There Are Great Potentials For Nigerian Natural Medicine - Dr. Olu Adeola

Mr. Olu Adeola is the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Abeokuta-based Globalherbs Natural Healthcare Product Company. In this chat with Financial Vanguard in Abeokuta recently, the Business Administration and Management graduate from the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, speaks on why he ventured into natural/traditional medicine and why Nigeria has not been able to exploit her huge bio-resources potential.

Why natural medicine?
According to Adeola, he got into natural medicine because of its huge potential for Nigeria. "I have been in this business for over a decade. I was seconded from Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA).
I was in a collaborative venture with the agency and while there, they discovered the enormous potential in me and my ability for in-depth research into our traditional medicine because Nigerians as a people, only look forward but fail to look backward. You have to look at the past and move on in the present to project the future.
"What fascinated me in natural\traditional medicine is that it has a lot of potential in arresting most of the ailments especially in sub-Sahara Africa that orthodox medicine does not have cure for. As everyone knows, malaria is our major problem in Africa and for a very long time, we have depended on western countries for solutions to most of our problems.
This should not be the case because God has created us in this environment and has given us all that we need to survive under this environment but it is perhaps, our inability to look inwards that has made it impossible for us to unlock the potential within our environment.
Since I came into natural medicine, it has been a blessing to me, my family and mankind because over the years, I have been able to collaborate with the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) in Abuja in the research for drugs for diabetes, tuberculosis, malaria and other ailments."
Asked whether they have come up with any natural drug for diabetes, he said: "A lot of good things have been done by NIPRD and even the NNMDA, but you know, the problem in Nigeria is lack of funding. I know that at NIPRD, a lot of work has been done on that but as you know, research is not something you start one day and come out with your findings the next day. It takes about 10 years. In orthodox medicine, they have to do a lot of write-ups and carry out a lot of tests."
Some of the products developed:
"I developed a product called Valueplus, a dental drop and mouthwash. It is 100 per cent Nigerian product and it has been submitted to NIPRD for scientific investigation. It can help HIV-positive people against opportunistic infections like oral thrush as well as HIV negative people who want to preserve their dental health. Other products are Dr. Malaria, hyperherbs, combatol range of hair and skin products, bitters etc.
"NNMDA has been up and doing as it relates to most of the products I have developed because I have a good working relationship with the leadership of the agency. Also, the Director-General of the National Board for Technology Incubation, Dr. Mohammed Jibrin has been highly resourceful and supportive.
To most entrepreneurs at the Technology Incubation Centre, Abeokuta, it is like going back to the classroom because for every product you make, there is a mandate that you must be able to present it for external investigation. So it is not just to claim that you have done so and so, you have to defend it,"he said.
Home Remedies for Coughs
Adeola who presently has three employees and hopes to employ more if he is able to access funds, appealed to the Federal Government to make the conditions for accessing loan from the Bank of Industry less stringent so entrepreneurs can easily access loans from the bank as that will help Nigeria move from a mono economy to diversified economy to enable her exploit the huge potential in bio-resources. "Nigeria has got it but the only thing is our inability to exploit it.
"All my raw materials are locally sourced except some of the packaging materials which we import because most of the companies that produce the packaging materials are not in the country so we resort to buying from outside the country. Aside that, virtually everything has been given to us in Nigeria free of charge."

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Go Ahead, Eat That Onion!

Onions are part of the allium family of vegetables and herbs, which also includes chives, garlic, scallions and leeks. Allium vegetables have been cultivated for centuries for not only their characteristic, pungent flavors but also for their medicinal properties. Onions can vary in size, shape, color and flavor. The most common types are red, yellow and white onion. Flavors can vary from sweet and juicy with a mild flavor to sharp, spicy, and pungent, often depending on the season in which they are grown and consumed. It is estimated that 105 billion pounds of onions are harvested each year worldwide.
The health benefits of consuming onions include lowering the risk of several types of cancer, improving mood and maintaining the health of skin and hair.

Onions are a nutrient-dense food, meaning that while they are low in calories, they are high in beneficial nutrients like vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. One cup of chopped onion contains approximately 64 calories, 15 grams of carbohydrate, 0 grams of fat, 0 grams of cholesterol, 3 grams of fiber, 7 grams of sugar, 2 grams of protein and 10% or more of the daily value for vitamin C, vitamin B-6 and manganese. Onions also contain small amounts of calcium, iron, folate, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium and the antioxidants quercetin and sulfur.

Onions can be sautéed, roasted, grilled or caramelized, be used fresh as a topping for sandwiches or salads and added to salsas and dips.

Look for onions that are dry and firm with little to no scent before they are peeled.
Adding onion is a great way to add flavor to a dish without adding extra calories, fat or sodium. They are often a staple in many kitchens and pair well with most dishes.

