Natural Medicines and Epidemic Preparedness and Response
One writer’s take on the BIOAfrica Convention, Session IKS002, on August 25, 2020.
By Sabere A. Traore, MD, MPH
This session was moderated by Dr. Aunkh Chabalala, Director, IK-Based Tech Innovations, DSI. The following speakers presented:
Prof. Charles Wambebe, Regional Adviser for Traditional Medicine, World Health Organization, Regional Office for Africa
Prof. Nceba Gqaleni, Faculty Member, Africa Health Research Institute
Prof. Anlong Xu, President, Beijing University
Natural medicines have received growing attention in the scientific and pharmaceutical spheres, and this interest has increased even more during the COVID-19 pandemic. Scientists Prof. Nceba Gqaleni (South Africa), Prof. Anlong Xu (China), and Prof. Charles Wambebe (WHO AFRO) presented at the BIOAfrica Convention 2020 regarding research into natural medicines at their respective institutions and how these medicines could be leveraged to prepare countries to respond more effectively to epidemics.
Prof. Anlong Xu described the use of several types of traditional medicines used to fight the COVID-19 pandemic in the early days of the Wuhan outbreak. Specifically, he indicated that his team conducted a trial of natural medicines including herbal Chinese medicine, acupuncture, and Tai-Chi. Prof. Xu reported that for many mild COVID-19 cases, only such traditional methods were used, while more critically ill patients were treated using a combined approach of traditional and conventional modern methods. Prof. Xu reported that patients treated with traditional methods had a high recovery rate. However, it is important to note that while Prof. Xu described this as a trial, no specifics were provided and no data are publicly available, so it is not clear if a formal clinical trial was done. Nonetheless, work similar to that described by Prof. Xu has sparked interest in the possibilities and led to several reviews in the use of traditional Chinese medicines [1, 2].
With a mandate from the South African government, Prof. Nceba Gqaleni revived his work on Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) to identify ways to respond to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in the country. IKS refers to a comprehensive approach designed to foster collaboration between traditional healers and scientific researchers for expanding innovation in traditional medical treatment. According to Prof. Gqaleni, the original disinclination to consider traditional medicines has subsided somewhat, and there are now several African research projects investigating the potential of different traditional medicines. Prof. Gqaleni applauded the work in Madagascar to consider Artemisia-based treatments, and he remains hopeful that these research initiatives will be successful and would help better respond to future epidemics.
Prof. Wambebe spoke about his work with the World Health Organization (WHO) to support integration of natural medicines in countries’ national health systems. The WHO has developed guidelines regarding the use of natural medicines both as part of the emergency response to COVID-19 and as an independent strategy since 2014. The WHO Africa Region has partnered with some African universities to develop traditional medicine-based curriculums and to promote quality research into the use of such medicines. Dr. Wambebe provided great examples of this at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria, at the Kwame N’Krumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana, in Mali and in Burkina Faso. The African Union’s Africa CDC has also joined the WHO to examine traditional medicine as part of the pandemic response.
Though many in Africa still use traditional remedies as their primary source of medical treatment, most governments and institutions continue to ignore the potential of these traditional medicines. The speakers in this session argued that the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the potential of natural medicine and has provided an opportunity to intensify research on the topic. However, readiness for the next epidemic will require better scientific understanding and appropriate integration of natural medicines into national health systems. Collaboration among the scientific, industrial, governmental, and traditional cultural sectors will be key for improving the potential of natural medicines to contribute to responding effectively to epidemics.
Dr. Traore is a physician and a public health professional from Burkina Faso, currently a Fulbright Fellow pursuing another degree in Health Policy and Management at Emory University in Atlanta, GA, USA.
Dr. Traore has no financial involvement or interest in the Bio Africa Marketplace or products mentioned therein or elsewhere within the BioAfrica Innovation Hub websites. His role in the Scientific Resource Hub does not constitute endorsement or recommendation of specific products or suppliers mentioned within the Bio Africa Innovation Hub websites.
References
Publicly available websites and news articles are linked in the text. Full references for peer-reviewed articles or other sites not publicly accessible are available below.
1. Yang, Y., et al., Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Treatment of Patients Infected with 2019-New Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2): A Review and Perspective. Int J Biol Sci, 2020. 16(10): p. 1708-1717.
2. Xiong, X., et al., Chinese herbal medicine for coronavirus disease 2019: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Pharmacol Res, 2020. 160: p. 105056.