How Fish, Water And Alcohol Affect Your Mental Health

Still on the effects of food on mental health. Include fish, especially oily fish, in your diet.
A few studies suggest that omega 3 oil supplements may reduce symptoms in people with depression on antidepressant medications. These studies are small but we know that a proper balance of omega 3 and omega 6 oils in the diet is important.
To get a good balance of mega 3 and 6 oils:

• include more omega 3-rich oily fish from sustainable fish stocks – try to include 2–4 portions a week (but no more than 2 portions if you are pregnant or breastfeeding). If buying tinned fish, choose varieties in water, brine or tomato sauce rather than in sunflower oil (this is high in omega 6)

• if you fry food (eg. stir fries) use an oil high in monounsaturates eg. olive or rapeseed oil

• choose a monounsaturated margarine or butter for spreading. Avoid margarines or low fat spreads containing omega 6 polyunsaturated or hydrogenated trans fats (trans fats are damaging to your brain and arteries)

• avoid processed foods such as pies, sausage rolls, crisps and cakes – these are high in saturated and trans fats.

If you don’t like fish you could try an omega 3 supplement (choose one that is purified, contains no vitamin A and has a high eicosapenanoic acid (EPA) content – take no more than 1g EPA per day). If you are vegetarian, try a flax seed supplement (although only a very small fraction of the omega 3 contained in plant products can be used by the body).

Maintain a healthy weight.
Depression affects different people in different ways. Some people lose interest in food or can’t motivate themselves to shop and cook, so lose weight. Others find they want to eat more and gain weight when they are unhappy. Some medications can also increase or decrease your appetite – if you are concerned that the medication you are taking has made your weight problems worse, speak to your doctor.
Both excessive weight loss or weight gain can make your mood worse and should be avoided. Weight loss and lack of good nutrition will deprive the brain of glucose and the other nutrients that control mood – you may need the advice of a dietitian to help you overcome this problem.
Putting on weight unintentionally or feeling out of control of your eating can increase your depression and can lead to yo-yo dieting, which leaves you further out of control. If you are overweight, follow the advice on healthy eating but be extra careful to limit your fat and sugar intake (no fries, pies, cakes, puddings, sweets, chocolate or sweet drinks), use less fat in cooking, reduce your alcohol consumption, avoid sugary drinks, and increase your exercise levels.

Maintain adequate fluid intake.
Not drinking enough fluid has significant implications for mental health. The early effects of even mild dehydration can affect our feelings and behaviour.
An adult loses approximately 2.5 litres of water daily through the lungs as water vapour, through the skin as perspiration and through the kidneys as urine. If you don’t drink enough fluids to replace this loss then you will get symptoms of dehydration, including irritability, loss of concentration and reduced mental functioning.
Coffee, colas, some energy drinks and tea all contain caffeine, which some people use to boost energy levels. However, in large quantities caffeine can increase blood pressure, anxiety, depressive symptoms and sleep problems.
Caffeine also has a diuretic effect in the body – it encourages the production of urine and therefore leads to dehydration. For this reason you should not rely solely on caffeine-based fluids.
If you do take drinks with caffeine in them, try to limit yourself to just 3–4 cups per day and drink other fluids such as water, fruit juice and non-stimulant herbal teas at other times. Chocolate also contains caffeine and should be limited to an occasional treat.

Limit your alcohol intake.
Alcohol has a depressant effect on the brain and can result in a rapid worsening of your mood. It is also a toxin that has to be deactivated by the liver. During this detoxification process the body uses thiamin, zinc and other nutrients and this can deplete your reserves, especially if your diet is poor.
Thiamin and other vitamin deficiencies are common in heavy drinkers and can cause low mood, irritability and/or aggressive behaviour, as well as more serious and long-term mental health problems.
Because the body uses important nutrients to process alcohol, people who experience depression should consider avoiding alcohol until they have recovered. Even then, because of alcohol’s depressant effects, they should consider drinking only small amounts – no more than once a week.
If you do want to drink alcohol, try not to exceed the recommended safe limits – two units a day for women and three units for men.
1 unit = 1 small glass wine (8 % ABV)
½ pint beer or lager (3.5 % ABV)
1 single measure spirits (40 % ABV)
1 small glass sherry or port (20 % ABV)

Read More

The Kind Of Food You Eat Could Determined Your Mental Health (2)

( being the continuation of Tuesday's topic on the effect of foods on mental health, sent in by an expert from Mental Health Foundation ).

