0:00:01.966,0:00:04.416
We all know how we will eat[br]can affect how we feel,

0:00:04.416,0:00:06.277
and that can mean [br]pretty booming business

0:00:06.277,0:00:08.449
for food that sells itself as a cure.

0:00:08.449,0:00:10.841
I'm talking about herbal remedies.

0:00:10.841,0:00:13.255
They were already a massive[br]trend in the wellness world

0:00:13.255,0:00:15.182
before we learned about COVID-19,

0:00:15.182,0:00:18.399
and now, they're expected to bring in [br]even more business.

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In Venezuela, conventional medicine [br]is in short supply,

0:00:20.936,0:00:22.263
and with no other options,

0:00:22.263,0:00:23.899
people are turning to their roots.

0:00:25.364,0:00:27.927
SELF CURING

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(Dina) What do you have?

0:00:31.780,0:00:33.263
Do you have a hernia?

0:00:33.443,0:00:35.201
Take the bellyache bush.

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- Is it real?[br]- Of course.

0:00:37.719,0:00:41.288
It contains pepperwort, field horsetail,[br]crested dog's tail and dandelions.

0:00:42.049,0:00:45.716
<i>The coronavirus has infected [br]more than 100,000 people in Venezuela</i>

0:00:45.716,0:00:48.946
<i>and sent the country deeper[br]into an already dire economic crisis.</i>

0:00:50.456,0:00:53.432
<i>But for Dina Santos, [br]business has never been better.</i>

0:00:53.812,0:00:58.506
(Dina) Every medication in a drugstore[br]comes from medicinal plants.

0:00:58.831,0:01:01.618
There are antibiotics,[br]anesthetics, anti-inflammatories.

0:01:01.884,0:01:04.339
Every plant has its own properties.

0:01:04.834,0:01:06.716
The Lord works in mysterious ways.

0:01:06.716,0:01:09.167
Everything happens for a reason.

0:01:09.167,0:01:12.439
Fortunately for me, COVID-19 has meant

0:01:12.439,0:01:15.050
huge growth for my business, thank God.

0:01:16.105,0:01:17.451
<i>Venezuela's hospitals,</i>

0:01:17.451,0:01:20.831
<i>which were among the best [br]in Latin America only a few years ago,</i>

0:01:20.831,0:01:23.572
<i>now frequently operate[br]without power or running water.</i>

0:01:24.301,0:01:27.275
<i>Patients bring gloves and narcotics[br]to their own surgery.</i>

0:01:28.536,0:01:31.058
<i>Now, those who stayed[br]are trying to survive a pandemic</i>

0:01:31.058,0:01:33.193
<i>in a country that offers [br]seven hospital beds</i>

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<i>for every 10,000 people.</i>

0:01:35.398,0:01:37.977
If someone calls me

0:01:37.977,0:01:40.637
and they have COVID symptoms,

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I recommend they take[br]an anti-cold plant package.

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And I'd advise them[br]to drink lots of lemon juice.

0:01:48.480,0:01:51.974
<i>Miracle remedies and COVID cures [br]have been sold across the world</i>

0:01:51.974,0:01:53.868
<i>even against expert's recommendations.</i>

0:01:54.553,0:01:57.249
<i>In Venezuela, they were endorsed [br]from the highest level.</i>

0:01:57.875,0:02:00.765
I'm going to share with you this tea,

0:02:02.057,0:02:04.289
that is delicious,

0:02:04.289,0:02:05.763
natural,

0:02:05.763,0:02:06.857
blessed,

0:02:08.865,0:02:10.340
and good for everything.

0:02:11.110,0:02:12.174
Delicious.

0:02:12.600,0:02:13.971
With your permission.

0:02:17.693,0:02:21.669
<i>Twitter quickly removed Maduro's video[br]for presenting unproven information,</i>

0:02:21.669,0:02:24.221
<i>but the address[br]had already aired on state TV,</i>

0:02:24.221,0:02:26.737
<i>which is the only news source [br]for many Venezuelans.</i>

0:02:27.067,0:02:32.148
(Dina) After [Maduro] started [br]telling people to drink natural teas,

0:02:32.148,0:02:35.299
people began flooding my stand[br]looking for these plants.

0:02:35.299,0:02:38.770
He must know that medicinal plants[br]are as natural a cure as there is.

0:02:41.575,0:02:42.930
We're done for today.

0:02:43.999,0:02:47.097
<i>It wasn't just the people[br]followed the president blindly.</i>

0:02:47.097,0:02:49.884
<i>For many, natural medicine was[br]the only accessible option,</i>

0:02:50.567,0:02:53.700
<i>and all that demand drove [br]the price of certain fruits way up.</i>

0:02:54.291,0:02:56.336
(Ricardo) There are more[br]than 2 kilos here.

0:02:56.336,0:02:58.791
Diana, write down [br]just $2 million [VEF], okay?

0:02:59.370,0:03:03.321
<i>Ricardo Heredia is a vendor[br]in one of Caracas' most upscale markets.</i>

0:03:03.321,0:03:08.215
(Ricardo) I sell all kinds of fruit,[br]both local and imported produce.

0:03:08.215,0:03:12.379
Now, with the pandemic,

0:03:12.379,0:03:16.826
people buy only the necessary.

