Isolated North Korea trying to fight Covid-19 with hot ginger tea and salt water

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Cut off from the rest of the world, North Korea is trying to fight the spread of Covid-19 with hot ginger tea, a willow-leaf drink and salt water which are traditional remedies for sore throats and coughs, according to a BBC report. </p>
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The country does not have access to effective anti-viral drugs even as coronavirus infections are spreading fast in an unvaccinated population.</p>
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In early 2020 with the first outbreak of Covid-19, North Korea had sealed its borders in order to insulate itself from the pandemic. Its leadership has so far rejected outside medical support from China and South Korea.</p>
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North Korea’s state media has recommended traditional treatments to deal with what is referred to as "fever".  For those not seriously ill, ruling-party newspaper Rodong Simnun recommended remedies including ginger or honeysuckle tea and a willow-leaf drink, the BBC report states.</p>
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Hot drinks might soothe some Covid symptoms, such as a sore throat or cough, and help hydration when patients are losing more fluid than normal.</p>
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Ginger and willow leaf also relieve inflammation and reduce pain.</p>
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But they are not a treatment for the virus which enters the organs of the human system which go far beyond the nose and throat, according to doctors.</p>
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According to the BBC report, North Korea’s State media recently interviewed a couple who recommended gargling with salt water morning and night. A "thousand of tonnes of salt" had been sent to Pyongyang to make an "antiseptic solution", the state news agency reported.</p>
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However, a saline solution cannot slow the spread of Covid.</p>
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North Korea has very limited modern health facilities which are confined to large cities but these, too, are languishing due to lack of resources.</p>
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State television has also advised patients to use painkillers such as ibuprofen as well as amoxicillin and other antibiotics.</p>
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However, while Ibuprofen can bring down temperature and ease symptoms such as headache or sore throat it cannot clear the virus or prevent it from spreading.</p>
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Besides, antibiotics are meant for bacterial infections not viruses and are, therefore, not recommended by doctors.</p>
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<strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/world-news/watch-north-korea-s-kim-jong-un-lookalike-gate-crashes-into-australian-pm-s-meeting-venue-170709.html">WATCH: North Korea’s Kim Jong Un lookalike gate crashes into Australian PM’s meeting venue</a></strong></p>