The latest studies commissioned by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) showed that lagundi and virgin coconut oil (VCO) have helped significantly as adjuvant therapy only for mild Covid-19 cases.
Adjuvant therapy, also known as adjunct therapy and adjuvant care, is given in addition to the primary or initial therapy to maximize its effectiveness. It is not the main treatment or medicine for the disease.
At a recent virtual forum, Dr. Cecilia C. Marambe Lazarte, Director of the UP-Manila National Institute of Health, and Dr. Imelda Agdeppa of the DOST-Food and Nutrition Research Institute, presented the results of their studies on the use of VCO and lagundi in improving the efficacy of Covid vaccines.
Agdeppa shared that when VCO was mixed in the meals of mild Covid patients who participated in their study, it help to significantly reduce the reported signs and symptoms of the virus, with the symptoms gone by the 18th day.
On the other hand, Lazarte said the results of her study showed insignificant difference in the clinical recovery time of mild Covid patients who were given 600 milligrams (mg) of lagundi formulation every day compared to the placebo group, or those not given lagundi.
A table Lazarte shared indicated that patients who were given “lagundi” had an average clinical recovery days of 8.62 while the placebo group’s average was 7.51.
Recovery from cough
The lagundi group on average recovered from cough after six days, while the placebo group recovered after 5.4 days. Clinical recovery from throat discomfort, meanwhile, was felt by the lagundi group after 3.8 days, and 4.1 days for the placebo group.
Both the patients in the lagundi and placebo groups did not progress to moderate or severe cases.
In the same forum, Dr. Alfonso R. Regala of the Department of Health (DOH) Health Promotion Bureau said that while booster shots for Covid are needed, there is still not enough data that the agency can use to prepare a recommendation for its administration.
“We know that from the flu virus that booster shots are needed. Right now, we are looking at evidence as to when we need to administer [the Covid booster shots] because the duration of protection of the vaccines is still not definite. Once we get those data, we can make safe and effective recommendations on when boosters can be given to the population,” Regala said.
There has been growing clamor from health experts for the administration of booster shots, especially with vaccine makers Sinovac, Pfizer, and Moderna admitting that the protection of their jabs wanes after six months.
There is also a growing call for the government to allow the private sector to procure vaccines that they can use for booster shots.