SLC S21 Week 1 - A Comprehensive guide to Herbal Medicines

Have you ever heard of NAFDAC?, the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (Nigeria)

This set of people is responsible for the proper production and distribution of drugs; most foods are drugs, so they ensure that the proportion and constituent of these foods and drugs are accurate and without an infestation of harmful substances.

NAFDAC is too modern but it is part of the history, I have prerequisite knowledge of the current existence of NAFDAC, most herbal medicines now popularly known were used as food and the effect was seen and recommended by our fathers for the elimination or prevention of certain ailment, In Akwa Ibom state this is the presumptuous beginning, farming was our major occupation back in the days, so our forefathers we into planting of different kind of crops, hunting and caring for animals, so experience with many plants has given them insight on most of this plant.

In the course of this hunting and farming they experience cuts, burns and got bitten by snakes they were able to adjust and devise means to tackle this thing, there is a plant we call hospital too far and it is used to stop bleeding, minor cuts, it itches and this plant is also eaten, this plant has a white sticky substance and I believe our father knew that sticky substances can obstruct blood flow, so they used this and it worked and passed from one generation to another, there are many to which were discovered this way, we rich biodiversity is also a contribution to the contributive solution to herbal medicine, the Yorubas with their root discoveries also share some with the Ibibio and so herbal medicine spread all over.

In the colonial era modern medicine was brought in but this ancient traditional practice still exists and is found residence in us that is why I don't think enema can ever be discarded, today we see a Blend of this medicine as herbal medicine now approved by the government after their proficiency has been proved, they are even given NAFDAC registration numbers to a prove of reliability.

Most diseases like malaria and typhoid fever are associated with these two ailments, which are Cold and Headache, and instead of just treating each ailment separately, they could be treated in groups, which most herbal and medicines can treat as a whole.

Scent leaves: Scent leaves is an against inflammation, and it helps so much in the digestive system; most people take it as an enema to stop purging; I could remember when I inserted a droplet of its water into the anus of my chicken when it had diarrhoea, and it stopped.

In my stew and jollof rice, I use scents leaves frequently to add some aroma to it; I have also drunk its solvent extraction once since this year began.

Tumeric: We are close to December, a festive period, and we use turmeric, mostly packaged with the name curry, for marketing. It colorated rice green, and we call it fried rice; it helps to fight canceric properties and also boosts our immune systems.

Ginger: I used ginger too, but not frequently. Most people put it in rice, but we use it with garlic in homemade drinks like zobo and juices; it is hot, so it can reduce cold and helps in digestion as well as curtailing inflammation.

Herbal medicine has so improved that it is no longer taken as an enema, but in a different modernised form; I will be writing about a few here.

Tea: Herbs like lemon grass are cooked in hot water and given to people without appetite or with malaria

Powder: Have you ever seen powder toothpaste before? Some herbal products are added to them to enhance teeth strength.

Capsules: Capsules are called capsules because of their regular and irregular structure. A pinch of ginger and garlic can be recommended for someone with a cough.

Oils: The oil extracted from ground coconut or palm kernel can be used to enhance skin complexion or drive rashes.

Creams: I used aloe Vera, and it is good for those who want smooth skin.

The side effects of pawpaw leaves in its powdery form or liquid extraction are enormous, it can interact with some medications like ones for diabetes and blood pressure making it less effective, it can increase diarrhea, stomach cramps, advance herbal medications are combined so in this case its extraction can be combined with honey, coconut oil and very importantly it should have a considerate dose, that within a certain time frame for better observation.

I would love to invite @vivigibelis @usoro01, @bossj23 and @alegnita to join me #learnwithsteem