With over 150,000 active COVID-19 cases in the country, every possible treatment for the dreaded disease should be studied and explored in order to prevent severe and fatal COVID-19 cases.
This was stressed by Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, who on Tuesday distributed free virgin coconut oil (VCO) to level 1 hospitals in Metro Manila. Nograles personally turned over the VCO to the directors of the Caloocan City Medical Center, San Lorenzo Ruiz Women’s Hospital, and Ospital ng Malabon, and revealed that 61 patients confined in the three hospitals had agreed to take VCO on top of treatments they were already receiving.
“At this point, we have to explore possible and potential treatments for COVID-19.”
“At this point, we have to explore possible and potential treatments for COVID-19––treatments that are supported by science and pose no threat to the health of the COVID patients,” said Nograles.
“The DOST has done its due diligence and said that there is enough data to recommend the use of VCO for COVID patients with mild symptoms.”
According to the IATF co-chair, “the DOST has done its due diligence and said that there is enough data to recommend the use of VCO for COVID patients with mild symptoms, which is why I am personally distributing VCO to willing recipients so that we can help them as well as determine how effective it can be against COVID-19.”
“Let’s explore all safe and science-backed options to beat COVID-19. At this point, to address the fears and anxiety of those afflicted with COVID, we need remedies, not more speculation.”
“We need remedies, not more speculation.”
The DOST had earlier released the results of an initial study that showed that VCO could be used to prevent COVID-19 symptoms from worsening. In the study, patients who regularly took VCO experienced diminished or reduced COVID-19 symptoms in around two weeks.
It recommended that VCO “be used as an adjunct supplement to probable and suspect cases of COVID 19. It could prevent COVID-19 positive cases from becoming severe.”
The DOST likewise said that more studies are recommended to determine the effectiveness of VCO as adjunct therapy for COVID- 19 patients with other co-morbidities.
Patients with COVID-19 symptoms are advised to take one tablespoon of VCO after each meal – breakfast, lunch and dinner – for three straight days. If tolerated well, then they can double the dosage from the fourth day onward, until the patient tests negative. Patients may also rub VCO on their nostrils and gargle with VCO to help alleviate symptoms.