Study of scientific and ethical aspects of covid-19 treatment and prevention recommendations with the name of natural remedies, traditional medicine and Islamic medicine in cyberspace and national media

The management of a novel coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) is a global health issue nowadays. The use of unproven natural products is on the rise in the Iranian population due to mass media advertising. This review aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of some prevalent natural products/procedure suggestions for COVID-19 management in Iran.

The scientific motor engines such as Google Scholar, Science-Direct, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, and the using mass media by Iranian were searched by the keywords. Among the large amount of data, those linked to the aim of study are collected and discussed.

Among the natural products/procedure suggestions in preventing or treating COVID-19, Ginger, Imam Kazem’s drug, Baking Soda inhalation, Salt instead of using the mask, natural disinfectants, and apitherapy were the most prevalent in Iran. However, these products/procedures were over-advertised in Iranian mass media; most of them are not recommended in Persian medicine references or proved in new studies. Medical ethics possess a valuable place in Traditional Persian medicine, and the administration of unknown agents, without any reliable documented data, has repeatedly been forbidden by the ancient Persian physicians. According to Medical Ethics Regulations of the Medical System Organization, the medical prescription by non-physicians or medical prescription outside of approved protocols are forbidden. Ethical Considerations: In compiling this study, the principle of fidelity and honesty of quoting the used texts and avoidance of personal inference from analysis have been observed.

Based on the results, many natural products/procedures were over advertised in Iranian mass media are without reliable data for COVID-19 management. In addition, intentional neglect of natural or traditional treatments with some scientific evidence by the authorities can have a moral burden.