1 00:00:01,966 --> 00:00:04,416 We all know how we will eat can affect how we feel, 2 00:00:04,416 --> 00:00:06,277 and that can mean pretty booming business 3 00:00:06,277 --> 00:00:08,449 for food that sells itself as a cure. 4 00:00:08,449 --> 00:00:10,841 I'm talking about herbal remedies. 5 00:00:10,841 --> 00:00:13,255 They were already a massive trend in the wellness world 6 00:00:13,255 --> 00:00:15,182 before we learned about COVID-19, 7 00:00:15,182 --> 00:00:18,399 and now, they're expected to bring in even more business. 8 00:00:18,399 --> 00:00:20,936 In Venezuela, conventional medicine is in short supply, 9 00:00:20,936 --> 00:00:22,263 and with no other options, 10 00:00:22,263 --> 00:00:23,899 people are turning to their roots. 11 00:00:25,364 --> 00:00:27,927 SELF CURING 12 00:00:29,450 --> 00:00:31,077 (Dina) What do you have? 13 00:00:31,780 --> 00:00:33,263 Do you have a hernia? 14 00:00:33,443 --> 00:00:35,201 Take the bellyache bush. 15 00:00:36,264 --> 00:00:37,719 - Is it real? - Of course. 16 00:00:37,719 --> 00:00:41,288 It contains pepperwort, field horsetail, crested dog's tail and dandelions. 17 00:00:42,049 --> 00:00:45,716 The coronavirus has infected more than 100,000 people in Venezuela 18 00:00:45,716 --> 00:00:48,946 and sent the country deeper into an already dire economic crisis. 19 00:00:50,456 --> 00:00:53,432 But for Dina Santos, business has never been better. 20 00:00:53,812 --> 00:00:58,506 (Dina) Every medication in a drugstore comes from medicinal plants. 21 00:00:58,831 --> 00:01:01,618 There are antibiotics, anesthetics, anti-inflammatories. 22 00:01:01,884 --> 00:01:04,339 Every plant has its own properties. 23 00:01:04,834 --> 00:01:06,716 The Lord works in mysterious ways. 24 00:01:06,716 --> 00:01:09,167 Everything happens for a reason. 25 00:01:09,167 --> 00:01:12,439 Fortunately for me, COVID-19 has meant 26 00:01:12,439 --> 00:01:15,050 huge growth for my business, thank God. 27 00:01:16,105 --> 00:01:17,451 Venezuela's hospitals, 28 00:01:17,451 --> 00:01:20,831 which were among the best in Latin America only a few years ago, 29 00:01:20,831 --> 00:01:23,572 now frequently operate without power or running water. 30 00:01:24,301 --> 00:01:27,275 Patients bring gloves and narcotics to their own surgery. 31 00:01:28,536 --> 00:01:31,058 Now, those who stayed are trying to survive a pandemic 32 00:01:31,058 --> 00:01:33,193 in a country that offers seven hospital beds 33 00:01:33,193 --> 00:01:34,971 for every 10,000 people. 34 00:01:35,398 --> 00:01:37,977 If someone calls me 35 00:01:37,977 --> 00:01:40,637 and they have COVID symptoms, 36 00:01:41,087 --> 00:01:44,267 I recommend they take an anti-cold plant package. 37 00:01:44,614 --> 00:01:48,139 And I'd advise them to drink lots of lemon juice. 38 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:51,974 Miracle remedies and COVID cures have been sold across the world 39 00:01:51,974 --> 00:01:53,868 even against expert's recommendations. 40 00:01:54,553 --> 00:01:57,249 In Venezuela, they were endorsed from the highest level. 41 00:01:57,875 --> 00:02:00,765 I'm going to share with you this tea, 42 00:02:02,057 --> 00:02:04,289 that is delicious, 43 00:02:04,289 --> 00:02:05,763 natural, 44 00:02:05,763 --> 00:02:06,857 blessed, 45 00:02:08,865 --> 00:02:10,340 and good for everything. 46 00:02:11,110 --> 00:02:12,174 Delicious. 47 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:13,971 With your permission. 48 00:02:17,693 --> 00:02:21,669 Twitter quickly removed Maduro's video for presenting unproven information, 49 00:02:21,669 --> 00:02:24,221 but the address had already aired on state TV, 50 00:02:24,221 --> 00:02:26,737 which is the only news source for many Venezuelans. 51 00:02:27,067 --> 00:02:32,148 (Dina) After [Maduro] started telling people to drink natural teas, 52 00:02:32,148 --> 00:02:35,299 people began flooding my stand looking for these plants. 53 00:02:35,299 --> 00:02:38,770 He must know that medicinal plants are as natural a cure as there is. 54 00:02:41,575 --> 00:02:42,930 We're done for today. 55 00:02:43,999 --> 00:02:47,097 It wasn't just the people followed the president blindly. 56 00:02:47,097 --> 00:02:49,884 For many, natural medicine was the only accessible option, 57 00:02:50,567 --> 00:02:53,700 and all that demand drove the price of certain fruits way up. 58 00:02:54,291 --> 00:02:56,336 (Ricardo) There are more than 2 kilos here. 59 00:02:56,336 --> 00:02:58,791 Diana, write down just $2 million [VEF], okay? 60 00:02:59,370 --> 00:03:03,321 Ricardo Heredia is a vendor in one of Caracas' most upscale markets. 61 00:03:03,321 --> 00:03:08,215 (Ricardo) I sell all kinds of fruit, both local and imported produce. 62 00:03:08,215 --> 00:03:12,379 Now, with the pandemic, 63 00:03:12,379 --> 00:03:16,826 people buy only the necessary. 