Page 84 - IJPS-11-5

International Journal of
Population Studies Therapeutic resilience during COVID-19

been shown to standardize plasma levels (Shahbaz et al., management of COVID-19. Such recognition is important
2022). since these treatments must adhere to recognized safety
According to a claim on social media, American standards (Chaachouay et al., 2021).
novelist Dean Koontz foresaw the COVID-19 pandemic During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic,
in his 1981 book The Eyes of Darkness. As of February traditional Chinese medicine was extensively employed
27, 2020, tweets with the book cover and the page where in hospitals across China, either as a standalone treatment
Koontz discusses the virus had at least 39,000 shares and or in conjunction with modern medical approaches.
at least 2,000 retweets. Despite its dissemination, the claim This approach demonstrated significant efficacy in
that the virus was created in a laboratory was false. Instead, alleviating certain symptoms (Hong-Zhi et al., 2020).
a Wuhan food market, where animals were being illegally The efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine in managing
sold, was where the infection is said to have started. Health the 2003 SARS outbreak underscored its importance
professionals also believe that it may have originated (Lee et al., 2012; Leung, 2006). Meanwhile, given the
in bats before moving on to people, most likely through genetic similarities between the viruses responsible
another species (Hossain, 2021). for SARS and COVID-19, it has been suggested that
Amidst the proliferation of misinformation on social herbal remedies effective against SARS may also offer
media platforms, a self-assessment tool for COVID-19 advantages in the treatment of COVID-19 (Akhtar et
emerged on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and WhatsApp. al., 2022). This resulted in a comprehensive assessment
Specifically, there was a widely shared Facebook post- of public views on the antiviral characteristics of plants.
suggesting that individuals can assess their daily COVID- In Pakistan, these cultural customs and beliefs played
19 status by attempting to hold their breath for duration a key role in shaping individual responses to the crisis.
of 10 s. Completing the task without encountering any In fact, a considerable proportion of the participants
sensations of discomfort, stiffness, tightness, coughing, reported a heightened sense of security when utilizing
or similar symptoms supposedly indicated the absence of natural treatments and home remedies, in the absence
COVID-19. of approved medications.
However, despite extensive research on this subject, In Faisalabad, as in many areas of Pakistan, many
the definition of misinformation remains a complex and people have depended on established practices such as
enigmatic concept. For example, Vraga et al. (2020) simply herbal remedies and cooperative support networks. This
defined the term “misinformation” as information that, study demonstrated that these practices were not merely
based on the best available evidence from relevant experts, supplementary, but crucial to the manner in how the local
is considered incorrect, while Del Vicario et al. (2016) stated population navigated the pandemic. This cultural response,
that the alignment of misinformation with an individual’s rooted in historical resilience, provided both physical
belief system and societal norms significantly influences and psychological relief, especially in a region with such
the willingness to accept such misinformation. Meanwhile, a constrained healthcare infrastructure. Table 2 outlines
the widespread use of social media in recent years has the various home remedies employed in Faisalabad,
greatly amplified the prevalence of misinformation on emphasizing the considerable impact of cultural practices
various health topics (Chou et al., 2018). Interestingly, on the local response to COVID-19.
such misinformation has been shown to increase feelings Globally, numerous recommendations have surfaced
of anxiety and stress (Zarocostas, 2020). In Pakistan, there promoting the implementation of home treatments to
was a notable increase in the online search for “cures address viral infections, especially in the context of the
and home remedies,” due to the prevailing anxiety and COVID-19 pandemic. Such apprehension regarding the
confusion. virus has led to a significant increase in information on
prevention strategies, prompting many individuals to
3.2. Local home-based preventive and therapeutic explore traditional remedies. In Asia and Africa, various
approaches formulations have been documented as preventive
As alternative therapies, many developing countries measures against COVID-19 (Adebiyi et al., 2022; Sadio
continue to depend on traditional medicine, while et al., 2021), while in nations, such as Bangladesh,
developed nations are increasingly focusing on plant-based Pakistan, and India, the utilization of hot water, herbal
herbal formulations for safe medical applications (Garcia, juices, decoctions (including kadha), and steam inhalation
2020). In this regard, the World Health Organization has become prevalent (Azam et al., 2020; Singh et al., 2021).
(WHO) has recognized (and endorsed) the use of Drinks rich in Vitamin C, combined with ginger, garlic,
complementary, alternative, and traditional medicine in the and lemon, have also been recognized as effective remedies

Volume 11 Issue 5 (2025) 78 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.4109