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The Edge Of Natural Medicine Over Orthodox Drugs

Herbal Health Care is mainly specialized and sales of natural healthcare products made from traditional medicine.

Experts say the modern medical system treats the symptoms and suppresses the disease but does little to ascertain the real cause. Toxic drugs which may suppress or relieve some ailments usually have harmful side-effects. Drugs usually hinder the self-healing efforts of the body and make recovery more difficult. According to the late Sir William Osler, an eminent physician and surgeon, when drugs are used, the patient has to recover twice - once from the illness, and once from the drug.

Drugs cannot cure diseases; disease continues. It is only its pattern that changes. Drugs also produce dietary deficiencies by destroying nutrients, using them up, and preventing their absorption. Moreover, the toxicity they produce occurs at a time when the body is least capable of coping with it. The power to restore health thus lies not in drugs,but in nature.

The approach of modern system is more on combative lines after the disease has set in, whereas nature cure system lays greater emphasis on preventive method and adopts measures to attain and maintain health and prevent disease. The modern medical system treats each disease as a separate entity, requiring specific drug for its cure, whereas the nature cure system treats the organism as a whole and seeks to restore harmony to the whole of the patient’s being.

Home remedies and natural cures or medicines made at home from natural ingredients such as fruits, vegetables, herbs are catching a lot of attention due to its very nature of cure: simple, no side effects, no chemicals, inexpensive, plus the pleasure of being able to cure yourself!

Currently, Herbal HealthCare products have been exported to many countries and regions such as Russia, Lithuania, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Israel, Poland and Germany. Meanwhile, its headquarters has been established in Europe (Moscow) and such branches as in Lithuania, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Yekaterinburg and New Siberia have been founded, with the products having been scheduled to be launched into Southeast Asian and African markets.

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Herbal Medicine As A Course Of Study In Nigerian Universities: Matters Arisen

Herbal medicine is often regarded as esoteric science – studied and practiced by a select few. But thanks to a new university curriculum the federal government is introducing, herbal medicine may soon become a part of mainstream science in Nigeria.

The government has concluded plans to introduce herbal medicine studies in Nigerian universities. This announcement was made at the 3rd Annual Guest Lecture organized by Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, MHWUN, in Abuja.

Ever since this was made known last year, the issue has been debated in many quarters. To most Nigerian's this is a welcome development. Practitioners in the Nigerian Herbal Medicine industry say this would go a long way in enhancing the efficacy of Natural Medicine in Nigeria and bring professionalism to bear in the delivery in the non-orthodox segment of the health sector.

Speaking on the necessity of formalizing the study of herbal medicine, the then Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu expressed that universal health coverage cannot be achieved without the involvement of trained herbal medicine practitioners.

“If you are a herbal practitioner, you are a doctor. A herbalist is a doctor. But the first function of a doctor is to take a diagnosis. Is it Lassa fever or Ebola?  Or is it Dengue or is it malaria or typhoid? You have to get the answer before you begin to give that herb,” he said. 

He also stated that to fully understand the human body and make accurate diagnoses, knowledge of subjects including anatomy, biochemistry, pharmacology, Physiology, are needed. And this is what a formal herbal medicine curriculum could provide.

The course is expected to have commenced in universities early this year. But industry watchers say they are yet to see any visible sign that the course has kicked off in Nigeria Universities.

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Palm Oil Or Groundnut Oil - Which Should You Use?

Stew is a very important part of foods eaten in Nigerian cities. Here, it is used to eat special delicacies e.g. rice. Some also use it to eat amala, eba, fufu and even bread. Stew can be fried with a variety of oils; however, in Nigeria, the two kinds of oil mostly used are palm oil and groundnut or vegetable oil.  Even though, traditionally, palm oil pre-dates groundnut oil, the latter seems to be used more than the former. Findings, however, are beginning to indicate that palm oil may be a better ingredient for stew than groundnut oil – especially when mildly heated to burn off the saturated fats it is known for.
Palm oil is naturally reddish because it contains a high amount of beta-carotene (though boiling palm oil destroys the beta-carotene, rendering the oil colourless), which helps the eye to fight infections. Palm oil is one of the few vegetable oils relatively high in saturated fats (just like palm kernel oil and coconut oil). It is thus semi-solid at typical temperate climate room temperatures, though it will more often appear as liquid in warmer countries.
Palm oil contains several saturated and unsaturated fats in the forms of lauric (0.1%, saturated), myristic (0.1%, saturated), palmitic (44%, saturated), stearic (5%, saturated), oleic (39%, monounsaturated), linoleic (10%, polyunsaturated), and linolenic (0.3%, polyunsaturated) acids. Like any vegetable oils, palm oil is designated as cholesterol-free, though saturated fat intake increases cholesterol.
Palm oil is a very common cooking ingredient in southeast Asia and the tropical belt of Africa. Its increasing use in the commercial food industry in other parts of the world is buoyed by its cheaper pricing and the high oxidative stability of the refined product.
So, when next you want to fry that stew, which should you use - palm oil or groundnut oil?

