Ekta Counters Misleading Posts Prescribing Homeopathic Aspidosperma As a Substitute for Oxygen in COVID-19 Patients
As several hospitals in the country faced an oxygen shortage, misleading messages were doing rounds on social media that a homeopathic medicine Aspidosperma is a substitute for oxygen for COVID-19 patients.
As this claim went viral, Ekta worked together in gathering evidence to counter the claim and present facts to its readers. Here are fact-check reports from members of Ekta.
AFP Fact Check referred to the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation against homeopathy medicine as an alternative to oxygen.
BOOM contacted Dr. Subhas Singh, Director, National Institute of Homeopathy, Kolkata. “This medicine has the power to improve oxygen levels but not in the case of COVID-19 patients whose lungs have collapsed," explained Dr. Singh while stating that these medicines are prescribed on a case-by-case basis and the same should be followed as COVID-19 is a relatively new disease.
Vishvas News addressed the message which was circulating in Hindi. Homeopathy doctors whom they reached out to confirmed that Aspidosperma is not a substitute for oxygen for COVID-19 patients.
Factly in its reports pointed out that there is not enough scientific evidence to back the claim. “The science conducted on the medical benefits of Aspidosperma-Q is limited. There are very few studies and most of them have not been followed upon. There are very few studies and most of them have not been followed upon. There is no evidence to show that Aspidosperma-Q can be used as a treatment for abnormal oxygen levels in a COVID-19 patient or that it can be used as a substitute for medical oxygen.”
Meedan’s team of public health experts provide scientific information on aspidosperma Q 20 and how it should not be seen as a treatment for abnormal oxygen levels, COVID-19, or any other medical condition.
These stories have been published as part of the Ekta News Coalition, a collaboration of six fact-checking organisations in India. Have you seen suspicious messages, rumours or misleading information shared on social media and on your WhatsApp groups? Drop your queries on WhatsApp tiplines of Ekta members. https://ekta-facts.com/
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