Virgin coconut oil, lagundi can help patients with mild COVID-19 — study

Drinking virgin coconut oil (VCO) can help patients with mild COVID-19 to recover, according to a study conducted by the Department of Science and Technology – Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI).

The agency, however, underscored that VCO is not a replacement for COVID-19 medicines.

In the report of JP Soriano on "State of the Nation" on Friday, DOST Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara said there is no exact measurement including the number of leaves and amount of water in preparing the medicinal broth.

Another concern is that there are plants that may resemble the lagundi variety.

"Maybe you have the right lagundi, pero environment - kung saan siya tumubo - at 'yung klima at iba pang mga natural factors po nade-determine kung ano 'yung kalidad ng lagundi na makukuha niyo," DOST-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) Executive Director Dr. Jaime Montoya said.

(Maybe you have the right lagundi, but the environment - where it was planted - the climate and other natural factors determine the quality of the lagundi that you choose.)

According to the study conducted by the DOST-FNRI, the recovery of patients with mild COVID-19 was faster after taking virgin coconut oil or VCO.

"VCO can be an effective adjunct therapy in managing COVID-19 signs and symptoms, whether mixed in nutritious meals or taken separately," said DOST Secretary Fortunato dela Peña.

However, the DOST and the Palace reiterate that VCO and lagundi cannot replace COVID-19 medicines.

"Hindi ito bakuna at hindi ito dinevelop para maging kompitensya o kamukha ng bakuna," Montoya said.

(These are vaccines and these were not developed to compete with or have the properties of a vaccine.)

"Hindi po siya pwede maging replacement sa bakuna," he added.

(These cannot be used to replace vaccines.) —BAP, GMA News