The Food and Drug Administration in the Philippines has approved the clinical trials for lagundi or Chinese trace tree as supplemental treatment for COVID-19 patients according to the Department of Science and Technology.
“Yung pong sa lagundi ay good news po ay inaprubahan ng ng FDA ang clinical trials,” DOST Secretary Fortunato Dela Pena said in a media briefing.
Dela Pena said that the FDA gave the go signal for the usage of lagundi this week, reported Inquirer
Participants for the clinical trials are those COVID-19 positive individuals with mild symptoms. They must also be admitted in three quarantine facilities including the Quezon Institute quarantine center, Sta. Ana Hospital, and Philippine National Police-National Capital Region community quarantine center.
“Ang hangad natin ay ma-address ang symptoms gaya ng ubo, lagnat at mga sore throat,” Dela Peña said.
The DOST chief said that it will be a big help if a patient will recover from those symptoms during these trials.
Lagundi is a proven treatment for cough, one of the common symptoms of the coronavirus. Dela Pena added that they are also studying the effectiveness of the virgin coconut oil to prevent COVID-19.
The country has more than 209,000 coronavirus cases as of Friday, August 28.
