Herbs have not received the same kind of attention from the scientific community for COVID-19 as have the more famous vitamins, such as vitamin C and vitamin D, or even isolated natural compounds like quercetin. Yet, herbal approaches to COVID-19 are certainly worth investigating. Consider that in China, more than 90 percent of COVID-19 patients’ treatments include herbal medicine. And in North America, herbal products, especially elderberry, have been flying off the market.

The Delicious Promise of Chocolate & Tea

Similar to the pre-clinical studies with quercetin, several flavonoid-rich extracts have shown preliminary promise for fighting COVID-19. Flavonoids from dark chocolate, green tea and grapes inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. These extracts contain flavonoids that block the ability of SARS-CoV-2 virus to utilize an enzyme it uses to replicate and assemble itself. While dark chocolate extract was effective, green tea extract was actually twice as effective. These results are based on computer modelling and lab studies and have not yet been studied in humans. But, like quercetin, these studies offer the hope that these and other flavonoid-rich extracts might be beneficial for COVID-19.1

Licorice, Echinacea & Curcumin

One of the first herbs to show promise for COVID-19 was licorice root. That is not surprising given that licorice is an important antiviral and anti-inflammatory herb—both important properties for dealing with COVID-19. Glycyrrhizin, an important component of licorice, has been shown to plug the ACE2 receptors that the SARS-CoV-2 virus uses as a doorway into human cells where it takes over the cell’s machinery allowing it to replicate and do its damage.2 The early research came from the related SARS-CoV-1. When researchers compared the effect of glycyrrhizin to several other potential treatments on two isolates of coronavirus from patients with SARS, glycyrrhizin “was the most active in inhibiting replication of the SARS-associated virus.”3 Encouragingly, more recent studies have found that glycyrrhizin may target the ACE2 receptor and prevent SARS-CoV-2 entry.4,5 Other in-vitro studies have found glycyrrhizic acid from licorice to be effective against several proteins targeted by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, meaning that licorice could help treat the effects of the virus.6

Echinacea is one of the most popular herbs for supporting the immune system. It enhances the immune response to a viral infection, while also modulating the immune system to prevent the excessive release of inflammatory cytokines: all valuable abilities for fighting COVID-19. Components of echinacea known as alkamides have been shown to bind to cannabinoid receptors in a way that may be able to reduce the exaggerated inflammatory response in COVID-19 patients. Most promisingly, a recent cell study found that a readily available Echinacea purpurea herb and root preparation demonstrated antiviral activity against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.7

Curcumin is an herbal anti-inflammatory agent that may play a role in the excessive inflammatory response seen in COVID-19 similar to its potential in sepsis.8 Curcumin also has antiviral activity and can nearly triple levels of cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide, or CAMP.9 CAMP is a protein that helps the immune system to fight off infections from pathogens that the body has never been exposed to before—an intriguing power when faced with a “novel” coronavirus. Computer modelling studies of potential drugs for COVID-19 have found curcumin to prevent SARS-CoV-2 viral attachment.10 For its combination of anti-inflammatory and anti-viral effects, curcumin has been suggested as a potential herb for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.11

Andrographis

Thailand’s health ministry has made andrographis the first herb to be approved by a country for treating COVID-19. The Thai ministry of health has approved the herb for the treatment of early stage COVID-19 with mild respiratory symptoms like cough, runny nose and sore throat.

A study that screened 122 herbs used in Thailand for activity against the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 identified four herbs that had potential activity against the virus. One of them was andrographis extract, which had moderate inhibitory activity.12 A second experimental cell study found anti-SARS-CoV–2 activity for andrographis extract and its major component andrographolide.13

In Thailand, andrographis is approved for treatment for people between the ages of 18 and 60. Thailand based its approval on human trials that showed that patients’ condition improved, without side effects, within three days when taking andrographis. They say that the herb should be taken within 72 hours of testing positive. In a small study of six people with mild to moderate symptoms, 60 mg of andrographis extract taken three times a day improved symptoms, especially coughing, within three days. At five days, their other symptoms began to improve and two of them were now COVID-19 negative. After three weeks, all six were negative.

Thai media has reported on a clinical trial of andrographis that was conducted by the faculty of medicine of Siriraj Hospital, the Chulabhorn Research Institute, the Medical Science Department, the Government Pharmaceutical Organization and the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM). The trial found andrographis extract to be effective at improving the condition of COVID-19 patients. The researchers report that andrographis led to improvement in conditions in people who tested positive within 72 hours of developing symptoms. All of them started showing signs of improvement on the third day of treatment with andrographis. Symptoms that improved without complications include cough, sore throat, muscle pains, headache and runny nose.14

The researchers say that, according to lab tests, although andrographis cannot prevent cells from being infected, it is effective at killing the virus and preventing it from multiplying.