64 00:03:17,187 --> 00:03:22,745 Fruits with medicinal benefits are always the first pick. 65 00:03:22,745 --> 00:03:24,439 The price of lemons has tripled 66 00:03:24,439 --> 00:03:26,532 and citrus fruits have become a top seller 67 00:03:26,532 --> 00:03:28,971 since vitamin C boosts the immune system. 68 00:03:28,971 --> 00:03:30,780 But against doctor's recommendations, 69 00:03:30,780 --> 00:03:32,773 Heredia believes it can do a lot more. 70 00:03:32,773 --> 00:03:36,800 (Ricardo) As a Venezuelan, I believe firmly in traditional medicine. 71 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:38,785 Coronavirus first stays in your throat 72 00:03:38,785 --> 00:03:42,752 and you have fifteen days to flush it. 73 00:03:42,752 --> 00:03:47,135 You can flush it with things like warm water or lemon tea. 74 00:03:48,084 --> 00:03:50,256 And when you flush it, you become immune. 75 00:03:54,243 --> 00:03:57,820 (Juliet) Sit down Jesky, I'm gonna tidy up the room. 76 00:03:58,259 --> 00:04:01,084 Gotta have everything nice and tidy. 77 00:04:01,715 --> 00:04:05,577 The spike in prices has made it harder for people like Juliet Rodriguez, 78 00:04:05,577 --> 00:04:07,236 a housekeeper who earn so little 79 00:04:07,236 --> 00:04:10,398 that her clients pay her in flour, rice, and pasta. 80 00:04:10,398 --> 00:04:12,898 And since March, Rodriguez has been out of a job 81 00:04:12,898 --> 00:04:15,843 because those same clients chose to maintain social distance. 82 00:04:17,234 --> 00:04:21,089 I live with my husband, four kids, and a baby on the way. 83 00:04:21,622 --> 00:04:28,898 Even though during this time, I haven't gone to the doctor. 84 00:04:30,759 --> 00:04:31,822 I'm exhausted. 85 00:04:32,072 --> 00:04:34,947 Rodriguez began to feel symptoms early in the quarantine. 86 00:04:35,806 --> 00:04:40,512 People say it's very risky to have COVID if you're pregnant, 87 00:04:40,922 --> 00:04:46,736 I was scared to infect my baby, my other kids, and my husband. 88 00:04:46,736 --> 00:04:48,474 Oh, God, protect me. 89 00:04:48,774 --> 00:04:51,441 I was very scared 90 00:04:51,441 --> 00:04:55,725 because we share our silverware everyday. 91 00:04:56,465 --> 00:05:01,115 I was scared to kiss my kids, 92 00:05:01,115 --> 00:05:02,672 it was just fear. 93 00:05:03,835 --> 00:05:07,534 We don't have the money to buy medicines, 94 00:05:07,534 --> 00:05:08,988 we worry a lot. 95 00:05:08,988 --> 00:05:12,253 Because I have to buy food, 96 00:05:12,253 --> 00:05:13,904 so I can't buy medicine. 97 00:05:15,754 --> 00:05:19,085 Rodriguez turned to guarapo, a tea her mother taught her to make. 98 00:05:20,120 --> 00:05:24,220 (Juliet) Remember when you used to prepare guarapo for us, mom? 99 00:05:24,220 --> 00:05:25,581 What kind of guarapo was it? 100 00:05:25,581 --> 00:05:28,277 (Juliet's mom) Lemongrass, lemon balm, 101 00:05:28,277 --> 00:05:33,385 mint, Indian borage. 102 00:05:34,014 --> 00:05:35,395 - All of that? - Yeah. 103 00:05:35,940 --> 00:05:38,318 (Juliet's mom) It's being used now to fight COVID. 104 00:05:38,318 --> 00:05:39,696 (Juliet) Just guarapo, right? 105 00:05:40,566 --> 00:05:42,173 (Juliet's mom) Yeah, for COVID. 106 00:05:42,958 --> 00:05:46,518 (Juliet) People drink a lot more guarapo than swallow pills. 107 00:05:47,436 --> 00:05:51,354 People are always looking for these alternatives. 108 00:05:51,354 --> 00:05:54,303 You know, traditional medicine, 109 00:05:54,303 --> 00:05:57,486 because people can't afford medication. 110 00:06:02,699 --> 00:06:05,384 When Santos got sick she didn't go to the hospital. 111 00:06:05,684 --> 00:06:07,798 She relied even more on her plants. 112 00:06:08,077 --> 00:06:11,322 (Dina) I took it easy, I made my teas. 113 00:06:11,531 --> 00:06:13,909 I drank a lot of hot lemonade, 114 00:06:13,909 --> 00:06:15,785 lemongrass with honey and mint, 115 00:06:15,785 --> 00:06:17,507 bretonica and purple basil. 116 00:06:17,697 --> 00:06:20,446 And those symptoms only lasted a week. 117 00:06:22,678 --> 00:06:27,351 Scientists estimate that Venezuela will soon hit 14,000 new cases a day. 118 00:06:27,700 --> 00:06:29,368 Before that wave hits, 119 00:06:29,368 --> 00:06:32,128 Santos plans to do what she can to protect her loved ones. 120 00:06:33,793 --> 00:06:36,712 You really don't have to be sick to drink tea, 121 00:06:36,712 --> 00:06:38,605 it's a form of prevention. 122 00:06:38,605 --> 00:06:41,160 Because when you have the tea or give it to your kids, 123 00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:42,814 they won't get sick. 124 00:06:42,814 --> 00:06:45,816 You don't have to wait to be sick, 125 00:06:45,816 --> 00:06:47,285 to have a good tea. 126 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:50,049 Bon appétit. 127 00:06:50,049 --> 00:06:52,819 - Thanks. - Enjoy it.