# Medicines to protect from Covid-19 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [March 17, 2020, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicines-to-protect-from-covid-19/849651 "2020-03-17T13:35:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2020, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicines-to-protect-from-covid-19/849651/21 "2020-03-18T11:17:19Z")
> [@Ruken](#): > > Also, so that you get the terminology right the next time you’re pretending to science, none of those is a “research paper”. They’re review articles. No experiments were conducted. :rolleyes: Where exactly did I say the papers I linked to were research papers? I _suggested_ that Musicat look up some research papers. Actually review papers are preferable, because they combine and compare the results of a number of research papers. Do you know the difference? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2020, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicines-to-protect-from-covid-19/849651/22 "2020-03-18T11:17:31Z")
[Here](https://covid-19.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202003/16/WS5e6f70d5a31012821727f803.html) is _China Daily_’s article about how [del]pure bullshit[/del] traditional Chinese medicine is helping. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2020, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicines-to-protect-from-covid-19/849651/23 "2020-03-18T11:20:03Z")
Ugh I popped over to get an updated count of clinical trials on curcumin/diferuloylmethane/turmeric and it’s over 200 now. Still no hits. I wonder how much of that is taxpayer-funded ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2020, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicines-to-protect-from-covid-19/849651/24 "2020-03-18T11:21:07Z")
> [@GreenWyvern](#): > > :rolleyes: > > Where exactly did I say the papers I linked to were research papers? I _suggested_ that Musicat look up some research papers. > > Actually review papers are preferable, because they combine and compare the results of a number of research papers. Do you know the difference? So you weren’t suggesting people read your links. I agree. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2020, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicines-to-protect-from-covid-19/849651/25 "2020-03-18T12:33:52Z")
> [@Ruken](#): > > Ugh I popped over to get an updated count of clinical trials on curcumin/diferuloylmethane/turmeric and it’s over 200 now. Still no hits. I wonder how much of that is taxpayer-funded ☹ I’m okay funding trials of the efficacy of traditional medicines. That’s certainly a good place to look for new drugs. (Not the only good place, but one good place.) The fact the curcumin seems pretty harmless even rather large doses makes it seem a less likely candidate, honestly. But there are enough plausible claims for it that I’m glad it’s been tested. The stuff still tastes good. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2020, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicines-to-protect-from-covid-19/849651/26 "2020-03-18T12:36:00Z")
This lists a bunch of drugs being tested against covid-19 > **[UpToDate](https://www.uptodate.com/contents/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19)** > > {{configCtrl2.metaDescription()}} look for “Investigational agents” ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2020, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicines-to-protect-from-covid-19/849651/27 "2020-03-18T13:31:20Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Use of ‘‘traditional remedies’’ i.e. in Chinese medicine [is threatening the survival of many plant and animal species](http://forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2014/08/08/extinction-by-traditional-chinese-medicine-an-environmental-disaster/#7fdd29925bd3). It’s especially tragic seeing the lack of significant evidence for the usefulness of these remedies. Not only that, but pangolins are currently suspected to be the source of the spillover of SARS-CoV-2 to humans. That would mean “traditional Chinese medicine” is the **cause** of this pandemic. (Pangolins are primarily trafficked for use in “traditional Chinese medicine.”) ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicines-to-protect-from-covid-19/849651/28 "2020-03-27T19:03:40Z")
Presuming that Remdesivir is effective, this looks promising - up to the point where it vanishes from the web: > **[Pharmacokinetics of adenosine and cordycepin, a bioactive constituent of...](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20302371/)** > > Cordycepin is a bioactive constituent of Cordyceps sinensis that has been shown to regulate homeostatic function. As an adenosine analogue, it is possible cordycepin goes through a similar metabolic pathway to that of adenosine. To investigate this... > **[Protective roles of Cordyceps on lung fibrosis in cellular and rat models -...](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22796203/)** > > The findings provide an insight into the preventive and therapeutic potentials of Cordyceps for the treatment of lung fibrosis. > **[Cordycepin inhibits LPS-induced acute lung injury by inhibiting inflammation...](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0014299917306787)** > > Acute lung injury (ALI) is a common severe clinical syndrome in intensive care unit. Inflammation has been reported to play a critical role in the dev… [https://www.pnas.org/content/69/12/3820.short](https://www.pnas.org/content/69/12/3820.short) Ask yourself whether there’s someone who could use it more than you, before you go buying. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicines-to-protect-from-covid-19/849651/29 "2020-03-27T19:06:37Z")