Why would the researchers consider testing andrographis? Because extensive research has proven its efficacy against acute respiratory infections. Andrographis quickly and effectively fights colds and sinusitis.15-19 It also prevents colds.20 A massive systematic review of 33 controlled studies has demonstrated the power of andrographis over acute respiratory infections, including, amongst others, cold, flu, bronchitis, pneumonia, laryngitis and tonsillitis. Meta-analysis of four studies concluded that andrographis is significantly better than placebo. Meta-analysis of 12 studies concluded that andrographis is significantly better than drugs for all symptoms but cough. Meta-analysis of six studies concluded that andrographis plus drugs is significantly better than drugs alone.21

Black Seed

Perhaps the most important study of any herb for COVID-19 compared a combination of the herb Nigella sativa and honey to a placebo in a study of 133 people. Nigella sativa is also known as black seed or black cumin. Black seed is antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immune modulating, all of which make it an interesting candidate for COVID-19. Several computer simulation studies have found that a number of components of black seed can attach to cell receptors and potentially inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication.22,23

The people in the study had moderate or severe COVID-19. They were given either a placebo or a combination of honey and 80 mg of black seed per kg body weight in two to three divided doses for up to 13 days.

The results were impressive. The people in the black seed and honey group got over their symptoms significantly faster than the placebo group. People with moderate COVID-19 symptoms recovered from their symptoms in four days versus seven days in the placebo group; people with severe COVID-19 symptoms recovered from their symptoms in six days versus 13 in the placebo group. By day eight, 98.13 percent of the people with moderate symptoms were asymptomatic versus 56.31 percent of the control group, and significantly more people with severe symptoms were now asymptomatic while the placebo group had only improved to moderately symptomatic.

There was a significant advantage for the supplement for all symptoms tested, including fever, cough, shortness of breath and inflammation. Whether their symptoms were moderate or severe, people in the supplement group tested negative a significant four days sooner than people in the placebo group.

Black seed also let people get back to their normal lives faster. By day six, people on the herbal supplement who had moderate symptoms were able to resume the activities of their daily life while people on placebo were not. By day six, the people with severe symptoms had significantly greater chance of being discharged from hospital while those on placebo were still hospitalized on supplemental oxygen. By day 10, while only 68.93 percent of people with moderate symptoms who were given a placebo were able to go fully back to their normal activities, 96.26 percent of those on black seed and honey were. Severely ill people who were given the supplement were also able to resume normal activities by day 10, while the people given the placebo still needed oxygen in the hospital.

Most importantly, while 18.87 percent of the placebo group had died by day 30, only 4 percent of the black seed and honey group had.

The researchers point out that this study suggests important benefits for this safe, natural combination over the drugs that have been suggested for COVID-19, including faster recovery time and improved chance of survival. They conclude that the results suggest that the herbal supplement “provided clinical superiority in reducing mortality in COVID-19 patients.” They importantly add that the natural treatment is safer and cheaper.24 VR

References:

1 Front Plant Sci 30 November 2020:doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.601316.

2 Journal of Virology 2004:11334–11339.

3 Lancet 2003;361(9374):2045-6.

4 Preprints;doi.org/10.20944/preprints202001.0358.v3.

5 Chin Trad Herbal Drug;4(51):845-850,20200228.

6 Computers in Biology and Medicine 2020,124,103936.

7 Virology Journal 2020;17(1):136.

8 Phytother Res 2019;33:2798-2820.

9 J Nutr Biochem 2013;24(5):754-9.

10 Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters; 11(11):4413–4420.

11 Phytother Res 2020;34(11):2911-20.

12 Sci Rep 2020;10:19963.

13 bioRxiv 2020;doi.org/10.1101/2020.12.08.415836.

14 Thai PBS World December 9 2020.

15 Phytother Res 1995;9:559-62.

16 Phytomed 1996;3:315-18.

17 Phytomed 2010;17:178-85.

18 Phytomed 1999;6:217-23.

19 Altern Ther Health Med 2018;24(2):16-26.

20 Phytomed 1997;4:101-4.

21 PLoS One 2017;12(8):e0181780.

22 Curr Ther Res 2020;93:100602.

23 Coronaviruses 2020;1:1.

24 medRxiv November 6,2020;doi.org/10.1101/2020 .10.30.20217364.

Michael T. Murray, ND, is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading authorities on natural medicine. A graduate, former faculty member, and member of the Board of Regents of Bastyr University in Seattle, WA, he is the author of more than 30 books on health nutrition. For more information, visit www.doctormurray.com.
Linda Woolven is a master herbalist and registered acupuncturist with a practice in Toronto, ON, Canada. Woolven and Ted Snider are the authors of several books on natural health and of The Natural Path Newsletter. You can see their books on their website: thenaturalpathnewsletter.com. If you are a retailer and would like to increase your sales and educate your customers by ordering The Natural Path for your store, email tedsnider@bell.net.