Medical Officer (RMO) of the Government Homoeopathic Medical College Hospital (GHMCH), said.
Talking to the Financial Post, Dr Md Abdul Mojid, principal-cum- superintendent of the government homoeopathic medical college and hospital, said the homeopathy physicians at outdoor of the hospital are providing treatment for the Covid-19 patients based on symptoms and advising preventive medicine.
“We have been conducting a survey that started since May this year about effectiveness of the homeopathy medicine as for prevention and treatment of Covid-19 disease,” he added.
According to the data of health directorate, over 3,19,686 coronavirus infected patients have been detected and 4,383 died across the country, including in Dhaka, till September 3 since the first the coronavirus infection case on March 8.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), there is no particular medicine yet for treatment and prevention of the coronavirus infection.
According to media reports, India’s Gujarat health department said it distributed homeopathic drug Arsenicum Album-30 to more than half of the state’s population as prophylaxis since March after the outbreak of COVID-19.
In its presentation made before the World Health Organisation on August 20 on Gujarat’s COVID-19 prevention strategy, the health department said it distributed Arsenicum Album-30 to 3.48 crore people, which is more than half of the state’s population of 6.6 crore.
The AYUSH ministry of India issued a health advisory and recommended that homeopathic and unani medicine could be effective in the prevention of novel coronavirus infections, the reports added.
According to the World Health Organisation, the common symptoms of the novel coronavirus strain include respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.
According to homoeopaths, a 10ml vial of Arsenicum Album-30 can be consumed by many people, considering the low dosage required for positive effect.
The homeopathy physicians are advising one dose of the compound in empty stomach for three days. The dose should be repeated one month later if Covid infections prevail in the community, the homeopathy experts said.
