Jakarta. The Covid-19 pandemic in Indonesia is showing signs of slowing down. Even so, we cannot risk complacency. Getting vaccinated, complying with the health protocols, and maintaining the body’s immunity are key in keeping Covid-19 at bay.

And that also applies for the children who are now returning to their offline classes. 

As reported by local media Suara.com, the Education Ministry reported on Tuesday that 42 percent of the 540,979 schools in Indonesia have opened their doors for limited in-person schooling. As school bells ring once again, parents must keep their guard up for their children’s sake.

The Indonesian Herbal Medicine Doctors Society (PDHMI) and Indonesian cosmetics giant Mustika Ratu recently held a virtual conference on boosting school-age children’s immunity. 

Dewita Agus —the associate R&D quality director at Mustika Ratu— discussed on how herbal supplements such as Mustika Ratu’s Herbamuno+ can make for a healthy immune system. 

Herbamuno+ combines five homegrown herbs with ample benefits for one’s health  — namely ginger, green chiretta, licorice, meniran leaves, and cashew leaves, according to Dewita. 

The ginger in Herbamuno+ contains gingerol, shogaol, and zingiber that serve as antioxidants and anti-inflammation, as written by herbal medicine platform Jamu Digital. They can also help relieve pain (analgesic), boost immunity (immunomodulator), and protect the stomach walls (gastroprotector).

Likewise, the green chiretta is also an immunomodulator. A double blind study involving 107 school children with the average age of 18.4 showed green chiretta could help prevent flu. The subjects had to take 200 mg of green chiretta extract everyday for three months and evaluated by doctors on a weekly basis. Others were given placebos. The data also showed the green chiretta had the potential for upper respiratory tract infection treatment and prevention.

Licorice, meniran leaves, and cashew leaves are all anti-inflammatory. Cashew leaves also help ease diarrhea. Whereas licorice can relieve coughs and shortness of breath, Jamu Digital reported.

“A double-blind, randomized clinical trial on the effect of meniran extract immunostimulants in pediatric patients with acute respiratory infections showed great results — particularly in bringing down fever at a much faster rate,” Jamu Digital wrote on their website.

Those who take meniran extracts as an adjuvant with antituberculosis medications also showed significant improvement compared to the placebo group.

According to Mustika Ratu, Herbamuno+ is safe for kid’s consumption. Children between the age of 2 and 12 years old can take a tablet twice a day. Whereas the dosage for adults is two-three tablets a day. Teens aged 12-19 years can adjust with the maximum dosage of either children (two tablets a day) or adults (four tablets a day).

Herbamuno+ has also already secured a distribution permit from the National Food and Drug Control Agency (BPOM), as well as a halal certificate from the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI). 

Parents can purchase Herbamuno+ at the local convenience stores Alfamart and Indomaret. They can also shop for Herbamuno+ at their fingertips via Shopee, Tokopedia, Halodoc, and GrabHealth.