The medicinal plants in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19

Introduction: medicinal plants are a useful and accessible therapeutic resource to solve health problems. COVID-19 has been the most difficult health challenge that man has faced in the XXI century and to combat it he has resorted to all possible therapeutic options, including medicinal plants. Objective: to describe the use of medicinal plants against COVID-19 in the Municipality of Santa Clara. Methods: an exploratory descriptive study was carried out in Santa Clara, Villa Clara Province, during the months of January and February 2021. Random surveys were applied to people from three popular councils and the use of medicinal plants for this disease was investigated. The different treatment protocols proposed by the Ministry of Public Health and other scientific literature on the subject were reviewed in order to contrast the results obtained. Results: 60 people were surveyed, with a predominance of women and medium level of schooling. 55% referred to the use of the drug. Fifty-five percent reported the use of homemade or pharmaceutical phytopreparations for possible symptoms or as a preventive measure. The most commonly used plants were Aloe barbadensis (aloe vera), Plectranthus amboinicus (French oregano), Citrus aurantium (orange) and Allium cepa (onion). This coincides with that established in the treatment protocols proposed in Cuba from version 1.2. The review of scientific literature showed the proposal of the mentioned plants and others with the purpose of treating symptoms and raising people's immunity (or both). Conclusions: the population of Santa Clara employs medicinal plants and their preparations to prevent and treat symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 in correspondence with what has been established in Cuban treatment protocols. Bibliographic reviews corroborate these medicinal uses.