> [@GreenWyvern](#): > > Turmeric (with active ingredient curcumin) has antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties, and boosts the immune system. > > [“Spicing up” of the immune system by curcumin.](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17211725) > > [A Review on Antibacterial, Antiviral, and Antifungal Activity of Curcumin](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4022204/) > > [Anti-infective Properties of the Golden Spice Curcumin](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6509173/) > > The active components of turmeric are soluble in oil, and traditionally in India, turmeric is said to be ‘activated’ by brief heating in oil before being used in foods or medicines. [https://www.nature.com/news/deceptive-curcumin-offers-cautionary-tale-for-chemists-1.21269](https://www.nature.com/news/deceptive-curcumin-offers-cautionary-tale-for-chemists-1.21269) ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicines-to-protect-from-covid-19/849651/30 "2020-03-27T19:15:03Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Presuming that Remdesivir is effective, this looks promising - up to the point where it vanishes from the web: > > [Pharmacokinetics of adenosine and cordycepin, a bioactive constituent of Cordyceps sinensis in rat - PubMed](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20302371) > [Protective roles of Cordyceps on lung fibrosis in cellular and rat models - PubMed](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22796203) > [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0014299917306787](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0014299917306787) > [https://www.pnas.org/content/69/12/3820.short](https://www.pnas.org/content/69/12/3820.short) > > Ask yourself whether there’s someone who could use it more than you, before you go buying. If a drug like Remdesivir is found to be effective, I’m assuming/guessing that nations all over the world (India, Brazil, China, etc) with pharmaceutical infrastructure will overrule the patent and make large amounts of it cheaply since we’re in an emergency situation. ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicines-to-protect-from-covid-19/849651/31 "2020-03-27T19:34:09Z")
And for the love of god people, get covid treatments from doctor prescription, not PetSmart! ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicines-to-protect-from-covid-19/849651/32 "2020-03-27T19:50:56Z")
I wanna believe what I wanna believe! Yes, I wanna! There’s a lot of talky-talk in the news about ACE-2 Inhibitors maybe having some beneficial anti-coronavirus effect, and apparently this is under investigation too. (Google it yourself – you’ll find plenty.) It’s a common blood-pressure med. Common examples are losartan (Cozaar) and valsartan (Diovan). Being a long-time user already, I really wanna believe, yes I do! I like M&M’s too. I haven’t actually seen any studies or urban legends on the beneficial anti-coronavirus effects of M&M’s, so I guess I’ll just have to fabricate my own urban legend right here on the spot: I heard (or maybe just dreamed) that M&M’s have been shown to reduce viral loads in coronavirus patients! So hit the grocery stores and stock up while you still can! (Buy some Mars stock too if you still can.) You read it here first! ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicines-to-protect-from-covid-19/849651/33 "2020-03-27T20:33:13Z")
> [@GreenWyvern](#): > > Turmeric (with active ingredient curcumin) has antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties, and boosts the immune system. > [“Spicing up” of the immune system by curcumin.](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17211725) > > [A Review on Antibacterial, Antiviral, and Antifungal Activity of Curcumin](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4022204/) > > [Anti-infective Properties of the Golden Spice Curcumin](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6509173/) > > The active components of turmeric are soluble in oil, and traditionally in India, turmeric is said to be ‘activated’ by brief heating in oil before being used in foods or medicines. OK, I actually DID read the reviews you linked to. But the articles themselves don’t provide information on any of those “numerous studies” that were supposedly performed. One shouldn’t be impressed by claims that are not substantiated. For instance, I could claim that numerous studies have shown that yak milk has antimicrobial properties, but unless I cite those studies, why would you believe me? (And please don’t believe me. I just made that up.) Yes, people in some countries have believed for centuries that turmeric has antimicrobial properties. Yet nobody in the long years since has been able to prove scientifically that it does. The allure of traditional medicine is that people from some romanticized ancient time believed something worked. Sometimes they really were onto something, like the indigenous peoples who found that a willow bark decoction relieved pain. This effect was verified by scientific experiments, and voilá, aspirin. When something can’t be scientifically established, we should disregard it and move on. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicines-to-protect-from-covid-19/849651/34 "2020-03-27T20:39:15Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > …I like M&M’s too. I haven’t actually seen any studies or urban legends on the beneficial anti-coronavirus effects of M&M’s, so I guess I’ll just have to fabricate my own urban legend right here on the spot: I heard (or maybe just dreamed) that M&M’s have been shown to reduce viral loads in coronavirus patients! So hit the grocery stores and stock up while you still can! … Only the green ones work. Pass it on. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicines-to-protect-from-covid-19/849651/35 "2020-03-27T20:47:56Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > If a drug like Remdesivir is found to be effective, I’m assuming/guessing that nations all over the world (India, Brazil, China, etc) with pharmaceutical infrastructure will overrule the patent and make large amounts of it cheaply since we’re in an emergency situation. If you’re dying in the next two weeks, a doctor pulled your respirator, and three months from now we’ll have cheaply available remdesivir, I suspect that you’ll be rather ambivalent about its efficacy. If you’re over 60 and there are some **safe** , OTC things that you can have at the ready, then it’s reasonable to do so. At the worst, you have expensive pee. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicines-to-protect-from-covid-19/849651.md?page=1)