Taming the pandemic? The importance of homemade plant-based foods and beverages as community responses to COVID-19

Abstract

Household responses to COVID-19 in different corners of the world represent the primary health care that communities have relied on for preventing and mitigating symptoms. During a very complex and confusing time, in which public health services in multiple countries have been completely overwhelmed, and in some cases even collapsed, these first-line household responses have been quintessential for building physical, mental, and social resilience, and for improving individual and community health. This editorial discusses the outcomes of a rapid-response preliminary survey during the first phase of the pandemic among social and community contacts in five metropolises heavily affected by the COVID-19 health crisis (Wuhan, Milan, Madrid, New York, and Rio de Janeiro), and in twelve rural areas or countries initially less affected by the pandemic (Appalachia, Jamaica, Bolivia, Romania, Belarus, Lithuania, Poland, Georgia, Turkey, Pakistan, Cambodia, and South Africa). We summarized our perspectives as 17 case studies, observing that people have relied primarily on teas and spices (“food-medicines”) and that there exist clear international plant favorites, popularized by various new media. Urban diasporas and rural households seem to have repurposed homemade plant-based remedies that they use in normal times for treating the flu and other respiratory symptoms or that they simply consider healthy foods. The most remarkable shift in many areas has been the increased consumption of ginger and garlic, followed by onion, turmeric, and lemon. Our preliminary inventory of food medicines serves as a baseline for future systematic ethnobotanical studies and aims to inspire in-depth research on how use patterns of plant-based foods and beverages, both “traditional” and “new”, are changing during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Our reflections in this editorial call attention to the importance of ethnobiology, ethnomedicine, and ethnogastronomy research into domestic health care strategies for improving community health.

Use of vitamin/zinc supplements, medicinal plants, and immune boosting drinks during COVID-19 pandemic: A pilot study from Benha city, Egypt

“…In a study that conducted in Italy, about 60.9% of respondent believed that strengthening immune defenses through nutrition (includes supplements and immune-boosting foods) is important to lower COVID-19 infection ( Savarese et al, 2020 ). In a survey study that includes five metropolises and twelve countries, the use of ginger, onion, and lemon to fight COVID-19 was reported( Pieroni et al, 2020 ). Honey and bee products enhance the function of the immune system via enhancing immunoglobulin production, maturation of immune cells, and triggering of the different immune responses ( Lima and Brito, 2020 ).…”

“…Immune boosting drinks include the use of any of the following drinks during the pandemic to enhance immunity: green tea, star anise, mint, marjoram, hibiscus, orange juice, and lemon juice. Foods include garlic and honey ( Pieroni et al, 2020 ). The last domain used a validated fear scale ( Ahorsu et al, 2020 ) to measure the fear of the participants of COVID-19 infection.…”

“…In Italy, the majority of study participants believed that strengthening immune defenses through nutrition elements that enhance the function of the immune system is important to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection ( Savarese et al, 2020 ). In a survey study that includes several countries, increased consumption of ginger, garlic, onion, turmeric, and lemon during the pandemic was reported ( Pieroni et al, 2020 ). However, the use of supplements and foods that boost the immune system was not yet investigated in Egypt.…”

Contested or complementary healing paradigms? Women’s narratives of COVID-19 remedies in Mwanza, Tanzania

“…As recent survey reported wide use of food medicines for treatment of COVID-19 in different parts of the world [8]. In particular, there was increased consumption of ginger and garlic.…”

“…Against this backdrop of fear and uncertainty, reports of the use of local remedies against COVID-19 emerged from different parts of the world, especially Africa and Asia [4,[6][7][8]. One of the commonest local remedies reported during the early phases of the pandemic in Africa was the artemisinin-based herbal drink in Madagascar.…”