Eat regular meals throughout the day to maintain blood sugar levels.
Make sure you eat at least three meals each day. Missing meals, especially breakfast, leads to low blood sugar and this causes low mood, irritability and fatigue. If you feel hungry between meals you may need to include a healthy snack eg. fruit, nuts and cereals.



East fewer high sugar foods and more wholegrain cereals, nuts, beans, lentils, fruit and vegetables.
Sugary foods are absorbed quickly into the bloodstream. This may cause an initial ‘high’ or surge of energy that soon wears off as the body increases its insulin production, leaving you feeling tired and low.
Wholegrain cereals, pulses, fruit and vegetables are more filling and, because the sugar in these foods is absorbed more slowly, don’t cause mood swings.
These foods are more nutritious as they contain thiamin (B1), a vitamin that has been associated with control of mood, and folate and zinc (supplements of these nutrients have been shown to improve the mood of people with depression in a small number of studies).
Choose:

• bread – wholemeal and granary rather than white. Also try rye breads, pumpernickel, wholemeal pitta bread, wholemeal chapattis, oat cakes, rice cakes and corn cakes

• breakfast cereals – choose high fibre, low sugar types eg. wholegrain or bran cereals or porridge

• rice and pasta – go for Basmati and brown rice (this gives a nutty texture in salads) and wholemeal pasta

• potatoes – serve boiled new potatoes in their skins (with a little bit of butter) or mashed or jacket potatoes. Potato wedges (lightly brushed with olive oil) are a lower fat alternative to chips and roast potatoes if you are watching your weight. Try sweet potatoes or yams for a change – these are delicious baked.

Aim to eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day eg. 1 glass of orange juice or ½ grapefruit for breakfast, a banana or apple for a mid morning snack, salad at lunch time and then two types of vegetable (a portion is roughly two serving spoons) and piece of fresh or baked fruit for your evening meal.
NB: Green vegetables should be steamed or boiled in a little water and should not be overcooked or you will lose much of the vitamin content.
Avoid sugar and sugary drinks, cakes, sweets and puddings. These are loaded with calories but have little nutritional value and may trigger mood swings because of their sugar content.

Include protein at every meal to ensure a continuous supply of the amino acid tryptophan to the brain.
We all need to eat enough protein to maintain our skin, organ, muscle and immune function but recent research suggests that one particular component of protein, the amino acid tryptophan, can influence mood.
Supplements of tryptophan were tested in studies and in some were shown to improve the mood of people with depression. The supplements were not considered safe and were removed from the market. However, you can ensure your brain gets a regular supply of tryptophan by including at least one good sized portion of protein at each meal ie. meat, fish, eggs, milk, cheese, nuts, beans, lentils (dhal), or a meat substitute such as textured vegetable protein or mycoprotein.
NB: Peanuts are low in tryptophan so if you eat them at a meal-time include another source of protein (eg. other nuts) at the same time...
(To be continued next week)
 

Read More

The Kind Of Food You Eat Could Determined Your Mental Health

According to Mental Health Foundation, one of the most obvious, yet under-recognised factors in the development of major trends in mental health is the role of nutrition. The body of evidence linking diet and mental health is growing at a rapid pace. As well as its impact on short and long-term mental health, the evidence indicates that food plays an important contributing role in the development, management and prevention of specific mental health problems such as depression, schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Nearly two thirds of those who do not report daily mental health problems eat fresh fruit or fruit juice every day, compared with less than half of those who do report daily mental health problems. This pattern is similar for fresh vegetables and salad. Those who report some level of mental health problem also eat fewer healthy foods (fresh fruit and vegetables, organic foods and meals made from scratch) and more unhealthy foods (chips and crisps, chocolate, ready meals and takeaways).
A balanced mood and feelings of wellbeing can be protected by ensuring that our diet provides adequate amounts of complex carbohydrates, essential fats, amino acids, vitamins and minerals and water.
While a healthy diet can help recovery, it should sit alongside other treatments recommended by your doctor.