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Orthodox Medicine Is Frustrating In The Treatment Of Infertility – Dr. Akanmu Ahmed Abolaji

Young and bursting with youth and exuberance, Dr. Akanmu Ahmed Abolaji, the Chief Medical Director of Ahmed Herbs $ Therapy  a frontline herbal hospital with head office in Lagos, is a herbal therapist of note. And when it comes to the issue of infertility, his own area of specialization, Dr Ahmed is a thoroughbred professional. This is evident from the hords of patients who, after being frustrated by orthodox doctors, come to him for a cure. And they never go back disappointed.

In this interview, the young therapist addresses herbal issues, especially those relating to infertility. He also speaks on the Nigerian alternative health industry. Enjoy.

On Ahmex Herbs & Therapy

I have been in the practice for the past 12 years but Ahmex Herbs & Therapy was established in 2007 – January to be precise. So, in a corporate sense, the company has been in existence for three years. Our mandate is to give utmost cure to our patients in our area of specialization, which is infertility and related ailments. In Ahmex, we are treatment conscious because we are committed to the healing of our patients. Some alternative outlets would want you to  come and buy their products again and again to treat the same illness. We are not like them. We are treatment conscious – the person must be completely healed before we can be satisfied.

Ahmen Herbs is a young company that has long experienced personnel; as a result, within our three years of corporate consistence, we have recorded tremendous results in many cases. Our patients are now mostly people who were recommended to come by those who received their healings here.

The machinery we have in Ahmex are strong ones. And even though our head office is in Lagos, our products and services can be accessed from almost anywhere in the country. Sometimes, I do phone call consultations. Besides, we have offices in Port Harcourt, Abuja, Kano and other cities, where qualified natural medicine therapists are on ground to attend to our patients.

Occasionally, I visit them. Even where we do not have offices, we attend to patients by sending our products to them after the phone call consultation. And because our medicines are well researched, they are well received anywhere in the country. 

The unreliability of orthodox medicines in treating  infertility

Our people have been so brain washed that they always consider orthodox medicine as a first choice when seeking a cure for their ailments. This is paradoxical because natural medicines are the best form of medicines for the body and medical doctors are acknowledging this fact. I wonder why our people should still cling to their belief when the so- called orthodox drugs are failing. For instance, most patients in my hospital are those who got frustrated from using western medicines to treat their infertility.

Thank God, some people are now coming to grasp with the truth and are embracing herbal medicine. People are coming back to nature, they want the kind of holistic treatment that Western medicine cannot give them. Herbal medicines are 100% extracted from natural products and very much like the food you eat, unlike their Western counterparts that are chemical based. That in fact is the reason why herbal medicine is the better option in the treatment of infertility.

Religious apathy towards herbal medicine

 Whether you are a Christian or muslin, I don’t think there is anything ungodly in using herbal medicine. Traditional medicine is so diverse that practitioners are now specializing on specific areas. For instance, in my own area of specialization, I cure with herbs. I do not carry out any form of rituals or incantations - it is simply curing with herbs.     

Now, here’s an example. You have someone suffering from cough. You take two bolls of lime and three table spoonfuls of good honey. You extract the juice from the lime, mix it with the honey and gives it to the person to drink three table spoons each  day for three days. What is so ungodly about that? So, using religions bias as a basis for not taking herbal medicines is baseless because both the Bible and the Quaran support its use. All the plants on earth are meant for food while their leaves are meant for medicine. After all, God is the creator of nature; so how can you say it is sin to use natural products?

Export potentials in the Nigerian herbal industry

Yes, it is possible to export Nigerian herbal products to oversea markets. Our herbal products, whether medicine or otherwise, are in hot demand over there. Just as we have people importing foreign herbal medicines into Nigeria, we can as well export to other countries. We all know why it is easy for these foreign brands to grow outside the shores of their respective countries. The support they get from their respective governments.

In Nigeria, the federal government has set up the NANTMP (National Association of Nigerian Traditional Medicine Practitioners) but government has to put money into it before it can function. Every year, money is voted for the health sector. A fraction of this budget ought to go to herbal medicine because it is the most popular and can be accessed easily by the average Nigerian. This would also ensure better export potentials for the industry.  I say this because, having been in the industry this while, I have come to realize that lack of facility is the most pressing challenge facing local practitioners.

The most common ailment amongst youths

The most common ailments amongst the youths are STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) and the reason for this is obvious - the youth period is one of active sexual engagement. Even adults, too have STDs because it is not only through sexual intercourse you can contract them. You can contract them from many ways, including even the air and the food you eat.

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