Thailand’s health ministry has approved the use of a plant-based plant extract to treat the early stages of Covid-19 as a pilot program in the midst of a flareup in the coronavirus outbreak in the Southeast Asian country.
Andrographis Paniculata, commonly known as green chiretta, will serve as an alternative treatment to reduce the severity of the outbreak and cut treatment costs, the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. Treatment will be available at five state hospitals initially, he said.
Thailand reported 250 new cases on Wednesday, bringing the country’s total to almost 7,000, and a government official said the rate of increase in local broadcasts was alarming and asked people to stay home to prevent the virus from spreading further. The government has also banned large meetings in high-risk areas, said Taweesilp Witsanuyotin, a spokesman for the national response center Covid-19.
- Herbal treatment will be voluntary for people aged 18 to 60 years with minor symptoms and should be performed within 72 hours after confirmation of infection
- The plant extract, known as Fah Talai Jone in Thai, may contain the virus and reduce the severity of inflammation, the ministry said, citing studies
- Human trials have shown that patients’ conditions have improved within three days of treatment, with no side effects if the drug is administered within 72 hours after the test is positive.
- Separately, the Thai Food and Drug Administration said it is ready to register Covid-19 vaccines
- The FDA has opened a special channel for registration to ensure a fast process