What we are eating now is very different from that of our recent ancestors. Food production and manufacturing techniques, coupled with changing lifestyles and increasing access to processed foods, mean that our intake of fresh, nutritious, local produce is much lower, at the same time as our intake of fat, sugar, alcohol and additives is much higher. It has been estimated that the average person in the UK and other industrialised countries will eat more than 4 kilogrammes of additives every year. Same goes for cities in Africa, and Nigeria in particular where rich elites live. Over the last 60 years there has been a 34% decline in developed countries vegetable consumption with currently only 13% of men and 15% of women now eating at least five portions of fruit and vegetables per day. People in such countries eat 59% less fish than they did 60 years ago - decreasing the consumption of essential omega-3 fatty acids.

A healthy diet can be more expensive. Fish, fruit and vegetables can be particularly pricey. However, by cutting down on sugary drinks and snacks, takeaways and alcohol, you can save money so you can buy healthier foods.
Take care to buy only as much as you know you can use within the next few days, to reduce waste. You can also cut your costs by taking advantage of special promotions and by shopping at market stalls, which are often cheaper than supermarkets. If you live alone you could save money by splitting purchases with friends (buying bulk is usually cheaper) or by cooking several portions of a dish and freezing some of them. This also saves energy and saves you the effort of preparing meals every day.
Frozen fruit and vegetables are often cheaper than fresh produce and are usually just as good nutritionally (with no wastage). Fresh fruit and vegetables are usually cheapest when they are in season. Beans, lentils and soy mince are also cheaper than meat and just as nutritious...
(To be continued tomorrow)

Read More

"Forgiveness Prevent High Blood Pressure, Heart Problems, Others" - Sammy Nickalls, Content Manager, Inspiyr

Natural health is not just about herbs, foods, fitness gears and body massaging machines. If the WHO definition of health as the totality of one's well being (including physical, mental, emotional, an spiritual well being) is anything to go by, then emotional intelligence should be a vital part of natural health. Today, we present an article on forgiveness sent in by Sammy Nickalls, the Content Manager at Inspiyr. 
A sage once said, “Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.”
Most of us equate this “burn” to psychological distress; after all, holding a grudge causes you more mental pain than the person who did you wrong.
But do you know that holding a grudge can cause you physical pain as well? You would be doing your body as well as your mind some good if you took the path of forgiveness instead. There are many health benefits of forgiveness that may make you rethink whether that grudge is really worth it. But first…

Some confuse forgiving with just verbally accepting an apology, but that’s not true. Although saying “it’s okay” often goes hand in hand with forgiveness, these things are not one in the same.
In order to forgive you must let go of your anger and negative thoughts and forgive the person deep within yourself as well as outwardly. You can even do this without a true apology, if the person doesn’t feel they are wrong or has too much pride.
Forgiveness is not just a formality, but a state of mind. And that loving, accepting state of mind can lift you from a lot of burdens—mentally and physically.

5 Health Benefits of Forgiveness

1. Lowers stress levels

According to a study done by Hope College reseachers, one of the benefits of forgiveness is lower amounts of cortisol.
Researchers examined 71 participants and their physical responses when they spoke about grudges as opposed to when they spoke about forgiveness and empathy. Those who exhibited more forgiving perspectives had lower physiological stress responses.

2. Keeps your heart healthy

Forgiveness is good for the heart—literally. One study suggests that people who hold on to grudges tend to have higher heart rates, while those who are more empathetic and able to forgive tend to have lower heart rates.
Why hold onto anger when it will make your heart do more work than it needs to do?

