VCO, lagundi, tawa-tawa no substitute for COVID-19 vaccines - experts

Jasmin Romero, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Pasig residents are vaccinated against COVID-19 during the Pasig edition of the Office of the Vice President’s Vaccine Express initiative at the Manggahan High School on Aug. 21, 2021. Charlie Villegas, OVP" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/news/08/23/20210821-covid-vaccine-express-pasig-ovp-1630.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>Pasig residents are vaccinated against COVID-19 during the Pasig edition of the Office of the Vice President’s Vaccine Express initiative at the Manggahan High School on Aug. 21, 2021. <em>Charlie Villegas, OVP</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — Despite the noted health benefits of virgin coconut oil, tawa-tawa and lagundi, these are still &quot;no substitute&quot; for COVID-19 vaccines, according to scientists doing in-depth studies on the efficacy of the organic products against the respiratory disease.</p><p>“Lagundi will not replace your vaccination. Please lang, do not use it to prevent COVID-19 and say &#x27;di na ako magpapabakuna (I will not get the vaccine),” Dr. Cecilia Maramba-Lazarte, UP Manila’s Director for the Institute of Herbal Medicine, said in an online forum.</p><p>Other scientists—Dr. Imelda Angeles-Agdeppa, director of Department of Science and Technology–Food and Nutrition Research Institute, and Dr. Philip Ian Padilla, UP Visayas Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs—also made the same call.</p><p>Agdeppa and Padilla are conducting studies on VCO and tawa-tawa, respectively.</p><p>“Whether tawa-tawa is going to be effective or that significant for COVID-19, I still cannot say. We have to wait for the data we are crunching right now,” Padilla said.</p><p>Agdeppa emphasized that the public should consult their doctors before using VCO.</p><p>“I still cannot recommend it because if you have history of other illness, you still need the advise of your doctor,” she said in a mix of Filipino and English.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/23/21/dost-lagundi-effective-in-easing-covid-19-symptoms">DOST: Lagundi, tawa-tawa effective in easing COVID-19 symptoms</a></li></ul><p>Based on the latest results of their studies, it was concluded that lagundi “can be safely used for the symptomatic treatment of mild COVID” disease.</p><p>Meanwhile, VCO could be used as an adjunct supplement for suspect and probable cases of COVID 19.</p><p>Data on tawa-tawa research is still being analyzed.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/26/21/vco-lagundi-help-mild-covid-patients-dost-study">VCO, lagundi help mild COVID-19 patients: DOST study</a></li></ul><p>To date, the Philippines has fully immunized more than 32.2 million people or 41.76 percent of the government&#x27;s target.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/multimedia/infographic/03/23/21/philippines-covid-19-vaccine-tracker">Philippines: COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker</a></li></ul><div><strong>[BOLD] RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1815823" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

Despite the noted health benefits of virgin coconut oil, tawa-tawa and lagundi, these are still 'no substitute' for COVID-19 vaccines, according to scientists.

VCO, lagundi, tawa-tawa no substitute for COVID-19 vaccines - experts | ABS-CBN

Halalan 2025

Entertainment

News

Metro.Style

Sports

More

Traffic

Horoscope

News

VCO, lagundi, tawa-tawa no substitute for COVID-19 vaccines - experts

VCO, lagundi, tawa-tawa no substitute for COVID-19 vaccines - experts

Jasmin Romero,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 17, 2021 03:33 PM PHT

Read More:

VCO

lagundi

tawa-tawa

COVID-19 vaccines

COVID-19

COVID19

coronavirus

Dr. Cecilia Maramba-Lazarte

Dr. Imelda Angeles-Agdeppa

Dr. Philip Ian Padilla

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.