Natural herb Sanna Makki – that is currently being touted as a treatment for coronavirus on social media – doesn’t cure the deadly virus. In fact its excessive consumption can cause harmful liver and kidney issues.
Dr Faheem Younus, the chief of infectious diseases at University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health, has posted a series of tweets about Sanna Makki and warned of major side effects from consuming the herb without clinical guidance or prescriptions.
https://twitter.com/FaheemYounus/status/1270053413779386368?s=20
While refuting the myth that sanna makki and other herbs are harmless and they can boost the immunity to fight against coronavirus, Dr Younus noted that the benefits of such substances are ‘unclear’ but their occasional side effects are ‘well-documented’.
"Traditional Asian/Chinese herbs can cause kidney or liver damage. High concentrations of arsenic, lead, cadmium were found in 61% of herbs,” the doctor said, adding that the Vitamins are helpful if one is deficient, but taking them blindly, risks overdose.
He said: “Sanna Makki can cause abdominal cramps, diarrhea, pain, nausea, [and] electrolyte imbalance. Omega-3, garlic, mangoes, green tea etc have no documented or measurable effect on immunity or protecting against COVID.”
https://twitter.com/FaheemYounus/status/1270055530258665476?s=20
In the end, he warned that blind and excessive use of these herbs and substances may give people a false sense of security, and could possibly lead to sustainability issues.
Dr Faheem Younus, the chief of infectious diseases at University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health, has posted a series of tweets about Sanna Makki and warned of major side effects from consuming the herb without clinical guidance or prescriptions.
https://twitter.com/FaheemYounus/status/1270053413779386368?s=20
While refuting the myth that sanna makki and other herbs are harmless and they can boost the immunity to fight against coronavirus, Dr Younus noted that the benefits of such substances are ‘unclear’ but their occasional side effects are ‘well-documented’.
"Traditional Asian/Chinese herbs can cause kidney or liver damage. High concentrations of arsenic, lead, cadmium were found in 61% of herbs,” the doctor said, adding that the Vitamins are helpful if one is deficient, but taking them blindly, risks overdose.
He said: “Sanna Makki can cause abdominal cramps, diarrhea, pain, nausea, [and] electrolyte imbalance. Omega-3, garlic, mangoes, green tea etc have no documented or measurable effect on immunity or protecting against COVID.”
https://twitter.com/FaheemYounus/status/1270055530258665476?s=20
In the end, he warned that blind and excessive use of these herbs and substances may give people a false sense of security, and could possibly lead to sustainability issues.