දිනපතා සත්ය කරුණු දැන ගැනීමට අපගේ WhatsApp චැනලයටමෙතනින් එකතුවන්න.
As COVID-19 has once again made headlines, with some cases reported in Sri Lanka as well, the same false messages that were shared during the height of the pandemic are being circulated again through social media platforms. Among these are home remedies purported to be cures for COVID-19.
A fake message that went viral in India in 2021, claiming to be a cure developed by an Indian student using a mixture of ginger, honey, and black pepper, is once again being shared among Sri Lankan users.
Social media posts:
Recently, a post shared on social media, including WhatsApp, stated that an Indian student at Pondicherry University in India had discovered a home remedy for COVID-19, which the World Health Organisation had approved. The post went on to add that taking a teaspoon of pepper powder with two teaspoons of honey and ginger juice for five consecutive days can eliminate the effects of COVID-19 by up to 100%.
This was how it was shared in English.
These posts were widely shared in Sinhala as well.
Fact Check
We forwarded the viral message to the Sri Lankan delegation of the World Health Organisation (WHO). They confirmed that the World Health Organisation has not approved such a home-made medicine, and so it is a false message.
Speaking to AFP fact-checking team, the social media coordinator at Pondicherry University also confirmed that the viral message was fake and no such discovery was done by a university student.
The Fact or Fiction section of the World Health Organization’s Southeast Asia region also states that while some spices may have health promoting properties, there is no scietific basis for the claim that a mixture of pepper, honey, and ginger juice provides relief from COVID-19.
As these claims were also widely shared in India at the outset of the COVID19 outbreak in 2020, the Indian government’s official fact checking arm also release a statement denying the viral claim as seen below.
The World Health Organisation’s WHO Myth Busters section also states that while such home remedies may provide some temporary relief, none of these methods are effective in treating or controlling COVID-19.
Below are some of the revelations we have made previously on similar claims where traditional remedies were falsely touted as effective remedies against COVID19.
Hot Weather, Garlic and Hot Water Are Not Remedies against COVID19
Misleading Claims About Traditional Cures And Self-Checks For Coronavirus
Conclusion :
Accordingly, our investigation shows that although certain spices may have health-promoting properties, there is no scientific basis for the claim that a mixture of pepper, honey, and ginger juice will provide relief from COVID-19, and the World Health Organisation has not recommended any such home remedies.
Title:An Indian student didn’t discovere a drug capable of combating Corona !
Fact Check By: Factcrescendo TeamResult: False