3. Lowers pain

Having a forgiving heart may lower both emotional and physical pain, according to a study done by Duke University Medical Center researchers. Out of 61 subjects who suffered from chronic back pain, those who were more likely to forgive reported lower levels of pain, leading researchers to believe that “a relationship appears to exist between forgiveness and important aspects of living with persistent pain.”

4. Lowers blood pressure

Letting go of that anger you’ve been harboring might lower your blood pressure. Studies show that forgiveness is linked to lower blood pressure.

5. Extends life

Your grudges might be shaving years off your life. According to one study, after testing adults ages 66 and older and determining their ability to forgive, those who were more forgiving in nature tended to live longer. Forgive, and you’ll live!

Read More

The Environment: Health Effects Of Noise Pollution

Today, the world marks the World Environment Day and we cannot but focus on an aspect of environmental hazard that is not usually touched when environmental issues come up on a day like this. Noise health effects are the health consequences of elevated sound levels. Elevated workplace or other noise can cause hearing impairment, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, annoyance, and sleep disturbance. Changes in the immune system and birth defects have been attributed to noise exposure^.
Although some presbycusis may occur naturally with age, in many developed nations the cumulative impact of noise is sufficient to impair the hearing of a large fraction of the population over the course of a lifetime. Noise exposure also has been known to induce tinnitus, hypertension, vasoconstriction, and other cardiovascular adverse effects.
Beyond these effects, elevated noise levels can create stress, increase workplace accident rates, and stimulate aggression and other anti-social behaviors. The most significant causes are vehicle and aircraft noise, prolonged exposure to loud music, and industrial noise. In Nigerian cities, road traffic has been demonstrated to cause almost 80% of the noise annoyances reported. Other major causes include megaphones use by religious bodies like churches and mosques, and sounds made by traders hawking their products with public address systems.
There may be psychological definitions of noise as well. Firecrackers may upset domestic and wild animals or noise-traumatized individuals. The most common noise-traumatized persons are those exposed to military conflicts, but often loud groups of people can trigger complaints and other behaviors about noise. Infants are easily startled by noise.
The social costs of traffic noise in EU22 are more than €40 billion per year, and passenger cars and lorries (trucks) are responsible for bulk of costs. Traffic noise alone is harming the health of almost every third person in the most cities in Nigeria.
Noise also is a threat to marine and terrestrial ecosystems.
As we mark the World Environment Day today, we can only hope that the government at various levels will come up with policies and programs that will stem the tide of noise pollution in Nigeria, especially the urban areas.

Read More

The Importance Of A Healthy Breakfast To The Day's Productivity

Life in Nigerian cities could be very hectic. On a busy working day, it is common for many workers to skip breakfast and replace a healthy meal with a strong dose of caffeine. What they fail to realise is that a healthy breakfast will, in fact help to boost their concentration and, in turn, maximise their productivity.
It is also common for us to avoid food when we are nervous, for example, before an interview for a job we have our heart set on. However, if we are not focused due to having an empty stomach, we are less likely to succeed in the interview and could consequently miss out on the chance of a lifetime.
By keeping hunger pangs at bay, we are able to work more effectively and are more attentive; we all want and, indeed, need to work at our best in order to achieve results and achieve for ourselves. If we do not perform at our best, we risk losing business for our companies and, in turn, will not progress in our chosen career.
Eating healthily will help us avoid making mistakes and will help to ensure that we are successful. Essentially breakfast provides the fuel we need to function, much like a car needs petrol to run. By skipping breakfast, we are literally running on empty tank.
Research has shown that if the key nutrients the body needs such as calcium, iron B vitamins, protein and fibre are not consumed as part of a healthy breakfast they are less likely to be compensated for later in the day.

