Hyderabad: Alternative medicine becoming popular for prevention of Coronavirus

Hyderabad: With deadly Covid-19 spreading across the world, a few alternative medical practitioners including homeopathy and unani are trying to cash in by claiming to have medicines of prevention and increased immunity to resist the virus.

Several panic-stricken people in Old City are seen rushing towards Dawasaz for Unani medicine, while some of the homeopathy stores are seeing it as an opportunity to encash the scare by selling unwarranted preventive medicines for Covid-19. Senior citizens were seen purchasing medicines for viral fever and cold from Unani stores. "As the Unani and Ayurveda are medical streams under practice for centuries in India, I believe that alternative medicine has power to not only increase immunity but also prevent this kind of virus," said Javed Ali, a sexagenarian who trusts Unani.

Meanwhile, the doctors at government Nizamia Tibbi Hospital at Charminar claim to have developed medicine and the team engaged in the research were satisfied with the results. "We have come up with the medicines for prevention and also for curing of virus but waiting for the government nod for making this public," said, an official of hospital on condition of anonymity.

On the other hand, some of the Unani stores have started providing preventive medicine in some areas in Old City, about which in localities like Barkas, messages in social media are being circulated.

AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Homoeopathy) department is also distributing preventive medicine.

The social media is also abuzz with claims of homeopathic medicine for prevention, even as Health Minister Eatala Rajender on Thursday inaugurated a prophylactic homeopathy medicine distribution center at JSPS Government Homeopathic Medical College and also administered a dose of the 'Arsenic Album' medicine.

A post went viral on social media claiming that a homeopathy doctor suggested 'Arsenicum Album-30' medicine to prevent from virus infections. With posts about medicines getting viral, the people are getting more panic and purchasing medicines from stores as well as through online in bulk.

Several precautionary measures are being circulated on social media which also includes to use sanitizers, wearing mask, avoid handshake and maintain a distance with each other etc.