Knowledge of Covid 19 is still evolving. What we do know is that there are some similarities between Covid 19 and the common influenza virus. According to the World Health Organization,
“COVID-19 and influenza viruses have similar disease presentation. That is, they both cause respiratory disease, which presents as a wide range of illnesses from asymptomatic or mild through to severe disease and death.
Secondly, both viruses are transmitted by contact, droplets, and fomites. As a result, the same public health measures, such as hand hygiene and good respiratory etiquette (coughing into your elbow or into a tissue and immediately disposing of the tissue), are important actions all can take to prevent infection. Mortality for COVID-19 appears higher than for influenza, especially seasonal influenza.”
With this background, let us turn our attention to look at the scientific support for the anti-viral properties of turmeric and garlic.
Araujo et al. (2001) and Aggarwal et al. (2007 and 2009) have noted antiviral, antibacterial, anti-fungal, and gastrointestinal actions of curcumin. (Curcumin is the major medicinal molecule found in turmeric)
Fresh but not dried, ginger is effective against HRSV-induced plaque formation on airway epithelium by blocking viral attachment and internalization. (San. Chang, J et al., 2013)
The above two scientific references on the anti-viral properties of turmeric and ginger do indicate that these two herbs do possess a potential for providing some assistance to Covid 19 infections. But the evidence in favor of these two herbs is still tenuous, generic in nature. A lot more scientific work followed by clinical trials to come to any scientific conclusion in favor of these two ancient herbs having a role in Covid 19 healing.
Do more about the medicinal properties of these and other herbs, you can pick from a selection of books here.