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General News of Thursday, 19 March 2020

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Neem, traditional-herbal practices can help fight coronavirus - Traditional Medicine Practitioners

Neem is known for curing fever the traditional way Neem is known for curing fever the traditional way

President of Traditional Medicine Practitioners Association, (GHAFTRAM), Kojo Odum Eduful, has endorsed herbal medication as a treatment mechanism for symptoms of the new coronavirus that has engulfed the world and essentially, Ghana in recent times.

According to him, practices such as the inhalation of steam from boiled water and boiled neem leaves, have for decades, proven to help sooth flus and heal coughs, fevers and some respiratory illnesses.

Mr. Eduful believes therefore that, the practice, can be deployed in these times, to help deal with flu, cough and fever that have been mentioned as key symptoms of the virus in persons who may have contracted it.

“I can vouch for it, because neem, the leaves can treat lots of fever. If it is true that the virus enters through the nose mostly and tries to go down your lungs, and if it is also true that the virus cannot stand high temperatures, we also advise that you boil it to a 100 degrees Celsius, then I can vouch for it,” he said, in an interview with www.ghanaweb.com.

“And the Azadirachta indica; which is the neem, is also a treatment for fever which we’ve been using by inhaling it, and bathing with it, and sometimes drinking. We’ve been doing it for several, hundreds of years, that can treat fever.” He added.

He also recommended herbal food supplements and products, approved by the Ghana Food and Drugs Authority, as immune boosters for one’s body, considering one highly recommended measure to fight off the virus is to boost the immune system.

Mr. Eduful’s comments come on the back of a viral video circulating on social media, in which a lady is captured, endorsing the neem tree and ‘hot water steam inhalation method as efficient methods for fighting the fast-spreading coronavirus pandemic.

“Where boiled hot water is placed in front of a person, and the person covers himself for about 15 minutes, and that is efficient to clear the virus. When the water boils, that means that the water is up to about a 100 degrees Celsius and so when you put the water in a bucket, sit in a small chair and cover yourself, you are sure of temperatures at least 80 degrees Celsius which is efficient to kill the virus."

"We recommend that you do that, at least twice a day, as soon as you see signs of cough or cold. Do not wait to be diagnosed of coronavirus before you do the process.” the lady is heard saying in the video.