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Sunday 16 June 2024

 

Cheap Treatment for Cholera

Due to the outbreak of cholera in Nigeria, I am writing to share this blog so we can learn how to treat this infection with less than 200 naira.      

What is Cholera and Causes

      Cholera is an infection of the intestines caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae

      The bacteria is passed through faeces and you can get the infection from drinking water or eating food contaminated by cholera bacteria.

      Having cholera infection can cause life-threatening watery diarrhea and vomiting.

Neem

·    Azadirachta indica is locally known as dogonyaro in Nigeria and neem in English.

·     Decoction of the leaves has been popularly used for centuries by people in different parts of India for curing gastrointestinal disorders such as diarrhea and cholera.

·     Neem extracts have been reported to possess antibacterial, antifungal, antimalarial, and antiviral   properties.

 


 

Preparation, Usage and Storage

1.   Add a handful of dried or fresh neem leaves in 4 litres of water.

2.   Boil for 20 minutes.

3.   Allow to cool.

4.   Drink 200 to 250 ml (about a normal teacup) 3 times daily

 


 

5.   Children should be given 50ml to 100ml according to age and size.

6.   Refrigerate the remaining or warm daily for 10 minutes.     

Remember

If you are passing watery stools and vomiting frequently, drink oral rehydration solution or boiled cool water frequently to prevent dehydration.

To read more about the uses of neem read here and here


Friday 24 July 2020

Plant Medicine is All You Need to Heal

Do you know that....
  • Plants provide us with phytochemicals which we require for good health.
  • All parts of plants including leaves, stem, fruits, roots, seeds, flowers, stalk etc are filled with phytochemicals.
  • Phytochemicals are medicine which the body uses to heal naturally
Image may contain: food, text that says 'LOADS OF BENEFITS WHEN YOU CHOOSE TO EAT HEALTHY Start making your detox drinks today'

Making Wise Food Choices


A wise approach to eating the right food is to prepare from raw food ingredients.
Avoid processed foods because:
They contain additives and other ingredients which harm the body on the long run and;
A lot of the beneficial nutrients and other important components are removed during processing.
Image may contain: food




Tuesday 14 July 2020

Cryptolepsis Sanguinolenta Root Uses

Cryptolepis sanguinolenta is the botanical name given thin stemmed and scrambling shrub that is native to West Africa. It is known as paran pupa in Yoruba, gangamau in Hausa, quinine or yellow dye root in Ghana. 

The plant contains tannins, alkaloids and flavones with cryptolepine, quindoline and neocryptopine as the main alkaloids. The plant has the following pharmacological properties;

  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Antioxidant
  • Anti-plasmodial
  • Anti-bacterial
  • Anti-viral
  • Hypoglycemic
  • Anticancer
The roots are widely used to treat;

  • Bacterial respiratory infections
  • Hypertension
  • Diarrhea and dysentery
  • Malaria
  • Fever
  • Upper respiratory
  • Rheumatism
  • urinary tract infections
  • Jaundice
  • Hepatitis
  • Venereal diseases
  • Diabetes 
  • Hernia
  • Snake bites
  • Stomach issues

Apart from medicinal usage, the stem of the plant produces a yellow-orange juice that is used as dye. this juice becomes darker to red when the stem is drier. See the dried roots picture here.
The roots are used widely for the treatment of malaria and also takes care of the fever.

Share your experience with the usage of this plant. Follow on twitter @heal2bwell for updates.




 

    

Friday 10 July 2020

10 Herbs You Can Use To Treat Respiratory Issues




Respiratory issues and diseases are those of the airways and other lung structures. Some of the most common ones are listed below.
  • Chronic bronchitis is the inflammation and irritation of the bronchial tubes usually caused by long-term exposure to irritants
  • Asthma causes inflammation in the airways.
  • Pneumonia is infection of the air sacs of the lungs
  • Emphysema is caused by caused by long-term exposure to irritants which damage the lungs and airways.
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the name given to a group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties.
  • Sinusitis is the inflammation of the air cavities within the passages of the nose. This can be caused by infection, allergies or substances that can irritate the sinuses, leading to inflammation.
Most chronic conditions are characterised by the inflammatory response of the body. Chronic inflammation damages cells unless the cause of the response is removed.
       

Some of the symptoms of these conditions are;
  • Noisy breathing
  • Stubborn or persistent cough
  • Difficulty with breathing
  • Chronic mucus 
  • Coughing up blood
  • Wheezing
  • Chest pain

Below is a table of herbs which have different properties for helping to resolve respiratory issues symptoms.


 Name Some properties that are relevant to use for treating respiratory issues Read more
 GarlicAntioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral, anticoagulant Here
 OnionAntioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viralOnion benefits
 Bitter kolaAntioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viralBitter kola
 GingerAntioxidant, anti-inflammatory,  antibacterial, antiviral, anti-parasitic and antihistamine  Ginger
 Bitter leafAntioxidant, anti-inflammatory,  antibacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungalBitter leaf
 ClovesAntioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic,  antibacterial, antiviral, anti-fungalCloves
 Violet tree rootsAnti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic and anti-bacterialViolet tree roots
 African peach tree stemAnti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hypoglycaemic, analgesic and anti-bacterial, anagelsicAfrican peach tree stem
 Asthma weed/plantAntioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic,  antibacterial, antiviral, anti-fungal, analgelsic,Asthma weed
 Giant milkweedAnti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic and anti-bacterial, bronchiodilatorGiant milkweed

Lifestyle changes such as stopping smoking, regular exercise, staying active, maintaining healthy weight and choosing healthier food ingredients are also important in reducing illnesses and issues.

