Dr. Galvez Tan, an herbalist, said that to protect oneself amid the influenza A (H1N1) outbreak, there is no need to buy expensive medicine and/or face masks when there are effective but cheaper alternative medicines in the backyard or in the gardens and/or farms.
According to him, there are many ingredients the Filipinos use in cooking such as ginger, garlic and onions that contain substances that can kill microbes and bacteria. They can already provide a lot of protection for our bodies. It is just that there is a lack of awareness among the populace about these things.
Green leafy vegetables as camote tops, chilli leaves, kangkong, salayot and spinach are good sources of antioxidants like vitamins A, C and E, Zinc, Selenium and Folic acid.
Fruits like pineapple, banana, papaya and mango are rich in vitamins. Coconuts and extra virgin coconut oil has lauric acid that is a good anti-viral property. Other good immune system boosters are ube, boiled corn and sweet potato.
“The beauty of it all is that these are non-toxic, non-fatal and you will not be overdosed because thousands of years of usage around the world have proven this,” Dr. Tan said.
The self-confessed alternative medicine expert believes that most Filipinos already have an innate capacity to ward off swine flu because their diets are rich in these ingredients.
He said, “ We should not panic, but we must maintain a healthy lifestyle everyday.”
With reports from ABS-CBN News Online
