The Americas Coordinate to Fight COVID with Traditional Medicine

Regional organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean are working together to highlight the contributions of Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicines (TCIM) in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Specialists from Brazil, Columbia, Peru, Bolivia, Cuba, and Mexico are collaborating on the project under the auspices of the Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information, a specialized branch of the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO). According to Dr. Socorro Gross, PAHO/WHO representative in Brazil, health and well-being goes beyond the presence or absence of disease. 

One of the tools that has been developed is known as the Evidence Map, which identifies, analyzes, and characterizes clinical studies on TCIM interventions. Among the health issues being addressed are strengthening the immune system, mental health, spiritual health, occupational health, self-care for health professional, nutrition, and management of clinical symptoms of respiratory viral infection.

In July of 2020 a virtual symposium on the contributions of TCIM to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic was held. Twenty-two speakers from 12 countries discussed a range of topics, including the integration of conventional health resources with TCIM and the use of traditional medicine for care of COVID patients.