0:03:17.187,0:03:22.745
Fruits with medicinal benefits[br]are always the first pick.

0:03:22.745,0:03:24.439
<i>The price of lemons has tripled</i>

0:03:24.439,0:03:26.532
<i>and citrus fruits have become[br]a top seller</i>

0:03:26.532,0:03:28.971
<i>since vitamin C boosts the immune system.</i>

0:03:28.971,0:03:30.780
<i>But against doctor's recommendations,</i>

0:03:30.780,0:03:32.773
<i>Heredia believes it can do a lot more.</i>

0:03:32.773,0:03:36.800
(Ricardo) As a Venezuelan, [br]I believe firmly in traditional medicine.

0:03:36.800,0:03:38.785
Coronavirus first stays in your throat

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and you have fifteen days to flush it.

0:03:42.752,0:03:47.135
You can flush it with things[br]like warm water or lemon tea.

0:03:48.084,0:03:50.256
And when you flush it, you become immune.

0:03:54.243,0:03:57.820
(Juliet) Sit down Jesky,[br]I'm gonna tidy up the room.

0:03:58.259,0:04:01.084
Gotta have everything nice and tidy.

0:04:01.715,0:04:05.577
<i>The spike in prices has made it harder[br]for people like Juliet Rodriguez,</i>

0:04:05.577,0:04:07.236
<i>a housekeeper who earn so little</i>

0:04:07.236,0:04:10.398
<i>that her clients pay her [br]in flour, rice, and pasta.</i>

0:04:10.398,0:04:12.898
<i>And since March, Rodriguez[br]has been out of a job</i>

0:04:12.898,0:04:15.843
<i>because those same clients [br]chose to maintain social distance.</i>

0:04:17.234,0:04:21.089
I live with my husband, four kids,[br]and a baby on the way.

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

0:04:30.759,0:04:31.822
I'm exhausted.

0:04:32.072,0:04:34.947
<i>Rodriguez began to feel symptoms [br]early in the quarantine.</i>

0:04:35.806,0:04:40.512
People say it's very risky[br]to have COVID if you're pregnant,

0:04:40.922,0:04:46.736
I was scared to infect my baby,[br]my other kids, and my husband.

0:04:46.736,0:04:48.474
Oh, God, protect me.

0:04:48.774,0:04:51.441
I was very scared

0:04:51.441,0:04:55.725
because we shared our silverware everyday.

0:04:56.465,0:05:01.115
I was scared to kiss my kids,

0:05:01.115,0:05:02.672
it was just fear.

0:05:03.835,0:05:07.534
We don't have the money to buy medicines,

0:05:07.534,0:05:08.988
we worry a lot.

0:05:08.988,0:05:12.253
Because I have to buy food,

0:05:12.253,0:05:13.904
so I can't buy medicine.

0:05:15.754,0:05:19.085
<i>Rodriguez turned to guarapo,[br]a tea her mother taught her to make.</i>

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

0:05:24.220,0:05:25.581
What kind of guarapo was it?

0:05:25.581,0:05:28.277
(Juliet's mom) Lemongrass, lemon balm,

0:05:28.277,0:05:33.385
mint, Indian borage.

0:05:34.014,0:05:35.395
- All of that?[br]- Yeah.

0:05:35.940,0:05:38.318
(Juliet's mom) It's being used now[br]to fight COVID.

0:05:38.318,0:05:39.696
(Juliet) Just guarapo, right?

0:05:40.566,0:05:42.173
(Juliet's mom) Yeah, for COVID.

0:05:42.958,0:05:46.518
(Juliet) People drink a lot more guarapo[br]than swallow pills.

0:05:47.436,0:05:51.354
People are always looking[br]for these alternatives.

0:05:51.354,0:05:54.303
You know, traditional medicine,

0:05:54.303,0:05:57.486
because people can't afford medication.

0:06:02.699,0:06:05.384
<i>When Santos got sick[br]she didn't go to the hospital.</i>

0:06:05.684,0:06:07.798
<i>She relied even more on her plants.</i>

0:06:08.077,0:06:11.322
(Dina) I took it easy, I made my teas.

0:06:11.531,0:06:13.909
I drank a lot of hot lemonade,

0:06:13.909,0:06:15.785
lemongrass with honey and mint,

0:06:15.785,0:06:17.507
bretonica and purple basil.

0:06:17.697,0:06:20.446
And those symptoms only lasted a week.

0:06:22.678,0:06:27.351
<i>Scientists estimate that Venezuela[br]will soon hit 14,000 new cases a day.</i>

0:06:27.700,0:06:29.368
<i>Before that wave hits,</i>

0:06:29.368,0:06:32.128
<i>Santos plans to do what she can[br]to protect her loved ones.</i>

0:06:33.793,0:06:36.712
You really don't have to be sick[br]to drink tea,

0:06:36.712,0:06:38.605
it's a form of prevention.

0:06:38.605,0:06:41.160
Because when you have the tea[br]or give it to your kids,

0:06:41.160,0:06:42.814
they won't get sick.

0:06:42.814,0:06:45.816
You don't have to wait to be sick,

0:06:45.816,0:06:47.285
to have a good tea.

0:06:48.880,0:06:50.049
Bon appétit.

0:06:50.049,0:06:52.819
- Thank.[br]- Enjoy it.