1 00:00:02,096 --> 00:00:04,536 We all know how we will eat can affect how we feel, 2 00:00:04,536 --> 00:00:06,277 and that can mean pretty booming business 3 00:00:06,277 --> 00:00:08,528 for food that sells itself as a cure. 4 00:00:08,528 --> 00:00:10,841 I'm talking about herbal remedies. 5 00:00:10,841 --> 00:00:13,225 They were already a massive trend in the wellness world 6 00:00:13,225 --> 00:00:15,042 before we learned about COVID-19, 7 00:00:15,042 --> 00:00:18,399 and now they're expected to bring in even more business. 8 00:00:18,399 --> 00:00:20,686 In Venezuela, conventional medicine is in short supply, 9 00:00:20,686 --> 00:00:22,153 and with no other options, 10 00:00:22,153 --> 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 --> 00:00:31,780 (Dina) What do you have? 13 00:00:31,780 --> 00:00:33,443 Do you have a hernia? 14 00:00:33,443 --> 00:00:35,635 Take the bellyache bush. 15 00:00:36,264 --> 00:00:37,753 - Is it real? - Of course. 16 00:00:38,172 --> 00:00:40,617 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 00:00:50,486 --> 00:00:53,812 But for Dina Santos, business has never been better. 20 00:00:53,812 --> 00:00:58,831 (Dina) Every medication in a drugstore comes from medicinal plants. 21 00:00:58,831 --> 00:01:01,884 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 --> 00:01:06,638 The Lord works in mysterious ways. 24 00:01:06,906 --> 00:01:09,156 Everything happens for a reason. 25 00:01:09,156 --> 00:01:12,439 Fortunately for me, COVID-19 has meant 26 00:01:12,439 --> 00:01:14,940 huge growth for my business, thank God. 27 00:01:16,105 --> 00:01:17,451 Venezuela's hospitals, 28 00:01:17,451 --> 00:01:20,671 which were among the best in Latin America only a few years ago, 29 00:01:20,671 --> 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 --> 00:01:31,268 Now, those who stayed are trying to survive a pandemic 32 00:01:31,268 --> 00:01:34,149 in a country that offers seven hospital beds 33 00:01:34,149 --> 00:01:34,971 for every 10,000 people. 34 00:01:35,448 --> 00:01:39,237 If someone calls me and they have COVID symptoms, 35 00:01:39,237 --> 00:01:44,267 I recommend they take an anti-cold plant package. 36 00:01:44,614 --> 00:01:48,139 And I'd advise them to drink lots of lemon juice. 37 00:01:48,620 --> 00:01:51,974 Miracle remedies and COVID cures have been sold across the world 38 00:01:51,974 --> 00:01:53,868 even against expert's recommendations. 39 00:01:54,553 --> 00:01:57,209 In Venezuela, they were endorsed from the highest level. 40 00:01:57,875 --> 00:02:00,765 I'm going to share with you this tea, 41 00:02:02,057 --> 00:02:04,159 that is delicious, 42 00:02:04,159 --> 00:02:06,857 natural, blessed, 43 00:02:08,915 --> 00:02:10,340 and good for everything. 44 00:02:11,110 --> 00:02:12,174 Delicious. 45 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:13,971 With your permission. 46 00:02:17,693 --> 00:02:21,669 Twitter quickly removed Maduro's video for presenting unproven information, 47 00:02:21,669 --> 00:02:24,221 but the address had already aired on state TV, 48 00:02:24,221 --> 00:02:26,917 which is the only news source for many Venezuelans. 49 00:02:26,917 --> 00:02:32,148 (Dina) After [Maduro] started telling people to drink natural teas, 50 00:02:32,148 --> 00:02:35,299 people began flooding my stand looking for these plants. 51 00:02:35,299 --> 00:02:38,770 He must know that medicinal plants are as natural a cure as there is. 52 00:02:40,015 --> 00:02:42,490 We're done for today. 53 00:02:44,099 --> 00:02:47,097 It wasn't just the people followed the president blindly. 54 00:02:47,097 --> 00:02:49,884 For many, natural medicine was the only accessible option, 55 00:02:50,567 --> 00:02:53,700 and all that demand drove the price of certain fruits way up. 56 00:02:54,331 --> 00:02:56,336 (Ricardo) There are more than 2 kilos here. 57 00:02:56,336 --> 00:02:58,791 Diana, write down just $2 million [VEF], okay? 58 00:02:59,370 --> 00:03:03,321 Ricardo Heredia is a vendor in one of Caracas most upscale markets. 59 00:03:03,321 --> 00:03:08,215 (Ricardo) I sell all kinds of fruit, both local and imported produce. 60 00:03:08,215 --> 00:03:14,282 Now, with the pandemic, 61 00:03:14,282 --> 00:03:17,277 people buy only the necessary. 62 00:03:17,277 --> 00:03:22,745 Fruits with medicinal benefits are always the first pick. 63 00:03:22,745 --> 00:03:24,310 The price of lemons has tripled 64 00:03:24,619 --> 00:03:26,532 and citrus fruits have become a top seller 65 00:03:26,532 --> 00:03:28,971 since vitamin C boosts the immune system. 