Read More

How Genetically Modified Foods Are Made - Expert

Yesterday, we ran the story of how Genetically Modified Foods have infiltrated the Nigerian market and the potential adverse effects they may have on health. In today's follow-up, we present an expose of how GMOs are made. It was sent in by an expert from International Service For The Aquisition Of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA).
A GM or transgenic crop is a plant that has a novel combination of genetic material obtained through the use of modern biotechnology.
For example, a GM crop can contain a gene(s) that has been artificially inserted instead of the plant acquiring it through pollination.
The resulting plant is said to be “genetically modified” although in reality all crops have been “genetically modified” from their original wild state by domestication, selection, and controlled breeding over a long periods of time.
GM crops are made through a process known as genetic engineering. Genes of commercial interest are transferred from one organism to another. Two primary methods currently exist for introducing transgenes into plant genomes. The first involves a device called a ‘gene gun.’ The DNA to be introduced into the plant cells is coated onto tiny particles. These particles are then physically shot onto plant cells. Some of the DNA comes off and is incorporated into the DNA of the recipient plant. The second method uses a bacterium to introduce the gene(s) of interest into the plant DNA.
Most of the research on GM crops has been carried out in developed countries, mainly in North America and Western Europe. However, many developing countries, Nigeria included, have also established the capacity for genetic engineering or a market for GMO foods.
 With every new emerging technology, there are potential risks. These include:

• The danger of unintentionally introducing allergens and other antinutrition factors in foods
• The likelihood of transgenes escaping from cultivated crops into wild relatives
• The potential for pests to evolve resistance to the toxins produced by GM crops
• The risk of these toxins affecting nontarget organisms.

Where legislation and regulatory institutions are in place, there are elaborate steps to precisely avoid or mitigate these risks. It is the obligation of the technology innovators (i.e., scientists), producers, and the government to assure the public of the safety of the novel foods that they offer as well as their benign effect on the environment.

Read More

Genetically Modified Foods Now In The Nigerian Markets - Survey

A market survey carry out by Nigeria Natural Health Online www.kimekwu.blogspot.com has revealed that Genetically Modify Foods otherwise known as GMOs are now in various Nigerian market spread across cities like Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kaduna, Kano, Enugu, Benin city, and some few others. Our findings show that these GMO foods are sold in high brow super market and shops patronised by mostly the elite in the society.
Our investigations also review how to identify these GMOs from the normal organic foods. These distinctions can be in terms of the colour, outer lining, size and taste of such foods which are mostly vegetables and fruits.
A shop owner at lekki in Lagos, who wanted to remain anonymous, told our reporter: "It is not difficult distinguishing genetically modified foods from the normal foods. The colour of GMO foods are often more brilliant and attractive, their outer lining is thicker their size is more than the normal size. If you see an orange or an apple or a cucumber that is much bigger in size than the normal ones you have, then know it is a GMO food. Also, GMO foods are not as tasty as normal foods and the fruits among them do not usually have seeds inside of them."
Genetically modified foods have come under serious attacks and condemnations by various research scientists who say they are capable of causing chronic diseases in the body. Below are some research result of GMO foods.

1. Multiple Toxins From GMOs Detected In Maternal and Fetal Blood

Research from Canada (the first of its kind) has successfully identified the presence of pesticides -associated with genetically modified foods in maternal, fetal and non-pregnant women’s blood. They also found the presence of Monsanto’s Bt toxin. The study was published in the Journal Reproductive Toxicology in 2011.

2. DNA From Genetically Modified Crops Can Be Transferred Into Humans Who Eat Them

In a new study published in the peer reviewed Public Library of Science (PLOS), researchersemphasize that there is sufficient evidence that meal-derived DNA fragments carry complete genes that can enter into the human circulation system through an unknown mechanism.(2)

In one of the blood samples the relative concentration of plant DNA is higher than the human DNA.  The study was based on the analysis of over 1000 human samples from four independent studies. PLOS is an open access, well respected peer-reviewed scientific journal that covers primary research from disciplines within science and medicine. It’s great to see this study published in it, confirming what many have been suspected for years.