         
Lemons and limes are also two easily available ingredients which are wonderful for respiratory issues.

      

Share your experience with using alternative or natural means of resolving respiratory issues. I have used garlic, cloves, turmeric, onions and ginger with effective results at different times for sinusitis, infections and coughs.

Follow on twitter @heal2bwell for updates.







 







Monday 11 May 2020

Herbs You Can Use To Treat Typhoid Fever

Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection, which is caused by bacteria called salmonella typhi. The infection is caused by contaminated food and water, resulting in high fever and gastrointestinal problems. 

Its symptoms include high fevers, stomach pain, weakness and headache. Other symptoms can occur and infection can sometimes result in fatality if not treated appropriately.









There are plants that have antibacterial and antimicrobial properties which are used to treat typhoid fever effectively in Africa. 

Below are 15 herbs which can be used in combination or alone. Most are used in combination in Africa. 

 Common   Name Botanical Name Local Names Plant Part   More Information
 Neem Azadirachta indica Dogonyaro Leaves
Stem bark

Read about neem
 Pawpaw Carica papaya IbepeLeavesRead about Pawpaw
 Basil Ocimum gratissimumEffirin (Yoruba)
Nchannwu (Igbo)
 Whole plantRead about Basil
 Garlic Allium sativum Ayu (Yoruba) BulbRead about Allium sativum
 Sandpaper leaf  
 White fig tree 
 Ficus exasperata Ewe-ipin (Yoruba), Anwerenwa (Igbo), 
 Ameme (Edo)
 LeavesRead about Ficus exasperata
 Lemongrass Cymbopogan citratus koriko oba, koriko oyinbo (Yoruba)  Leaves 
 Guava Psidium guajava Guroba, gwabaa, gova Leaves 
 Bitter leaf Vernonia amygdalina Ewuro (Yoruba), Leaves Read about bitter leaf uses
 Brimstone tree Morinda lucida Oruwo (Yoruba), Ezeogwu (Igbo)  
 Bitter gourd Momordica foetida Ejinrin wewe (Yoruba), alu-osi, isugu Leaves 
 African peach Nauclea latifolia Egbesi (Yoruba), Mbom-mbog,
 Tabashiya (Hausa)
 Leaves,
 Bark
 Read about Nauclea latifolia
 Mango Mangifera indica  Mongoro (Yoruba), Leaves Read about mango leaves uses
 Moringa Moringa oleifera Ewe Igbale (Yoruba), Zogelle (Hausa)
 Idagbomunonye (Igbo)
 Leaves 
Physic nut Jatropha gossypifolia Botuje pupa, botuje lapalapa (Yoruba)
 oruruebo (Igbo)
Leaves 
Fertility tree Newbouldia laevis Akoko, (Yoruba) Aduruku (Hausa),
 Kontor (Tiv), Ikhimi (Bini), Ogirisi (Igbo),
Ogiriki (Urhobo)
 Leaves 

Caution should be taken when using herbs not to overuse. It is always better to start with small doses and monitor effectiveness and any side effects.

If you have used any of the plants listed above or any other unlisted for treating typhoid fever, please share below.

Follow on twitter for updates on this blog @heal2bwell.

Thursday 7 May 2020

Calotropis Procera Medicinal Uses

Calotropis procera is the botanical name for a medium-sized flowering plant that is native to Africa and Asia. It also grows in Australia, Caribbean Islands, Central and South America. Its common names include giant milkweed, sodom apple, apple of sodom, dead sea apple, dumb cotton and swallow-wort

In Nigeria, it is called bomu bomu (Yoruba), tumfafia (Hausa), kayou (Kanuri) bambami, bembami (Fulani)

It is used as a medicinal or ornamental or garden plant or regarded as a weed.

It has leaves which are 10 to 20 cm long and 5 to 10 cm wide. The plant exudes a white milky sap from any cut on it hence the name milkweed.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Some of its properties are;

  • Antiinflammatory
  • Antioxidant
  • Antibacterial
  • Analgesic
  • Antifungal
  • Anthelmintic
  • Bronchiodilator

Parts of the giant milkweed has been used to treat;
  • Toothache
  • Snakebite
  • Elephantiasis
  • Leprosy
  • Digestive disorders like diarrhea, dysentery, nausea, vomitting, flatulence
  • Respiratory issues like cough, sinusitis, asthma etc
  • Skin disorders like ringworm, sores, stings,eczema, warts, burns
  • Fungal infections
  • Fever
  • Gout
  • Arthritis and muscular pain
  • Ulcers
  • Parasitic infections
  • Toothache
  • Ear ache and infections
  • Malaria
  • Jaundice
This plant has been reported as poisonous but is widely use in Africa and Asia. In Nigeria, the plant leaves are used to coagulate milk when making cheese (wara). The leaves are smoked and inhaled to treat respiratory issues. The latex is used externally for skin infections

If you have used any part of giant milkweed to treat any ailment successfully. Please share in the comment section. Also any questions and feedback.

Follow on twitter for updates @heal2bwell for updates. Kindly share.