Marijuana, Horse Dewormer, and Earthworm Extract as Treatments for Post-COVID Symptoms?

WP Introduces Cases Relying on Alternative Treatments for 'Long COVID' Sufferers
“Warns of Unproven Medical Effects and Potential Risks”

Anthelmintic Ivermectin. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] Blood cleansing, stem cell therapy, nerve block injections, marijuana, horse dewormer, and earthworm extract... Some of these treatments are so unfamiliar that they even provoke aversion, yet all claim to cure a single condition: post-COVID-19 syndrome.

On the 25th (local time), the Washington Post (WP) in the United States reported various cases of people suffering long-term from post-COVID-19 syndrome who, in desperation, have turned to unverified and unusual alternative medical treatments as a last resort.

Donna Davis Donegi (62, female), an accountant living in Kentucky, has been experiencing headaches since contracting COVID-19 in November 2020. She shared her experience, saying, "I tried various treatments that anyone in my situation could try," including acupuncture, Botox, nerve block injections, and vitamin infusions.

Robert Harris (48), a veteran residing in Texas, has spent $25,000 (about 33.45 million KRW) on treatments for post-COVID-19 migraine, ranging from over-the-counter supplements to the horse dewormer ivermectin and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. He expressed frustration, saying, "I don't know what research is underway or which treatments have been approved."

15 Million Adults in the U.S. Report Long COVID Symptoms

In the United States, the number of adults complaining of prolonged post-COVID-19 symptoms, known as "Long COVID," has reached 15 million. According to data released this summer by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 15% of the U.S. population experienced symptoms lasting more than three months after COVID-19 infection or suffered from post-COVID-19 syndrome. WP noted, "This means an opportunity to generate profit for some," adding, "Patients eager to quickly eliminate their symptoms are turning to unproven treatments, exposing themselves to potential health risks, shattered hopes, and emptied wallets."

In particular, some patients, as their symptoms persist, have resorted to risky behaviors such as seeking treatment information through social media or the internet and self-diagnosing to purchase medications.

Molly Gordon (69, female), a business coach living in Washington State, self-diagnosed her post-COVID-19 symptoms as "mast cell activation syndrome," which resembles an allergic reaction. Gordon spends $500 (about 670,000 KRW) monthly from her retirement funds on marijuana and supplements. Laura Wright (45, female), a reflexologist from the UK, has suffered from severe fatigue since contracting COVID-19 a year ago. She joined Twitter to gather information from fellow patients worldwide. The treatments she has tried include hyperbaric oxygen therapy, garlic, hawthorn, vitamin B12 and magnesium supplements, and eventually earthworm extract. Wright believes earthworm extract helps the circulatory system; a bottle of 30 capsules costs $55 (about 74,000 KRW). She said, "If it allows me to work again, it will be worth it."

Other popular treatments among Long COVID patients include taking the Indian-made supplement Vedishnal-9, time- and money-intensive blood cleansing in Cyprus, and $25,000 (about 33.5 million KRW) stem cell therapy in the Cayman Islands of the Caribbean.

WP pointed out that while some promote the horse dewormer ivermectin as a "miracle drug," actual evidence shows no effect. It suggested that these alternative therapies might simply be a "placebo effect" rather than real treatments. Yale University professor Harlan Krumholtz emphasized in an interview with WP, "We must protect patients from scammers," and stressed, "We must resist the temptation to choose tests and treatments without sufficient evidence to justify their use."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.