In the Nigerian traditional medicine industry, chief (Dr) Olafisoye Oriloye occupies a front seat. the veteran therapist, who is also a prominent member of Lagos State Board Of Traditional Medicine, has put in over 60 years of meritorious practice.
In this interview with Nigeria Natural Health Online editor, Dumbiri Frank Eboh, Chief Olafisoye speaks on his background and other issues bothering the practice of traditional medicine in Nigeria.
How long have you been in the practice of tradition medicine?
I have been practicing
it for a very long time. Infact, I was born into it and I can say that I
started getting the knowledge of traditional medicine at the age of eight. I
even started the practice before I entered school because in those days, you
don’t start school early. You had to put your hand across your head to touch
your ear before you can be allowed to enrol into school, so I can confidently
say that I have been in the practice for more than 60 years.
What are some of the common diseases that people suffer from today?
Most of the common
diseases we have this days are ones relating to lifestyles. They include
ailments like diabetes, high blood pressure, infertility issues and so many
others. Some of these occur especially when people are in their 50s. There are
also issues like prostate cancer, typhoid, fibriod etc.
Why do you think diseases are more common these days than in the days
of our forefathers?
It’s the price we
have to pay for civilisation. The kind of food we eat now is different from the
one our forefathers ate. Now we have can foods, processed foods that are
packaged with preservatives that end up killing the nutrient in those food. But
our fathers never ate that kind of food. They ate fresh fruits and vegetables;
the meat and fish they used in cooking were fresh too. The environment we live
in today is not as pure as that of our forefathers. For instance, the water we
drink now is more polluted than theirs. The air we breathe is not as pure as it
use to be. Man has polluted the environment and we are all suffering the
consequences which sometimes come in the form of these common diseases. Our
lifestyle is also something to worry about. You come out from an air conditioned
house and enter an air conditioned car, from there to an air conditioned
office. You do not exercise your body. How can the blood flow freely through
the veins? These are some of the reasons people do not live long anymore.
Is it true that some of these diseases cannot be cured with orthodox
medicine unless natural medicine is applied?
That is very true.
Some of these diseases are stubborn to orthodox medicine. It is only
traditional medicine that can cure them. Orthodox medicine merely treat the
symptom and not the ailment. Besides, these orthodox drugs are potential
poisons because of the distruction they do to the body systems. Traditional
medicine on the other hand is organic in nature. It is like the food you eat,
it goes directly into your body system and any part that is not absorbed is
taking away through the various excretory organs of the body. More than these, traditional
medicine is holistic in nature, because it cures and heals the totality of man
including the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of the man.
Infact, Traditional African Medicine is a comprehensive insurance against all
uncertainties of life. When it comes to diagnosis, the orthodox is relevant but
in terms of cure, traditional medicine is a better option. Take such a simple
ailment as toothache, orthodox drugs cannot cure it. They ask you to keep
removing your teeth one by one until you have no more teeth left in your mouth.
But toothache is something you can easily cure with a simple herbal root.
Why is there an influx of foreign herbal medicine into the Nigerian Market?
The people at the top
are the cause because they don’t appear to benefit from local manufacturers of
herbal medicine. They connive with importers of these foreign brands whom they
collect bribe from and allow their products into the country.
It is all due to
corruption. They make a lot of money from those importing herbal medicines from
China, India and other countries in Asia. Even American and European
manufacturers are exploting the system. But the grave danger here is that most
of these imported herbal medicines have undergone processing. They are not as
effective as our raw local ones.
You are based in Lagos. How do you reach out to patients in other parts
of the country?
That
one is not difficult. We reach out to patients all over Nigeria, Africa and the
rest of the world. All they need to do is contact me on phone and I will do the
consultation after which I send the medicine to them through courier services.
I have treated several patients in Europe and America. Same for those in
Nigeria like Abuja, Port-Harcourt, Kano, Benin City and the rest of them.
What are your areas of specialization?
Many
herbal practitioners present themselves as jack of all treads amd master of
all. And they are right to do so because traditional medicine, by its nature is
holistic and just one herb can take care
of several ailment if proparly applied. Still, they must be an area
that you must be gifted in. for me, I specialize in comprehensive African Insurance
against all uncertaities of life including death. For instance, if you are
poisoned, I can easily get rid of the poison in matter of minutes. If you are
suffering from spiritual attach or you need protection against armed robbery,
accident and other remotely controlled adversites, just give me a call and your
problems will be taken care of.
You
can contact Chief (Dr) Olafisoye on +2347031040178
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