Fact check: Is Ayush Ministry's remedy for Coronavirus true?

Hyderabad, Feb 2: Corona Virus outbreak has killed at least 294 people and infected close to 14,000 people worldwide. To make matters worse, false news are going viral on social media creating panic among many. Even though doctors have made it clear that there are no perfect medicines to cure and advice that maintaining personal hygiene is a way to avoid contact with this disease, many people are curious to find about alternative medicine like homeopathy and ayurveda.

In this scenario, a message is going viral claiming that there is a cure in homeopathy, which acts an anti-dote to Corona virus.

Some also claim that the Ministry of AYUSH has officially announced Arsenic Album 30 as a 'preventive medicine'.

This message is also going viral in Whatsapp. It states that to successfully prevent corona virus, we need to take Arsenic album-30 early morning for three days. This is as per instructions of Ministry of AYUSH. Please forward the message.

Fact Check:

According to Wikipedia, Arsenic Album is a solution prepared by diluting aqueous arsenic trioxide generally until there is little or no arsenic remaining in the solution. It is used by homeopaths in an attempt to treat a range of symptoms that include digestive disorders and, as an application of the pseudoscientific Law of Similars, has been suggested by homeopaths as a treatment for arsenic poisoning.

Since the arsenic oxide in homeopathic preparation is normally non-existent, it is considered safe, although cases of arsenic poisoning from poorly prepared homeopathic treatments sold in India have been reported.

On January 29, the Research Councils under the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India issued advisory to prevent Corona Virus based on the Indian traditional medicine practices like ayurveda, homeopathy and unani.

The advisory mentions many ayurvedic, unani and homeopathic concoctions that can prevent Corona virus and NOT cure the infection. In the advisory, AYUSH suggested that homoeopathy medicine Arsenicum album30 could be taken as prophylactic medicine against Coronavirus infections, which has also been advised for prevention of the virus. It has recommended one doze of Arsenicum album 30, daily on an empty stomach for three days. The dose should be repeated after one month by following the same schedule in case Coronavirus infections prevail in the community.

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1600895#

Ministry of AYUSH is facing criticism for these advices, as there are research evidences that these medicines can prevent the viral infection. Many have taken to twitter to criticize the Ministry for spreading Fake claims about alternative medicine.

Therefore, though the claim that the Ministry has released an advisory is TRUE, the claim that Arsenic Album prevents corona virus infection is NOT proven. There is No published research that endorses the medicine's efficacy.