Fact Check: Experts warn against self-medicating COVID-19 using aspirin, lemon, honey home remedy

A viral post on social media claims that Italy has found a home remedy for COVID-19 which is a mixture of aspirin, lemon juice, and honey. Vishvas News investigated and found that the viral post is fake.

Claim

A post doing rounds on social media reads: Italy finds home remedy for Covid’19 / 500gms aspirin dissolved with lemon juice boiled with honey, it is taken hot. The archived version of the post can be checked here.

Investigation

When Vishvas News investigated, we found that the COVID-19 guidance released by the Ministry of Health, Italy, makes no reference to the purported home remedy as stated in the viral post.

It states that: Do not take antiviral drugs and antibiotics, unless prescribed by your doctor. It further states: The sick person must rest, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food, and wear a surgical mask that needs to be changed every day. If he/she does not tolerate the mask, he/she must adopt a strict respiratory hygiene: cover his/her mouth and nose with a disposable paper tissue/handkerchief when he/she coughs or sneezes and throw it away immediately, or wash it after use, wash his/her hands with soap and water or with hydroalcoholic solution.

However there are certain immunity boosters as mentioned by the Ministry of AYUSH but consuming the combination of Aspirin, lemon juice, and honey is not proven.

As per the Ministry of AYUSH, lemon can be added in a herbal tea / decoction (Kadha) made from Tulsi (Basil), Dalchini (Cinnamon), Kalimirch (Black pepper), Shunthi (Dry Ginger) and Munakka (Raisin) – once or twice a day as an immunity booster.

And, honey can be mixed in Lavang (Clove) can be taken 2-3 times a day in case of cough or throat irritation. But, these are immunity boosting measures and does not claim to be the treatment of COVID-19.

Vishvas News spoke to Dr. Nikhil Modi who is a respiratory care specialist at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, Delhi. He said: One should never consume medicine without doctors recommendation. The purporting home remedy is no cure or treatment for COVID-19. It is completely fake.”

As per WHO, here are seven steps to prevent the spread of coronavirus:

1. Wash your hands frequently
2. Avoid touching our eyes, mouth and nose
3. Cover your cough with the bend of your elbow or tissue
4. Avoid crowded places
5. Stay at home if you feel unwell – even with a slight fever and cough
6. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early – but call by phone first
7. Stay aware of the latest information from WHO

As per WHO, “To date, there is no vaccine and no specific antiviral medicines against COVID-19. However, .people, particularly those with serious illness, may need to be hospitalized so that they can receive life-saving treatment for complications.. Most patients recover thanks to such care. Possible vaccines and some specific drug treatments are currently under investigation. They are being tested through clinical trials. WHO is coordinating efforts to develop vaccines and medicines to prevent and treat COVID-19.” 

Vishvas News performed social scanning of the user named Minervs Blancio. We found that the user is based out of Philippines.

Disclaimer: The #CoronavirusFacts database records fact-checks published since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak. The pandemic and its consequences are constantly evolving and data that was accurate weeks or even days ago might have changed. Remember to check the date when the fact-check you are reading was published before sharing it.