3 DIFFERENT EFFECTIVE HOME REMEDIES I GREW UP TO KNOW 🌴🌻

about 2 months ago (Edited)

Growing up in Nigeria was exciting with home remedies i grew up to know which i still found useful now even as an adult. Nigeria is blessed with medicinal plants, knowledge and practices passed down from generation to generation which are useful as home remedies even before the wide acceptance of this present day modern health care practice. Home remedies are practices, care given to a person who has a health challenge made or devised in one's home which may be unscientific and medicinal in nature. It is also known as folk remedy because of its inclination to culture, tradition or history passed down from one generation to another.

Home remedies are useful for sickness, fever, cough and other conditions which may develop even as an unforseen contingency or as a result of certain activities or lifestyle. Some of these home remedies i got to know them as i grew up but now understood why they are effective based on the virtue of my career as a healthcare professional especially in the light of scientific knowledge. The following are the top three (3) of such remedies with scientific explanations and write-ups:

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A. Use of Ocimum gratissimum leaves as a home remedy for purging and stomach upset.
This plant also known as African basil is a household plant in many Nigeria homes especially in the Southwest part where i originated from where it is known as "Efirin" as it is also used as a spice for cooking especially in my family. A freshly collected leave is rinsed and the cold water extract of the macerated leave given to a purging person has a therapeutic ability. Scientifically, it has been shown that the plant has an antimicrobial property useful in cases of diarrhea and stomach upset. Reference 1 Reference 2

B. Use of bitter kola Garcinia kola in cough remedy
Bitter kola nut is one of the primitive plant used for cough remedy for chests cold and cough which i know of and popularly called "Orógbó" in the Southwestern part of Nigeria that i hailed from. After eating the kola nut, the individual is seen to be relieved of his/her cough. Scientifically, the kola nut is seen to have a dilatory effect on the lungs hereby improving and exerting antitussive property. Reference 1 Reference 2

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C. Use of Azadirachta indica plant in fever management
This plant also called the neem plant is known as "Dongoyaro" where i hailed from and is used as a home remedy for fever. It is a very common plant which all its part i.e leave, flower, bark, root are all useful. The dried flower or leave is made into powder with a spoonful quantity spread on prepared pap to be given to the feverish individual and in no time he/she is healed of the fever. The dried bark is used to make local decoction for the same purpose. This can be done alone or with Morinda lucida leave called "Òrúwo" in my native language for the same purpose. Scientifically, it has been shown that the plant has an antimalarial property same with the Morinda lucida plant as malaria is known to be endemic here in Africa and fever been a major symptom. Reference 1 Reference 2

Home remedies are good and has helped in the past and is still helping where it is been used. However, it is important to seek medical interventions where important especially in severe and urgent cases and not rely on home remedies solely. Also, some extremities with certain home remedies needs to be watched as these extremities are borne out of ignorance and can be injurious aswell. Thanks for reading even as comments, contributions and suggestions are highly welcomed.

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