Herbal medicines are complementary and or alternative medicine to orthodox. The use of herbal medicine in treating various ailments has existed alongside western medicines. Traditional herbal medicines are getting significant patronage in global health service. Herbal medicines are playing major roles in the health of thousands of people worldwide. The high demand for herbal medicines in Nigeria and elsewhere in Africa is a clear indication of the attitude and beliefs of people about the medicines
According to WHO reports, eighty per cent of African populations use some form of traditional herbal medicine. The worldwide annual market for herbal products approaches US$ 60 billion. China, India, Nigeria, USA and WHO have all made substantial research investments in traditional herbal medicines. The report added that pharmaceutical industry invested millions of US dollars looking for promising medicinal herbs and novel chemical compounds.
Herbal medicines have good values in treating many diseases. Infectious diseases either endemic or pandemic, hypertension, acupuncture, bones, stomach pains are treatable by herbal medicine. That natural remedies can save lives, particularly in the developing countries, is undoubtful.
There was global confusion at the outbreak of Corona Virus Pandemic in 2019. This is because there was no vaccine for the deadly virus. Everybody was vulnerable. The casualty figures went up to force global lockdown by the first quarter of 2020. Global political and economic powers got meltdown. Everything literally came to a standstill. Survival against the pandemic became, unarguably, survival of the fittest.
To survive the scourge of the pandemic, Africans, especially Nigerians returned to herbal roots by using medicinal plants roots, stems, leaves and fruits to fortify themselves. Dongoyaro trees, literally, were stripped naked by people that cut the leaves and peel the stems for covid remedy.
There was indiscriminate consumption of ginger and garlic both in liquid and solid form. Lime and Lemon with hot water became the preferred drinks of the lockdown period. Concocted herbal foods and drinks became popular menu among families who already are “locked down” in their homes.
Such was the strength of the belief of the Africans in herbal remedy to confront the pandemic threat. And it appeared, from the global COVID19 figures, the belief was not just for nothing sake.
As at September 23, 2020, COVID19 cases globally was 31,852, 024 cases. Death was 976599 and 23,451,644 recoveries. Africa’s share of these frightening figures was just about 2%. The assumption that the consumption of the herbal medicine, many with unsavory tastes, mitigated the fatal consequences of corona virus in Africa may be correct.
Apart from direct consumption of herbs by a large percentage of Nigerians, many researchers and herbal medicines manufacturers, came up with drugs, particularly syrups, that they claim have capacity to cure Corona Virus.
Ogun State University Research Centre in conjunction with Anjola Herbal Company developed and produced OOU-Anjo Covid19 Herbal Syrup. The Syrup, according to Prof. Deji Agboola, Deputy VC of the institution does not just boost immunity against the viral diseases, it has the capacity to effectively manage the symptoms of Covid19.
The claims by local researchers, including Prof. Maurice Uwu, that their drugs can cure the dreaded virus, prompted Nigeria Government, through NAFDAC to commence evaluation of some of the drugs that have met preliminary requirements.
NAFDAC boss, Mrs Mojisola Adeyeye suggested that Nigeria’s herbal medicine have potential to cure Covid19. In an online news conference, NAFDAC boss said herbal medicines have a lot of potentials. It is time to translate the research of herbs into products of proven safety and efficacy. She, however, warns that until a clinical trial is done in a scientific manner, no herbal medicine manufacturer can claim cure or effectiveness to treat COVID-19 associated symptoms.,
NAFDAC, with all sense of purpose, has been very responsive to challenges and issues of herbal medicine. In March 2019, according to the DG, the agency inaugurated the Nigerian Herbal Medicine Product Committee (HMPC) to bridge the gap often created between traditional medicine practitioners and researchers.
According to her, the COVID-19 created an opportunity for the agency to encourage traditional medicine practitioners to submit their herbal formulations for evaluation. Agency also developed guidelines on how to register herbal medicine online and how to label herbal products.
NAFDAC, has received 40 applications for the approval of herbal formulations for the treatment of COVID-19 from researchers in the country. She affirmed.
The World Health Organization (WHO) gave its support albeit indirectly to the use of herbal medicine to tackle Covid 19. In its May 2020 report, WHO said it welcomes innovations around the world including repurposing drugs, traditional medicines and developing new therapies in the search for potential treatments for COVID-19. According to the report, WHO recognizes that traditional, complementary and alternative medicine has many benefits and Africa has a long history of traditional medicine and practitioners that play an important role in providing care to populations. Medicinal plants such as Artemisia annua are possible treatments for COVID-19. The plant must be tested for efficacy and adverse side effects. Africans deserve to use medicines tested to the same standards as people in the rest of the world.
So, herbal medicine is no longer primitive. It only needs an upgrade to get It closer to orthodox medicine standard. Herbal medicines need to undergo scientific clinical trials to determine safety, efficacy and side effects.
As the figures of COVID 19 are now descending globally, we can safely say we have flattened the curve. Yes, the lockdown is being eased off, but the virus is not yet stamped out as there are still cases on a daily basis. .It is therefore very imperative for us to continue to munch on the herbs no matter how unsavory the taste might be so that we can continue to mitigate the fatal consequences of the CORONA VIRUS.
Source: Dare Agbeluyi