Vietnam approves first traditional medicine to treat COVID-19

The research team on Sunkovir, the first traditional medicine to be licenced for treating in Vietnam. (Photo: VNA)

HCM City (VNA) – Vietnam has approved the first
traditional medicine for treating respiratory tract viral infections, including
flu and mild COVID-19.

Sunkovir, licenced by the on April 12, was
announced as the first to treat COVID-19 at the seminar on the effectiveness of
products in preventing and treating COVID-19 and seasonal
flu in Ho Chi Minh City on April 25.

Dr Truong Thi Ngoc Lan, Deputy Director of the HCM City
Traditional Medicine Institute and the research team’s member, said within
three days of using Sunkovir, all patients experienced a rapid reduction in
symptoms without any worsening.

None of the study’s 1,115 COVID-19 patients who used Sunkovir
experienced severe symptoms.

Moreover, Sunkovir significantly reduced the severity of symptoms
such as coughs, shortness of breath, loss of smell and taste, nosebleeds, body
aches, sore throat, runny nose, headache, fatigue, chest pain, sneezing,
chills, sweating, and insomnia from the third day.

On average, patients recovered from all symptoms within seven
days.

The medicine also reduced the need for corticosteroids,
anticoagulants, antipyretics, cough suppressants, expectorants, antihistamines,
antivirals and gastrointestinal drugs.

Lan said Sunkovir is recommended for respiratory viral infections
such as flu and mild in the early stages to reduce symptoms quickly.
It can be combined with modern medical treatment regimes such as antipyretics,
anti-inflammatories, pain relievers, cough suppressants, and antibiotics if
necessary.

Dr Huynh Nguyen Loc, Director of the HCM City Traditional Medicine
Institute, said at the seminar that Sunkovir is the first and only traditional
medicine to be licensed by the Ministry of Health in Vietnam.

This achievement results from the research team’s efforts to
demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of Vietnamese herbal products in the
fight against COVID-19, with the determination of hundreds of Vietnamese
doctors and pharmacists.

In addition to Sunkovir’s effectiveness, the seminar updated the
research results on the effectiveness of traditional medicine products in
preventing and treating COVID-19 and seasonal flu./.