The Difference Between A Babalawo And A Herbal Practitioner

In the Nigeria society, there is a certain amount of apathy against herbal practitioners by a generality of a public. This apathy is mainly borne out of the fact that most people do not know the difference between herbal practitioners and babalawos or [witch doctors] . Some people feel that if you are a herbal practitioners then you must be a witch doctor. But this is wrong. Infact, majority of herbal practitioner in Nigerian cities are elder christians or muslims.

Have you heard of charmers, enchanters, sorcerers, conjurers, magician, witchcraft and wizadry before, these group of people, who are the real babalawos, use a multiplicity of natural elements like air, water, earth, fire and herbs to execute things in the spiritual realm to have a physical effect.


Herbalists, also sometimes called herbal practitioners and licensed herbalists, are specially trained in the field of herbal medicine. An herbalist uses plants and other natural substances to improve health, promote healing, and prevent and treat illness.
Herbal medicine, also called herbalism, botanical medicine, or phytomedicine, has been used for thousands of years. In Western civilizations, including the United States, herbal medicine is considered a type of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 80 percent of people worldwide use herbal remedies as part of their overall health care.
Herbalists use the seeds, berries, roots, leaves, bark, and flowers of plants called herbs or botanicals for medicinal purposes. In some country, herbal products are classified as dietary supplements, rather than drugs or medicines (pharmaceuticals). Labeling standards and health claims for dietary supplements, including herbal remedies, are set by the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act.

In Nigeria, herbal product are regulated by NAFDAC, which these they required approval for such product to be distributed and sold  only not Nigeria but also exported to other country. On account of NAFDAC certification, Nigerian herbal products are respected in most country of the world. However, the local market appears to be suffering from an influx of foreign herbal products, especially from countries in Asia.