Anti-Narcotics Headquarters Confirms Presence of Opium in ‘Herbal Anti-Corona Syrup’

The herbal syrup “Allerguard” which was advertised by Iranian state radio and television has faced criticism due to the use of opium in its composition.

Reza Tavaserkanmanesh, director general of treatment at the anti-narcotics headquarters, on Monday, the sixth of Farvardin, in response to these criticisms, said that the Food and Drug Organization claimed that the amount of opium in this syrup is highly diluted and can manage some coronavirus symptoms such as cough and pain.

Minou Mohraz, member of the scientific committee of the coronavirus control headquarters, previously on the 30th of Farvardin denied the effect of opium extract on coronavirus treatment and said that “it has not been proven in the world that narcotics and cigarettes prevent coronavirus infection”.

Ms. Mohraz also said that some are merely spreading such rumors to increase sales of these substances.

Allerguard syrup, which obtained permission from the Food and Drug Organization in December 2020 to produce 25,000 units per day, according to the manufacturers’ claim has helped treat up to 99 percent of coronavirus patients.

Kianosh Jahanpour, spokesman for Iran’s Food and Drug Organization, announced in November 2020 the “issuance of production licenses for four herbal medicines” for auxiliary coronavirus treatment.

Mr. Jahanpour also stated that advertising these medicines, like any other medicine, is prohibited and their names cannot be announced in the media.

The news of approval of herbal medicines for coronavirus treatment by the Ministry of Health had been raised by the spokesman of the Food and Drug Organization at a time when he himself had previously repeatedly characterized traditional medicine recommendations for coronavirus treatment as instances of “fraud”.