Vegetable farmers on Thursday called for
increased public awareness towards the
use of medicinal plants as alternative to
orthodox medicine.
Some of the farmers told the News
Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in separate
interviews in Lagos, that the use of
medicinal plants had become popular in
developed countries, especially in Europe
and Asia.
Mr David Iheanacho, a moringa farmer,
said there were more than 6,000
medicinal plants, growing in different
parts of Nigeria, which he said, were
being under-utilised.
He observed that Nigerians had apathy
towards the use of plants for medicinal
purpose because they erroneously believe
it is fetish.
“We have associated the use of
medicinal plants to our native ‘voodoo or
juju’ because we believe only herbalists
use them.
“We have abandoned the resources
bestowed on us by nature to help cure
our ailments instead of using orthodox
drugs that come with side-effects,’’ he
said.
According to him, even though moringa
oleifera plant originated from Asia, it is
commonly cultivated in Nigeria today.
“The original moringa seeds were
imported from India, Pakistan,
Bangladesh and Afghanistan but we now
have it in abundant in Nigeria today.
“Our people are becoming aware of the
medicinal uses of this plant and they
have even nicknamed it ‘miracle plant.’
“This is because its leaves, back, flowers,
fruit, seeds, and root are all used to
make medicine,’’ he said.
According to him, oil from moringa seeds
is used in preparation of foods, perfume,
hair care products and as a machine
lubricant.
Mr Layi Ayanleke, another vegetable
farmer, however, warned against the
arbitrary use of medicinal plants.
He noted that the plant should be used
to treat specific ailment, for which they
are known.
“Much as we clamour for the increased
usage of medicinal plants, we must be
careful about over-indulgence and wrong
usages.
“Dongoyaro leave has been known to
possess high medicinal value in the
treatment of malaria but not necessarily
headache, which is a symptom of
malaria.
“The seeds of unripe guava fruit, when
chewed, enhances high sperm count in
men but excessive consumption can
cause appendicitis,’’ he told NAN.
Mrs Sarah Whyte, a pharmacist, observed
that many propagators of medicinal
plants often failed to give adequate
prescription of usage.
She pointed out that inadequate
prescription could lead to drug abuse and
overdose.
Whyte also warned that there were no
miracle medicinal plants and that, even in
medicine, specific drugs were used to
treat specific ailments.
“We have to be wary of medicinal plants
that are purportedly used in the
treatment of all ailments.
“We should always go for proper medical
screening to be sure of the type of
illness we are suffering from.
“We should not be carried away with the
sooth-saying marketing gimmicks of
herbal medicine practitioners,’’ she said.
(NAN)
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