Last December a new pandemic disease started to threat global health with its first outbreak in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Cuba has developed a comprehensive strategy to fight this novel disease, including natural and traditional medicine as part of a national protocol. This article summarizes the Cuban experience on the integration of natural and traditional medicine to fight COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has had a great impact on socioeconomic activity worldwide and even required new lifestyles. Regarding COVID-19 prophylaxis, it is important to take measures to reduce the risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 as well as to increase the resistance to infection by modulating the immune system. Micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals are essential for maintaining immunity in the human body. Previous studies have shown a significant correlation between low vitamin D levels and increased risk of respiratory infections. In addition, it has been reported that the administration of vitamin D supplements reduces morbidities of seasonal influenza and other respiratory tract infections. In addition, a low level of vitamin D is found to be the underlying condition in the high-risk groups of COVID-19. Cross-sectional studies in European countries showed that vitamin D levels were negatively correlated with morbidity, mortality, and the severity of COVID-19. There are still many unclear points regarding susceptibility to infection by the virus and the aggravation of COVID-19. However, based on the currently available evidence, supplementation of vitamin D with a daily dose of 1,000 IU to achieve optimal nonspecific immunity in the human body should be considered as an integrative and complementary therapy for COVID-19 prophylaxis.

Aims : The quality of life (QOL) and spiritual attitudes of patients with cancer using integrative medicine clinics were investigated, and the relationship between these factors and the Okada Health and Wellness Program (OHWP) was examined.

Methods : The 10-item Mokichi Okada Association (MOA) QOL Questionnaire (MQL-10) and the 25-item Sky Spiritual Scale (SS-25), the Japanese version of the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being Scale (FACIT-Sp), the frequency of practicing OHWP (diet, art and culture, purifying therapy), and religiosity were assessed, and the associations among these factors were analyzed.

Results : The patients (N=64) who participated in this study included : 20 with colorectal cancer, 17 with breast cancer, 8 with uterine or ovarian cancer, 6 with lung cancer, 5 with stomach cancer, and others. There were strong correlations between the total MQL-10 and FACIT-Sp scores, and between the total SS-25 and FACIT-Sp scores. Moreover, the religiosity score was moderately correlated with the SS-25 and the FACIT-Sp. Among OHWP variables, the frequencies of diet, and art and culture were moderately or weakly correlated with each measure.

Conclusion : This study demonstrated significant associations between QOL, spiritual attitudes, and frequencies of OHWP in patients with cancer who were using integrative medicine clinics.