Traditional Namibian healers claim elephant dung treats COVID-19

Namibian Health Minister Kalumbi Shangula warned residents not to be misled by claims that elephant dung can cure COVID-19. This comes after posts were seen on social media of traditional healers selling elephant dung as a treatment for the virus.

People’s use of natural remedies are highly respected in Namibia according to the Environment ministry’s spokesman Romeo Muyunda but residents were urged not to engage in illegal activities to collect elephant dung which is used traditionally as medicine elsewhere in the country.

Collecting dung outside national parks is not restricted but people were urged to do so cautiously as those trespassing in national parks would be prosecuted.

Elephant dung has been used in traditional medicine to treat headaches, toothaches and sinus. According to The Namibian, a cashier at a local market that sells dung for medicinal purposes said it usually sells for about N$20 (R20). Recently, however, the retail price has gone up to about N$100 (R100) per piece.

People are selling elephant dung at exorbitant prices on social media. There is a whole hype around it. Before the hype, it wasn't even sold. It was used domestically by people for certain illnesses as one of those traditional medicines. If it was sold, it was rare and cheap.

Elephants are herbivores, and their dung is said to have medicinal properties because of the combination of herbs, seeds and plant matter they consume.

The country currently has 4,464 confirmed cases, 37 deaths and 2,407 recoveries as reported on August 19.

Image credit: Twitter/DiazChrisAfrica