The first Level 1 hospitals designated to treat COVID-19 cases with mild symptoms received their first batches of virgin coconut oil (VCO) as part of a personal initiative led by Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, who has helped promote the use of VCO in efforts to treat individuals that have caught the disease.
According to Nograles, “our objective is to help those with COVID recover faster, and so far clinical trials indicate that VCO can help in this regard.”
“The faster our kababayans recover, the faster they can go back to their families and resume their lives, at kung makakatulong tayo dito, bakit naman hindi? Kailangan natin magtulungan.”
Receiving VCO supplies over the weekend were three Level 1 hospitals in Bulacan: Ospital ng Guiguinto, Romel Cruz Hospital, and Guiguinto Polymed Hospital, Inc.. The three hospitals currently have a total of 30 patients now being treated for mild COVID symptoms.
VCO supplies were likewise distributed to three hospitals in the South of Manila, namely the Las Piñas branch of the Alabang Medical Clinic and the Christ the King Medical Center Unihealth, both in Las Piñas; and the main branch of the Alabang Medical Clinic in Muntinlupa. Together, the three Level 1 hospitals currently have 32 patients with mild COVID symptoms.
The IATF co-chair said he was now talking to VCO suppliers and coordinating with hospitals in other parts of the country to explore ways to distribute VCO to hospitals in the provinces outside the NCR+ bubble.
“What we’re doing is identifying which areas have Level 1 hospitals with a growing number of COVID patients, and coordinating with them to see if they’re open to using VCO as an adjunct treatment for their patients,” explained the Palace official.
Nograles encouraged individuals that have contracted COVID-19 and have been advised to recover at home––as they have very mild symptoms and do not require hospitalization––to try VCO as medical experts have pointed out that there are no side effects from VCO intake, while its potential benefits have already been documented.
The Davao native pointed out that “you can get VCO at the grocery or at the supermarket, di mo kailangan ng reseta dahil wala naman itong masamang epekto––pero malinaw naman sa pag-aaral na may mga benepisyo ito, bukod pa sa panlaban sa COVID.”
In clinical trials, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has concluded that VCO could be used as “an adjunct supplement to probable and suspect COVID-19 cases to help prevent symptoms from becoming severe.”
Individuals with COVID-19 symptoms are advised to take one tablespoon of VCO after each meal for three straight days. If tolerated well, they are then advised to double the dosage from the fourth day onward, until the patient tests negative. Patients may also rub VCO on their nostrils and gargle with VCO to help alleviate symptoms.
