9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
We all know how we will eat[br]can affect how we feel,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and that can mean [br]pretty booming business

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
for food that sells itself as a cure.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I'm talking about herbal remedies.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
They were already a massive[br]trend in the wellness world

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
before we learned about COVID-19,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and now they're expected to bring in [br]even more business.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
In Venezuela, conventional medicine [br]is in short supply,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and with no other options,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
people are turning to their roots.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
SELF CURING

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Dina) What do you have?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Do you have a hernia?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Take the bellyache bush.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
- Is it real?[br]- Of course.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
It contains pepperwort, field horsetail,[br]crested dog's tail and dandelions.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>The coronavirus has infected [br]more than 100,000 people in Venezuela</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>and sent the country deeper[br]into an already dire economic crisis.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>But for Dina Santos, [br]business has never been better.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Dina) Every medication in a drugstore[br]comes from medicinal plants.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
There are antibiotics,[br]anesthetics, anti-inflammatories.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
The Lord works in mysterious ways.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Everything happens for a reason.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Fortunately for me, COVID-19 has meant

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
huge growth for my business, thank God.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>Venezuela's hospitals,</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>which were among the best [br]in Latin America only a few years ago,</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>now frequently operate[br]without power or running water.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>Patients bring gloves and narcotics[br]to their own surgery.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>Now, those who stayed[br]are trying to survive a pandemic</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>in a country that offers [br]seven hospital beds</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
for every 10,000 people.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
If someone calles me[br]and they COVID symptoms,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I recommend they take[br]an anti-cold plant package.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
And I'd advise them[br]to drink lots of lemon juice.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>Miracle remedies and COVID cures [br]have been sold across the world</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>even against expert's recommendations.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>In Venezuela, they were endorsed [br]from the highest level.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I'm going to share with you this tea,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
that is delicious,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
natural, blessed,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and good for everything.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Delicious.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
With your permission.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>Twitter quickly removed Maduro's video[br]for presenting unproven information,</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>but the address[br]had already aired on state TV,</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>which is the only news source [br]for many Venezuelans.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Dina) After [Maduro] started [br]telling people to drink natural teas,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
people began flooding my stand[br]looking for these plants.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
He must know that medicinal plants[br]are as natural a cure as there is.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
We're done for today.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>It wasn't just the people[br]followed the president blindly.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>For many, natural medicine was[br]the only accessible option,</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>and all that demand drove [br]the price of certain fruits way up.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
There are more than 2 kilos here.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Ricardo) Diana, write down [br]just $2 million [VEF], okay?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>Ricardo Heredia is a vendor[br]in one of Caracas most upscale markets.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Ricardo) I sell all kinds of fruit,[br]both local and imported produce.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Now, with the pandemic,[br]people buy only the necessary.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Fruits with medicinal benefits[br]are always the first pick.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>The price of lemons has tripled</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>and citrus fruits have become[br]a top seller</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>since vitamin C boosts the immune system.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>But against doctor's recommendations, [br]Heredia believes it can do a lot more.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
As a Venezuelan, I believe firmly[br]in traditional medicine.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Coronavirus first stays in your throat

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and you have fifteen days to flush it.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
You can flush it with things[br]like warm water or lemon tea.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
And when you flush it, you become immune.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Juliet) Sit down Jesky,[br]I'm gonna tidy up the room.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Gotta have everything nice and tidy.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>The spike in prices has made it harder[br]for people like Juliet Rodriguez,</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>a housekeeper who earn so little</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>that her clients pay her [br]in flour, rice, and pasta.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>And since March, Rodriguez[br]has been out of a job because</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>those same clients chose[br]to maintain social distance.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I live with my husband, four kids,[br]and a baby on the way.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Even though during this time,[br]I haven't gone to the doctor.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I'm exhausted.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>Rodriguez began to feel symptoms [br]early in the quarantine.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
People say it's very risky[br]to have COVID if you're pregnant,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I was scared to infect my baby,[br]my other kids, and my husband.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Oh, God, protect me.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I was very scared because[br]we shared our silverware everyday.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I was scared to kiss my kids,[br]it was just fear.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
We don't have the money to buy medicines,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
we worry a lot.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Because I have to buy food,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
so I can't buy medicine.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>Rodriguez turned to guarapo,[br]a tea her mother taught her to make.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Juliet) Remember when you used to[br]prepare guarapo for us, mom?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
What kind of guarapo was it?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Juliet's mom) Lemongrass, lemon balm,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
mint, Indian borage.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
- All of that?[br]- Yeah.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Juliet's mom) It's being used now[br]to fight COVID.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Juliet) Just guarapo, right?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Juliet's mom) Yeah, for COVID.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Juliet) People drink a lot more guarapo[br]than swallow pills.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
People are always looking[br]for these alternatives.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
You know, traditional medicine,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
because people can't afford medication.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>When Santos got sick[br]she didn't go to the hospital.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>She relied even more on her plants.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Dina) I took it easy, I made my teas.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I drank a lot of hot lemonade,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
lemongrass with honey and mint,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
bretonica and purple basil.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
And those symptoms only lasted a week.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>Scientists estimate that Venezuela[br]will soon hit 14,000 new cases a day.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>Before that wave hits,</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>Santos plans to do what she can[br]to protect her loved ones.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
You really don't have to be sick[br]to drink tea,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
it's a form of prevention.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Because when you have the tea[br]or give it to your kids,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
they won't get sick.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
You don't have to wait to be sick,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
to have a good tea.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Bon appétit.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
- Thank.[br]- Enjoy it.