Herbal medicine comes of age in ailment treatment

With shortage of drugs in hospitals, high cost in clinics and pharmaciesand drug resistance which often leads to treatment failure, Ugandans have resorted to the use of herbal medicines to cure various ailments. The World Health Organization estimates that up to 80% of people still rely on herbal remedies for their health care worldwide. 

According to the National Council of Traditional Healers and Herbalists Association of Uganda (NACOTHA), one herbalist serves about 10 people and estimates that there exist over 50,000 herbalists in Uganda today.

“The biggest challenge Ugandans are facing to produce their drugs on a large scale is the lack of indigenous knowledge because many are ignorant of the benefits of these herbs,” Dr Karim Musaasizi, the Secretary General of NACOTHA says.

In order to address this challenge, Musaasizi says that NACOTHA has established an Indigenous Knowledge institute where local people are trained in the medicinaluse of various herbs that Ugandans grow.

According to Dr Saddam Lukwago, a herbalist, many of the herbs grown in Uganda are used to detoxify the body and build its immunity against many ailments.

Some herbs and what they cure:

MUJAAJA: It is a perennial herb that grows about five to 19cm with an aromatic smell when crushed. 

It cures: stomach ache (chew few leaves at different times of the day)

Peptic ulcers (pound its leaves together with the leaves of bidens pilosa (black jack/enyabarasane) and polyscias fulva (omugantara), mix in water, strain and take one glass three times a day.)

It also cures ear pain, conjunctivitis/red eyes and throat itching.

 

KITONTO/CRASSOCEPHALUM VITELLINUM

It grows up to one meter high and grows mostly in grasslands and along swampy edges. Its leaves and flowers are used in curing ailments such as these;

High blood pressure: boil leaves and take

Stomach ache: mix leaves with the bill of a fish, boil for 10 minutes and take one teaspoon three or four times a day.

It also stops vomiting and controls excessive menstruation.

EPPAAPAALI/ CARICA PAPAYA

Unripe fruits and seeds, flowers and leaves of the herb are mostly used in curing ailments. It is used for: Controlling worms, curing light cases of malaria (make leaf decoction and take about a litre on day), cough (take one cup thrice a day), jaundice, yellow fever and asthma attacks.  (Smoke young dried paw paw leaves in a pipe or wrapped in a paper in the form of cigarettes or burn leaves next to the bed and inhale.) 

ALOE VERA/ EKIGAJI

This is a single stem that grows up to three meters high. It has long triangular fleshy leaves spiked at the edges. 

Parts used:

Bitter aloes: it is a yellow juice with a bitter taste that flows out of a cut leaf.

Aloe gel: is a transparent sticky juice with no flavour that has anti-allergic, antibiotic, antifungal, anti-inflammatory and healing properties.

The herb cures: skin problems like acne and athletes foot (apply aloe gel onto the affected area), hair loss (mix one tablespoon of aloe gel with egg yolk and rub into hair every evening0, convulsions (boil quarter leaf in a half litre of water and take a quarter litre for three days), infected gums and stops nose bleeding.

RESURRECTION PLANT/ EKYONDO

It cures boils (squeeze leaves onto the boil), prevents food poisoning (heat leaves for one minute, squeeze juice into one cup of water and drink a third of a glass for three times a day) and malnutrition.

LEMON GRASS/ KALIFUWA/ KISUBI KYA CHAI

Its leaves and roots are usually used in the treatment of:

Haemorrhage: boil a handful of old mango leaves and eucalyptus leaves into two litres of water for 15 minutes. Add two handfuls of lemon grass and boil for two minutes. Cover for 15 minutes. Filter, add water and take as tea.

Sinusitis and colds: drink one glass five times a day and take a steam bath

Bad breath: chew a fresh washed leaf for two to three times a day or boil some leaves with coffee seeds and chew.

It also stimulates meat eating: use one tea spoon of dry roots powder and mix with 250mls of meat soup.

EAST AFRICAN SATINWOOD/MUYENYE

The trunk of this herb has woody prickles with creamy white flowers.

Parts used: stem bark and root bark.

Uses; Constipation (prepare a root bark decoction and take four tablespoons three times for one day)

Tooth ache: boil one handful of bark root and leaf in a half litre of water for 10 minutes. Add salt and use as mouth wash for three times a day.

Tuberculosis: prepare root and bark decoction and take one cup. Add one teaspoon of castor oil and take three tablespoons three times a day for a long time.

                                                                                                 ninsiima@observer.ug