“Our bloodstream is considered to be an environment well separated from the outside world and the digestive tract. According to the standard paradigm large macromolecules consumed with food cannot pass directly to the circulatory system. During digestion proteins and DNA are thought to be degraded into small constituents, amino acids and nucleic acids, respectively, and then absorbed by a complex active process and distributed to various parts of the body through the circulation system. Here, based on the analysis of over 1000 human samples from four independent studies, we report evidence that meal-derived DNA fragments which are large enough to carry complete genes can avoid degradation and through an unknown mechanism enter the human circulation system. In one of the blood samples the relative concentration of plant DNA is higher than the human DNA. The plant DNA concentration shows a surprisingly precise log-normal distribution in the plasma samples while non-plasma (cord blood) control sample was found to be free of plant DNA.” (2)

This still doesn’t mean that GMOs can enter into our cells, but given the fact GMOs have been linked to cancer (later in this article) it is safe to assume it is indeed a possibility. The bottom line is that we don’t know, and this study demonstrates another cause for concern.

3. New Study Links GMOs To Gluten Disorders That Affect 18 Million Americans

This study was recently released by the Institute for Responsible Technology (IRT), and uses data from the US department of Agriculture, US Environmental Protection Agency, medical journal reviews as well as other independent research. (3)(4) The authors relate GM foods to five conditions that may either trigger or exacerbate gluten-related disorders, including the autoimmune disorder, Celiac Disease:

• Intestinal permeability
• Imbalanced gut bacteria
• Immune activation and allergic response
• Impaired digestion
• Damage to the intestinal wall

The Institute for Responsible technology is a world leader in educating policy makers and the public about GMO foods and crops. The institute reports and investigates on the impact GM foods can have on health, environment, agriculture and more.

4. Study Links Genetically Modified Corn to Rat Tumors

In November 2012, The Journal of Food and Chemical Toxicology published a paper titled ‘Long term toxicity of a Roundup herbicide and a Roundup-tolerant genetically modified maize’ by Gilles-Eric Seralini and his team of researchers at France’s Caen University. (5)

It was a very significant study, which obviously looks bad for the big bio tech companies like Monsanto, being the first and only long term study under controlled conditions examining the possible effects of a diet of GMO maize treated with Monsanto roundup herbicide.

This study has since been retracted, which is odd, because the journal it was published in is a very well known, reputable peer reviewed scientific journal. In order for a study to be published here it has to go through a rigorous review process.

It’s also important to note that hundreds of scientists from around the world have condemned the retraction of the study. This study was done by experts, and a correlation between GMOs and these tumors can’t be denied, something happened.

The multiple criticisms of the study have also been answered by the team of researchers that conducted the study. You can read them and find out more about the study here.

GM Crop Production is Lowering US Yields and Increasing Pesticide Use

5. Glyphosate Induces Human Breast Cancer Cells Growth via Estrogen Receptors

A study is published in the US National Library of Medicine (4) and will soon be published in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology. Several recent studies showed glyphosate’s potential to be an endocrine disruptor. Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that can interfere with the hormone system in mammals. These disruptors can cause developmental disorders, birth defects and cancer tumors. (6)

Glyphosate exerted proliferative effects only in human hormone-dependent breast cancer. We found that glyphosate exhibited a weaker estrogenic activity than estradiol. Furthermore, this study demonstrated the additive estrogenic effects of glyphosate and genisein which implied that the use of contaminated soybean products as dietary supplements may pose a risk of breast cancer because of their potential additive estrogenicity. (6)

Researchers also determined that Monsanto’s roundup is considered an “xenoestrogen,” which is a foreign estrogen that mimics real estrogen in our bodies. This can cause a number of problems that include an increased risk of various cancers, early onset of puberty, thyroid issues, infertility and more.

So, when next you want to buy that orange, apple, water-melon, cucumber or any other kind of fruits and vegetables in a super market, be sure to look very carefully before you buy.

Read More

Vemma Nutrition Excites Lagosians With Wealth Creation Opportunities, "Another Event holds Tomorrow At Same Venue" - Management

Last Saturday, Lagosians defiled the rain to take advantage of the opportunities provded by Vemma Nutrition Nigeria in the wealth creation seminar organised by the company in Lekki. And they were not disappointed The facilitators opened their eyes to the numerous stream of income opportunities that exist within the Vemma nutrition network.

