ArticleSaudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society2021
Prevalence of using herbs and natural products as a protective measure during the COVID-19 pandemic among the Saudi population: an online cross-sectional survey.
Article in Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 30 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
30 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Attitudes and beliefs regarding the use of herbs and supplementary medications with COVID-19: A systematic review.Research in social & administrative pharmacy : RSAP · 2023Pooled it
- Use of Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Frontiers in medicine · 2022Pooled it
- Trends in prevalence and associations of complementary and alternative medicine use in Norway 2012-2024: Insights from seven biennial cross-sectional studies.BMC complementary medicine and therapies · 2025Article
- Prevalence of self-medication with vitamin or mineral supplements in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC nutrition · 2025Article
- Prevalence, patterns, drivers, and perceived benefits of herbal medicine use in COVID-19 patients in Qatar.Journal of pharmaceutical policy and practice · 2025Article
- Manuscript Title: Regulatory and Implications of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Use for Infection Prevention: Insights From the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries.Risk management and healthcare policy · 2025Article
- Molecularly Imprinted Microspheres in Active Compound Separation from Natural Product.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Review
- Identification of Flavonoids, Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Activity of Aqueous Infusions ofFood technology and biotechnology · 2024Article
- Regional Agriculture and Food Systems Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Case of the Near East and North Africa Region.Foods (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Review
- Yield and Composition of the Essential Oil ofPlants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Perception, knowledge, and consumption pattern of dietary supplement used during COVID-19 pandemic among black Africans: Perspective of Nigerians.Dialogues in health · 2023Article
- Usage of Natural Health Products (NHPs) for respiratory diseases: user characteristics and NHP-Consumption behavior during the Covid-19 pandemic in Germany.BMC complementary medicine and therapies · 2023Article
- Dietary supplements used by otolaryngology patients in Turkey during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional survey.European journal of integrative medicine · 2023Article
- Complementary and alternative medicine use during the COVID-19 pandemic: Community pharmacists' knowledge, attitudes, and practices.Research in social & administrative pharmacy : RSAP · 2023Article
- Dietary Supplement Consumption and Mental Health in Indonesian Adults During Second Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic.Patient preference and adherence · 2023Article
- Prospect of herbal medication as prevention against COVID variants.Journal of King Saud University. Science · 2023Article
- Use of Edible, Medicinal, and Aromatic Plants in Various Health Disorders: A Cross-Sectional Evaluation among Inhabitants in the Area of Thrace, North-Eastern Greece.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- Prevalence and associated factors of complementary and integrative medicine use in patients afflicted with COVID-19.BMC complementary medicine and therapies · 2022Article
- Safety and use of complementary and alternative medicine in Norway during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic using an adapted version of the I-CAM-Q; a cross-sectional survey.BMC complementary medicine and therapies · 2022Article
- Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) interventions for COVID-19: An overview of systematic reviews.Integrative medicine research · 2022Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Considering that no food or supplement has been authorised to prevent COVID-19, individuals continue to search for and consume specific herbs, foods and commercial supplements for this purpose. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of using such alternatives, determine their usage reasons and evaluate their potential side effects. An online cross-sectional survey of 1,054 participants was conducted from 1 May to 31 July 2020 and focused on respondents' chronic disease histories, socio-demographic characteristics and frequency and trends of using these products. Descriptive and univariate analyses were performed to determine prevalence and associations between various products used and respondents' socio-demographic data. Relationships were tested using Pearson's chi-square test or an exact probability test. The use of herbs and natural products merely because of the COVID-19 pandemic was significantly increased (p=0.036) among Saudi populations. The products included honey (84%), black seeds (63%), lemon (54%) and ginger (41%). Furthermore, the distribution of using herbs and natural products was not linked with any socio-demographic factors other than age. Among the population, 69.30% were aware that herbs can improve their immunity but will not protect them from COVID-19. Finally, the current study highlights the undesirable side effects associated with using herbs and natural products in patients with chronic disease and recommends future research to assess the undesirable effects of using herbs in patients with diabetes with a control group.
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