The Medicines Agency (ANSM) warned on Monday against the purchase on the internet of products "presented as being able to cure or prevent infection with Covid-19", such as the plant Artemisia, ineffective and potentially dangerous.
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No evidence of therapeutic properties
The health authority explains having "noted messages" touting "herbal products, in particular the plant Artemisia annua or Armoise annual" presented "as a therapeutic or preventive solution to infection, in the form of a dry plant, decoction, Herbal tea or capsules "." These allegations are false and dangerous: they could delay necessary medical treatment in the event of confirmed infection. Indeed, products based on Artemisia annua have so far not proven any therapeutic virtues ", underlines the ANSM
She recalls that "this plant has previously been the subject of the same type of message on alleged therapeutic virtues against malaria", without demonstrated efficacy, and that "people who have taken it have developed severe forms of malaria during a foreign trip". This had led the ANSM to prohibit "several operators from marketing products containing Artemisia annua in 2015 and 2017".
The Madagascan president notably distributed to the population and to schools a herbal tea called Covid Organics, made from artemisia and other herbs, supposed to give "results in seven days".
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"At the risk of endangering his health"
This potion has had a wide impact on African social networks, where the leader is presented as a hero of the continent, while the WHO recalled that no treatment, neither pharmaceutical nor natural, has so far been proven of its effectiveness against the coronavirus. "You should never buy therapeutic products on unauthorized sites, at the risk of endangering your health," says the ANSM, because the quality and safety of the products sold do not they are not guaranteed, many drugs being falsified or counterfeit.
"If you want to protect yourself from Covid-19, respect the barrier measures. If you think you have symptoms of the disease, contact your doctor" and avoid "self-medication in front of any symptom suggestive of a Covid-19 infection (cough , associated with fever, breathing difficulties, muscle pain, loss of taste and / or smell) ", recommends the ANSM.