A polyherbal remedy of Chamomile, Cinnamon, Oregano, Ginger, and Anise (CCOGA) combined with physician-prescribed medication is a promising COVID-19 therapy.

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: The world has been on high pandemic alert subsequent to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak. In the first two years of the pandemic, there was no definitive treatment for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Traditionally, herbal remedies were seen as a means of treating respiratory infections. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of a polyherbal remedy made of chamomile, cinnamon, oregano, ginger, and anise (CCOGA) on curing the COVID-19 infection. Methods: This study used randomized, parallel control and treatment arms of COVID-19 outpatients. The control group receives only physician prescribes medications, whereas the treatment group receives physician prescribes medication plus CCOGA polyherbal remedy once a day for one week. The patients were evaluated at baseline and on day 7 for several biomarker tests, including: PCR cycle threshold values (PCR-Ct), total WBC count, lymphocyte count, C-reaction protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2). Result: CCOGA significantly reduces the viral load in the patients of the treatment arm. In addition, CCOGA significantly improves leukocyte, lymphocyte, and CRP levels in the middle-aged and elderly groups of the treatment arm. Older individuals who did not undergo CCOGA treatment had a significantly higher ESR and lower SpO2 than the corresponding age in treatment group. Conclusion: The CCOGA polyherbal remedy reduces viral load and improves the prognostic biomarker of inflammation in COVID-19 outpatients, and it may be a promising remedy for elder patients.