The desperation due to the lack of medications in Cuba continues to drive citizens to seek natural remedies to cope with illnesses.
A video shared by the activist Ariel Góngora, brother of political prisoner Lisandra Góngora, features two Cuban women who claim to have overcome a virus using infusions of cherry leaves, due to their inability to access better medical treatment.
In the images, the whistleblower also showcases the unsanitary conditions of the neighborhood, where water seepage and flooded streets create an environment conducive to the proliferation of mosquitoes and other diseases.
"Doctors are leaving hospitals because they feel ashamed in front of patients, as they have no means to provide treatment for diseases," denounced the author of the video, reflecting the deep crisis of the Cuban healthcare system.
Cherry leaves are known for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, and immune-boosting properties. They are rich in vitamins and minerals such as calcium, potassium, and copper, as well as natural compounds like flavonoids and tannins, which have been traditionally used to relieve pain, inflammation, and urinary discomfort.
However, these natural alternatives are not comparable to the effect of a medication. Their use highlights the severe shortage of medicines in Cuba, a crisis that worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to affect millions of families on the island.
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