Some of the participants who spoke with Nigerian Natural Health Online expressed joy and optimism at the outcome of the event ( see pix below) and said they were looking forward to a rewarding partnership with Vemma Nutrition.

Those who could not make it to the event last Saturday now has an opportunity making it tomorrow at the same venue.

 A statement by the company, which was made available to Nigeria Natural Health Online, reads:"We will be having another business seminar this Saturday 30th may 2015 @ Bukha restaurant, Oando filling station, Lekki Epe express way. Ikota 2nd gate bus stop. VGC. Lekki. Time is 10am"

All enquiries should be address to Wilfred on 08091039103 Or - Esther on 08183494434

Read More

"African Governments Should Pass The Traditional Medicine Bill Now!" - Dr Mrs Quincy Olasunbo Ayodele, WHO Expert On Development Of African Traditional Medicine

(Being the conclusion of the interview - started yesterday - between Nigeria Natural Health Online's editor, Dumbiri Frank Eboh and the MD/CEO of Quincy Herbal Slimmers, Dr Mrs Quincy Olasunbo Ayodele who is also a WHO expert in the development of African traditional medicine. In this segment, Dr Ayodele speaks on the apathy of African governments to the practice of traditional medicine in the continent. She also makes the shocking revelation of how Nigerian herbal practitioners sell their formulas to foreign companies because they cannot afford the capital requirement of regulatory agencies.)

What is the present crop of leadership of the national association of Nigerian traditional medicine practitioners (NANTMP) and how have they being pushing the cause of traditional medicine in Nigeria?

As you well know, I was the pioneer secretary – general of NANTMP and when I was on seat, we put a lot of things in place. We worked with NAFDAC to make sure that herbal medicines are registered correctly. We also work with Advertising Practitioners Council Of Nigeria (APCON) to make sure that there were no more spurious claims by practitioners. We worked with a lot of government agencies. All that happened when I was on seat; right now, I have moved up. I am now a WHO expert in the development of African traditional medicine. I’m sure the current executives of NANTMP are there doing what they can do. They must be able to tell us how far they have gone. And we are waiting for them to tell us what they have done. But as a herbal medicine practitioner in Nigeria, I want to use this opportunity to appeal to Nigerian government to pass the Traditional Medicine bill into law. When I was the secretary - general of NANTMP, we had a lot of practitioners registered. So the professionals are there, the plants are there and we are ready. The Nigerian Herbal Medicine Industry is ready for commercialization but what is delaying us now is the traditional medicine bill which the Nigerian government is yet to pass into law. If that bill is passed, it will augur well both for the practitioners and the economy. We would be exporting our herbal medicine and thereby earn good foreign exchange for the country because there is money in traditional medicine.

Recently, the Nigerian government announced that it was introducing herbal medicine as a course of study in Nigerian universities. As an expert in the field, what advice would you give to the government on how to implement this policy?

Well, let me inform you that, I was part of the team that prepared the WHO document on Collaboration and Integration of herbal medicine into the existing health care system of African member Nations. I believe the Nigerian Minister of Health has that paper, everything on how to go about it was spelt out in that paper, including even the remuneration of herbal practitioners in the country. I happen to be the person that wrote the paper on the collaboration of herbal medicine practitioners and orthodox medicine practitioners. It is a strategic frame work aimed at making the two types of medicine to complement each other. I believe the various ministries of healthy in each Africa member states have this paper and am sure they are doing something in that respect. In that document, we stated that traditional medicine should be put in the curriculum of universities across Africa, not just in Nigeria. I have a copy of that document here in my office which stipulates how Ministers should go about the integration. We even held a meeting with all Ministers of State before the paper came out. That meeting was held in Angola. But the only thing that is delaying  that of Nigeria is the fact that the federal government has not been able to pass the Traditional Medicine Bill into law.

