Doctor develops VCO-lagundi spray for ‘symptomatic relief’ of COVID patients

Image: Istock.com/mustafagull via AFP Relaxnews

MANILA, Philippines — A 24-year-old doctor has developed a mouth and nasal spray formula out of  virgin coconut oil (VCO) and lagundi as a potential relief for COVID-19 symptoms.

Dr. Sterling Tiu, doctor at a company based in San Pablo City, Laguna, noted that both VCO and lagundi offer promising results for symptomatic relief of COVID-19 patients based on studies.

“Ginawa namin ang formulation dahil may studies sa VCO na napatunayan na nagbigay siya ng symptomatic relief para sa COVID patients at nagprevent ng progression from mild para hindi maging moderate or severe COVID. May studies din sa lagundi na same ang results compared to VCO,” he said in an interview with ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo on Tuesday.

(We came up with the formulation because there are studies proving that VCO provides symptomatic relief for COVID patients and prevents progression from mild to moderate and severe cases. There are also studies showing the same results for lagundi.)

“‘Yung lagundi ay one of the 10 medicinal plants recommended by DOH [Department of Health]. So naisip namin, why not combine itong VCO and lagundi to fight COVID?” he added.

(Lagundi is one of the 10 medicinal plants recommended by the DOH. So we thought, why not combine VCO and lagundi to fight COVID?)

Tiu, however, noted that the combined VCO and lagundi formulation has yet to be proven as a cure for COVID-19.

“Of course hindi natin ma-claim na it’s a cure for COVID. We need studies to prove this. Pero at the very least, it serves as a good symptomatic relief, so kung may ubo ka, tuyo ang lalamunan, masakit ang lalamunan. Para sa nasal spray naman, kung may runny nose kayo, makati ang ilong o hindi makahingi nang mabuti [it can be used],” he added.

(Of course we cannot claim yet that it’s a cure for COVID. We need studies to prove this. But at the very least, it serves as a good symptomatic relief. You can use the mouth spray if you have a cough or sore throat. You can use the nasal spray if you have a runny nose or difficulty in breathing.)

Tiu said they will market the products as C-Shield. He said their team is currently printing the packaging of the products and is still applying for proper certification.

RELATED STORIES:

DOST allots P8.4M for virgin coco oil research 

DOST study shows lagundi helps rid patients of mild COVID-19 symptoms 

JPV