Turnip effectiveness in curing Covid-19 not scientifically proven

KABUL (Pajhwok): Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) officials reject turnip can treat coronavirus and say the root vegetable has not been recommended by medical experts as a treatment for the virus

Experts believe turnip is effective in improving immunity system of human body but they do not believe it could treat coronavirus.

Propaganda:

A Facebook page — Eqtesad News — published a topic titled ‘turnip a miracle in prevention of coronavirus’ and said vitamin C in turnip plays an effective role during coronavirus pandemic.

It adds “Vitamin C available in turnip is rich antioxidant that helps improve the body immunity system especially during the pandemic.”

Another website — SamanaPasokhgoui — published a topic on ‘Improving body immunity system during coronavirus with turnip’

The topic in its content says turnip is an effective root vegetable and it is effective in a number of diseases due to its rich menials.

In addition, a religious scholar in Iran during a TV show said that turnip extract when mixed with honey is effective in treating coronavirus.

He suggested that cooked turnip should be mixed with honey and it can treat coronavirus and other diseases. This video has been circulating in social media.

A number of Afghans also termed turnip as effective in treating coronavirus and termed it anti-coronavirus medicine.

Zameer, a Kabul resident, said a number of his friends had contracted coronavirus during its third wave but his family members were safe.

He termed the use of vegetable and turnip main reason behind the fact that they did not contract the virus.

Fact Check:

Dr. HakeemullahSaleh, a psychiatrist and neurologist, said that items published on the effectiveness of turnip in the treatment of coronavirus had no scientific evidence.

He added vegetable and fruits were good for immune system but it could not treat the virus.

Referring to the fact that corona is a virus he said fruits and vegetables were effective in improving the body immunity system but could not eradicate the virus.

Dr. HashmatullahFaizi, ICU in charge in the Afghan-Japan Hospital termed the publications on turnip as propaganda and added no scientific inquiry has taken place to prove this claim.

He also termed vegetables and fruits as generally beneficial and added no research has taken place in this regard.

According to medical experts, medicine or vaccine could not be declared safe or effective for treatment until it gets approval from the World Health Organisation.

Dr. MirwaisAlizzai, assistant spokesperson for MoPH, said no medical institution has referred turnip as effective in the prevention of coronavirus and it has no scientific bases. He added such publications are merely propaganda.

Outcome: Some social media activists talk about the effectiveness of turnip in treating coronavirus at a time when medical experts downplay this assertion and reject the claim that turnip is effective in treating and preventing coronavirus.

Verdict: Turnip effectiveness in treating coronavirus is a false assertion

“This Investigative Report was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of Pajhwok and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.”

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