Exploring the efficacy of herbal medicine in the treatment and prevention of COVID-19: a study on the Sudanese population in Khartoum state

Herbal medication has a long history of use in Sudan for various illnesses. The Corona-19 virus (COVID-19), a disease that affects the respiratory system, is the cause of the most recent global pandemic. Since there is no cure, some individuals in the Sudanese population have chosen to use herbal medication to prevent and treat symptoms of COVID-19. This study aims to assess the use of herbal medications among the Sudanese population in Khartoum for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. A descriptive, community-based, cross-sectional online survey was conducted on Sudanese adults over the age of 18 from June 2021 to August 2021. A total of 1012 participants from seven different localities in the state of Khartoum were included. Of the participants, 66.4% were female and 33.6% were male. Among them, 53.8% admitted to using herbal medication to prevent COVID-19. The most commonly used herbal medications for COVID-19 symptoms were Quarad (22.4%), Citrus (20.1%), Ginger (15.7%), and Black seed (11.7%). The majority of participants who contracted COVID-19 believed that herbal medication helped with the symptoms (68.4%), followed by those who thought it might have helped (28.4%). Family and friends were the main sources of knowledge about herbs. A significant association was found between the use of herbal medication and the female gender and middle-aged groups. Herbal medication was commonly used in Khartoum during the pandemic.Health authorities should consider the effectiveness of herbal medication in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.