Fact Check: Chiropractors advising patients to fight COVID-19 with zinc and tonic water?

Claim: Chiropractors have advised patients to consume zinc and tonic water to fight against Coronavirus infection

Rating: False

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What is rumour about?

• A St Louis based chiropractor, Eric Nepute’s Facebook video became viral after gaining 21 million views in a day. He shared a Facebook post where he recommended people to drink tonic water and zinc to fight against Coronavirus infection.
• Eric Nepute runs Nepute Wellness Centre in St. Loius and his Facebook post gained a massive viewership hours after it was posted.
• His main focus was on quinine, an old anti-malarial drug which was used before hydroxychloroquine came into existence. He said that quinine in tonic water is what will help treat Coronavirus.  
• In original video, Eric Nepute recommended people to have 3 to 4 ounces of Schweppes tonic water and 50 to 100 mg of zinc daily as a preventative measure.

Im courtesy: YouTube

Even tweets like se directed viewers to Eric Nepute's video in name of some or doctor named Frank Hahnel. 

Im courtesy: Twitter

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Google Trends 

After an analysis of Google Trends with respect to Eric Nepute's advice on Coronavirus supplements, one can see that people have been hugely interested to kw about same.  maximum number of searches have been done on April 13 when video first came out. 

Im courtesy: Google Trends 

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Republic World did a fact check

• Republic World did a fact check on Eric Nepute's Coronavirus supplements rumour and found claims made by chiropractor to be false as neir FDA r any or doctor has reported about any such supplements which could possibly prevent Coronavirus as of w.
• Even Facebook's third-party fact-checkers had placed a warning on Eric Nepute's video indicating that it may contain partly false information. Later, it was taken down. 
• main reason for confusion stemmed from fact that Eric Nepute was advising people to consume tonic water which contains an element (quinine) which was widely used as an anti-malaria drug long ago. Currently, tests are being done on hydroxychloroquine, which is also an anti-malaria drug. 
• But main point to te here is that researches are actually been done on tonic water or quinine, and t even structural formula of quinine and hydroxychloroquine are similar. 

Im courtesy: Facebook

• However, when he was contacted by various media and medical authorities, he mentioned that he never claimed that se measures are a cure for Coronavirus. He clarified in his next Facebook video that he recommended tonic water and zinc to alleviate symptoms of  Coronavirus, and did t proclaim mixture to be a cure. 
• Many doctors also suggested t to listen to any hoaxes without a proper background check. y said that an overdose on quinine and zinc could be harmful to body. 
• Even chiropractors association body i.e. American Chiropractic Association also urged ir practitioners to forbid  use of social media for medical recommendations. 

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• According to reports, when ar chiropractor named Dr Fred Buckhold was contacted, he stated that drinking tonic water would surely cause harm to body; however, social distancing is best way to safeguard oneself from infection.

Is re any rumour you want Republic World to do a fact check on? Do you have facts about a rumour? Share your pictures or videos with Republic World on contact@republicworld.com or comment on this story itself. 

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