Ginger, Lemon and Honey Don’t Cure Covid-19, Health Ministry Warns Kenyans

Kenya’s Health Ministry has dismissed claims that a concoction of ginger, lemon, and honey cures and prevents the Covid-19 disease.

The ministry’s director-general Dr. Patrick Amoth clarified that while the concoction boots one’s immunity, it does not treat Covid-19.

“Ginger, lemon and honey are good because they are sources of vitamins and micronutrients, but the message to take home today is that there is still no cure for COVID-19,” Dr. Amoth said.

He added: “I will not stop you from taking your ginger honey or lemon as many times as you want but for sure it’s not a treatment for COVID-19.”

Amoth spoke in the wake of speculations among Kenyans that a mixture of the three helps Covid-19 patients to recover quickly and can, to some extent, shield one from catching the virus.

The rumors led to a sudden spike in the prices of lemon and ginger in the market. Citizen TV reported that traders in Nairobi have raised the price of lemon from Sh5 to Sh20.

“Kitambo tulikua tunauza moja shillingi tano lakini sahii tunauza moja shillingi ishirini,” Mary Wairimu, a trader said.

Hotels also registered a high demand of Chai Dawa—a mixture of hot water, lemon, ginger, and honey.