During The COVID-19 Pandemic, You Must Maintain Immunity, This Is The Reason Doctors Suggest Consumption Of Herbal Medicine

The herbal rice kencur has long been consumed because of its many benefits. (Intermediate Photo)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Traditional Medicine and Herbal Medicine Development Doctors (PDPOTJI) dr. Ingrid Tania said that consuming herbal medicine can increase a person's immunity, especially in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, but consuming it must be done regularly according to need.

According to Ingrid's doctor, it is not only the food menu that can be changed, the variety of herbs consumed is also necessary so that the consumer does not feel bored when drinking herbal medicine. “The principle is the same as preparing a daily food menu. With more variety, of course, the better, for example for the first day of drinking tamarind turmeric. Then, on the second day you can prepare kencur rice, on the third day change it again to ginger wedang, on the fourth day change it again to pletok beer. And so on, the important thing is that the drinks or herbs consumed contain herbal ingredients that have many benefits for the body, such as having immunomodulating, antioxidant, or anti-inflammatory properties," he said in a webinar on the benefits of herbal ingredients in the treatment of COVID-19 not long ago.

These herbs and herbal preparations can be consumed by the public as a preventive measure to increase the body's immune system to prevent COVID-19, or to help treat COVID-19 as a companion to medicines given by doctors.

Herbal medicine from turmeric and tamarind is very nutritious. (Intermediate Photo)

For COVID-19 patients, it is advisable to notify the medical personnel when consuming herbal or herbal preparations so that the drugs given can also be adjusted to the benefits of the herbal medicine.

The dose for consuming herbal medicine must also be adjusted to the needs of the body's condition. If in healthy people, it is recommended that the consumption of herbal medicine can be done twice a day in the morning and evening.

Meanwhile, for people who are sick, the consumption of herbal medicine can be increased to three to four times in one day. "Consumption of herbal medicine should not be excessive, yes, it is true that the benefits are many but herbal ingredients have high fiber so they can launch defecation (BAB). So if it's too much, diarrhea can even irritate digestion," said the doctor, who is currently pursuing his doctorate as reported by Antara.

Herbal Ingredients

The herbs that are recommended to be consumed during the current pandemic are herbs that are processed directly from fresh ingredients.

In fact, if possible, the fresh ingredients can be consumed directly so that the benefits received by the body can be maximized, for example one of them is Moringa leaves that are freshly picked from the tree.

Herbal ingredients are very beneficial for the body. (Intermediate Photo)

Not only herbs that are processed through stew, people can also consume processed forms of herbs that have been extracted in capsules and of course already have a distribution permit from the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM).

“So for certain conditions, it is also good to combine processed herbs with fresh ingredients and extracts. For example, if a person has liver disease, if he drinks herbs and also ginger extract, it can protect his liver," said Ingrid.

Some fresh spice ingredients that can be processed as herbs include turmeric, temulawak, bitter, ginger, lemongrass, or cumin because it has been proven in several scientific studies that these ingredients contain anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulating benefits. All of this is believed to be very beneficial for the body, especially during this COVID-19 pandemic.