66 00:03:28,971 --> 00:03:32,868 But against doctor's recommendations, Heredia believes it can do a lot more. 67 00:03:32,868 --> 00:03:36,800 As a Venezuelan, I believe firmly in traditional medicine. 68 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:38,785 Coronavirus first stays in your throat 69 00:03:38,785 --> 00:03:42,542 and you have fifteen days to flush it. 70 00:03:42,542 --> 00:03:47,015 You can flush it with things like warm water or lemon tea. 71 00:03:48,084 --> 00:03:50,256 And when you flush it, you become immune. 72 00:03:54,243 --> 00:03:58,159 (Juliet) Sit down Jesky, I'm gonna tidy up the room. 73 00:03:59,749 --> 00:04:01,084 Gotta have everything nice and tidy. 74 00:04:01,715 --> 00:04:05,507 The spike in prices has made it harder for people like Juliet Rodriguez, 75 00:04:05,507 --> 00:04:07,438 a housekeeper who earn so little 76 00:04:07,438 --> 00:04:10,248 that her clients pay her in flour, rice, and pasta. 77 00:04:10,248 --> 00:04:12,858 And since March, Rodriguez has been out of a job because 78 00:04:12,858 --> 00:04:15,722 those same clients chose to maintain social distance. 79 00:04:17,234 --> 00:04:21,622 I live with my husband, four kids, and a baby on the way. 80 00:04:21,622 --> 00:04:28,898 Even though during this time, I haven't gone to the doctor. 81 00:04:32,049 --> 00:04:32,772 I'm exhausted. 82 00:04:33,099 --> 00:04:35,636 Rodriguez began to feel symptoms early in the quarantine. 83 00:04:35,636 --> 00:04:40,752 People say it's very risky to have COVID if you're pregnant, 84 00:04:40,752 --> 00:04:46,865 I was scared to infect my baby, my other kids, and my husband. 85 00:04:46,865 --> 00:04:48,138 Oh, God, protect me. 86 00:04:48,824 --> 00:04:53,905 I was very scared because we shared our silverware everyday. 87 00:04:53,905 --> 00:05:02,402 I was scared to kiss my kids, it was just fear. 88 00:05:03,835 --> 00:05:07,936 We don't have the money to buy medicines, 89 00:05:07,936 --> 00:05:09,959 we worry a lot. 90 00:05:09,959 --> 00:05:11,833 Because I have to buy food, 91 00:05:11,833 --> 00:05:13,584 so I can't buy medicine. 92 00:05:15,754 --> 00:05:18,975 Rodriguez turned to guarapo, a tea her mother taught her to make. 93 00:05:19,860 --> 00:05:23,694 (Juliet) Remember when you used to prepare guarapo for us, mom? 94 00:05:24,380 --> 00:05:26,061 What kind of guarapo was it? 95 00:05:26,061 --> 00:05:28,277 (Juliet's mom) Lemongrass, lemon balm, 96 00:05:28,277 --> 00:05:34,194 mint, Indian borage. 97 00:05:34,194 --> 00:05:35,761 - All of that? - Yeah. 98 00:05:36,750 --> 00:05:38,832 (Juliet's mom) It's being used now to fight COVID. 99 00:05:38,832 --> 00:05:39,926 (Juliet) Just guarapo, right? 100 00:05:39,926 --> 00:05:43,050 (Juliet's mom) Yeah, for COVID. 101 00:05:43,050 --> 00:05:46,518 (Juliet) People drink a lot more guarapo than swallow pills. 102 00:05:47,436 --> 00:05:51,447 People are always looking for these alternatives. 103 00:05:51,447 --> 00:05:55,203 You know, traditional medicine, 104 00:05:55,203 --> 00:05:57,686 because people can't afford medication. 105 00:06:02,699 --> 00:06:05,594 When Santos got sick she didn't go to the hospital. 106 00:06:05,594 --> 00:06:08,077 She relied even more on her plants. 107 00:06:08,077 --> 00:06:11,531 (Dina) I took it easy, I made my teas. 108 00:06:11,531 --> 00:06:14,129 I drank a lot of hot lemonade, 109 00:06:14,129 --> 00:06:15,935 lemongrass with honey and mint, 110 00:06:15,935 --> 00:06:17,617 bretonica and purple basil. 111 00:06:17,617 --> 00:06:20,446 And those symptoms only lasted a week. 112 00:06:22,678 --> 00:06:27,700 Scientists estimate that Venezuela will soon hit 14,000 new cases a day. 113 00:06:27,700 --> 00:06:29,399 Before that wave hits, 114 00:06:29,399 --> 00:06:32,128 Santos plans to do what she can to protect her loved ones. 115 00:06:33,793 --> 00:06:36,712 You really don't have to be sick to drink tea, 116 00:06:36,712 --> 00:06:38,715 it's a form of prevention. 117 00:06:38,715 --> 00:06:41,160 Because when you have the tea or give it to your kids, 118 00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:42,814 they won't get sick. 119 00:06:42,814 --> 00:06:46,332 You don't have to wait to be sick, 120 00:06:46,332 --> 00:06:47,285 to have a good tea. 121 00:06:49,081 --> 00:06:50,209 Bon appétit. 122 00:06:50,968 --> 00:06:52,819 - Thank. - Enjoy it.