HSA Debunks Claims That Lianhua Qingwen Products Can Treat or Prevent COVID-19

In this day and age when information spread faster than the coronavirus, stopping the spread of misinformation has become as challenging as stopping the spread of the virus.

We now know that ivermectin shouldn’t be used to treat COVID-19, but in recent days, another “miracle product” has surfaced in Telegram chat groups and social media.

In fact,  in one post in the infamous SG COVID La Kopi Telegram chat group, someone even claimed that he or she recovered “from LianHua herbs when hospital pills can’t help.”

Well, both HSA and MOH have come out to debunk these claims.

HSA Debunks Claims That Lianhua Qingwen Products Can Treat or Prevent COVID-19

In a statement released today, HSA said that they’re aware of the claims, and clarified that “some Lianhua Qingwen products are listed as Chinese proprietary medicines (CPMs) in Singapore for the relief of cold and flu symptoms,” and they’ve approved them “based on the documented uses of the ingredients present in the products.”

But for COVID-19?

No.

None of the products are approved by HSA to treat or alleviate symptoms of COVID-19, and so, “such claims are disallowed.”

They added that so far, there is no scientific evidence from randomised clinical trials to show that any herbal product, including Lianhua Qingwen products, can be used to prevent or treat COVID-19.

They said in statement, “We strongly advise members of the public not to fall prey to unsubstantiated claims or spread unfounded rumours that herbal products can be used to prevent or treat COVID-19.

“Dealers and sellers are reminded not to make any false or misleading claims that the products they are selling can prevent, protect against or treat diseases such as COVID-19. Dealers and sellers who make such false or misleading claims in their marketing can be prosecuted and imprisoned for up to 2 years and/or fined up to $5,000.”

MOH concurred, and even made an infographic to educate us about the products:

Ivermectin, The Other Medicine That Is NOT for COVID-19

This sounds like a deja vu because it’s pretty similar to the ivermectin incident.

Back then, there were claims that the prescription-only medicine, which is used for the treatment of parasitic worm infections, could prevent or treat COVID-19.

HSA has to put out a statement on 5 October 2021 to debunk those claims after cases of patients requiring hospitalisation due to self-medication with ivermectin were reported.

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