At what stage is this bill? Is it that it has been pass by the National Assembly and the President has refused to give assent to it?

The bill is still at the National Assembly. I think they mentioned it once on the floor of the house but we are still waiting for them to mention it more so that they can begin the process of passing it into law.

As a WHO expert, what does your area of coverage entail?

It entails the development of African Traditional Medicine in practice, Practitioners and Products. We meet together to robe minds, plan and strategize on how to develop Traditional Medicine in Africa. It also entails how to develop the practitioners in Africa and how to develop the products in Africa. It’s a whole lot of work. We meet, plan and come up with a communique on particular issue. For instance, there was a time we planed for a decade of traditional medicine in Africa but now we have extended it because we didn’t finish what was expected within that decade. We have now renewed it for another ten years. So we are now moving forward for the next ten years.

As somebody who started from the local, to the National and now at the African Continental level, you must have pass through some challenges in the course of your journey up. What are some of the challenges facing the Traditional Medicine Industry in Nigeria and Africa at large?

Again, I will speak as a WHO expert on the development of African Traditional Medicine. There are some challenges that we discuss during our meetings. One of these is the Traditional Medicine Bill. Only about six member states have so fast pass that bill into law and this is not good for African Traditional Medicine. It’s a major challenge facing the practice of Traditional Medicine in Africa. If only member states can pass this bill into law, then we would have move the practice very, very high more than at the level which we are now. Imagine Nigeria has not pass the bill into law and Nigeria is considered to be the largest industry as far as Traditional Medicine is concern in Africa; and yet it has not pass that bill into law. Nigeria is suppose to be leading for others to follow but sadly that is not how it is in this case. So am using this medium to ask Governments at every level to pass that bill into law. In fact, African Governments should pass the Traditional Medicine bill into law now! There is also the challenge of training of practitioners. We have a lot of practitioners that are illiterate yet their practice is okay. You cannot say because they are illiterate they don’t know how to treat some ailment with herbal medicine. So we have to train them to meet global standards in herbal medicine practice. We don’t want to continue to produce our products in the local way; we want to produce them with international standards while still retaining the Africa identity. African traditional medicine is for Africans by Africans. Our own medicine is peculiar to us in Africa and there is a way we develop it.

What do you have to say about the influx of foreign herbal medicine brands, specially those from Asia, into Nigeria?

The truth is that even though our practitioners are well versed in the act of traditional medicine practice, they can not get their brands registered because of the exorbitant cause of registration. Many practitioners cannot afford to pay for registration. Is not just the cost; the standard infrastructure that must be put in place is also a very big challenge to many practitioners who do not have the required capitals to set up such structures. How can you ask somebody who knows how to cure simple stomach ailment with simple herbs to set up factory before he can be registered? Where will the person see that kind of money to set up such a factory? You are require to have water tank, treatment tank and other facilities that are too costly for many traditional to afford. So what most traditional do now is that they sell their formulas to foreign companies, especially those from China and America. These foreign companies will now manufacture it and bring it back to be sold in Nigerian market. It’s a pity! If only their regulative agencies could have an alternative way that will not require a road side herbal practitioner - who actually know the practice but does not have the huge capital to get registered – to be frustrated into selling his formulas to foreign companies, It would go a long way in helping indigenous practitioners. Let government look for another way of getting this people registered. Government could for instance, assess the efficacy of such product or services and when they have being proving to be effective, they could be registered while government provides the facilities in such a way that registered herbal practitioner could come and rent. These would end this shameful act whereby Nigeria practitioner sell their formulas to foreign companies.

Now, let’s bring the interview to a close by looking once more at Quincy Herbal Slimmers. Where do you see Quincy Herbal Slimmers in the next five or ten years?

God as always been on our side. He was the one that started the journey for us and he will never leave us. He has brought us this far and will take us much further than this in the ten years or more. And by the special grace of God, Quincy will be a very big brand comparable to Coca-cola. Quincy will be to the Herbal industry what Coca-cola is to the soft drinkS industry.

Read More