Study unveils medicinal values of 35 local plants

CHUKWUMA MUANYA writes on how 35 local plants are prepared in South-eastern Nigeria for treating several ailments including chesty coughs, boils, malaria, typhoid, fever, ulcers, diarrhoea, among others.

A RECENT study by Gordian C. Obute of the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, University of Port Harcourt has unveiled some 35 medicinal plants scattered in 23 plant families, with reported medicinal importance to the people of South-eastern Nigeria.

The study catalogued common plants used by the indigenous people of South-eastern Nigeria for medicinal purposes based on collections during field trips and visits to traditional medicine practitioners in these parts, and questionnaires administered to resident knowledgeable respondents. The study also described the plants and their local names provided where possible while the medicinal uses and parts used were listed.

The plants include: False thistle, alligator pepper, goat weed, Cashew, dogoyaro, pawpaw, Awolowo weed, lime, lemon, bitter leaf, lemon grass, vegetable jute, castor bean, oil palm tree; goose-grass; yellow tassel flower, asthma plant, mango, bitter kola, scent leaf, smooth Newbouldia, cassava, guava, fluted pumpkin, native Pear, Christmas bush, among others.

Lemon grass, antidote to malaria, typhoid, pains

Muda Oyeniran, Lagos Sunday 24th June, 2007

BEFORE the advent of orthodox medicine in the treatment of malaria, typhoid fever and other ailments, the traditional African society had devised various means of combating such ailments. Our fore-fathers in the village had relied principally on herbs as solution to their health problems. African forests are very rich in plants of high medicinal values with proven efficacy in the treatment of fevers, pains, diarrhoea, menstrual problems and so on.

Cashew extracts show promise in preventing infections, sudden death

HIGH dose of cashew stem bark extract has been shown to produce a 100 protection against death from sepsis. Sepsis is a systemic response to infection, which causes organ failure and death in severe cases.

Researchers have also demonstrated how a combination of the nutshell oil of cashew has shown potent anti-fungal activities.

Cashew is scientifically known as Anacardium occidentale and belongs to the plant family Anacardiaceae. The French calls it acajou and the Portugues cajueiro. In Nigeria, the Hausa's call the tree and fruit, fisa, the nuts jambe; it is kanju in Kanuri and kaju or kantonoyo in Yoruba.

CASTOR OIL PACK

A castor oil pack is an external application of castor oil. A piece of wool flannel is saturated in castor oil and applied to the abdomen with a heating pad. The Cayce readings recommend castor oil packs to improve assimilations, eliminations and circulation (especially of the lymphatic system). Although this therapy may seem unusual, it is one of the best documented of the Cayce therapies. Dr. William McGarey has applied castor oil packs to treat many conditions.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR CASTOR OIL PACKS

To Make The Pack

Take the piece of wool flannel and fold it into 3 thicknesses. Put it in a pan (like a large disposable baking pan) and pour castor oil on it. Saturate the whole flannel, and leave it until it is well-saturated. When you use it, you want it saturated, but not dripping. The size you want for use is about 12 x 18 inches - about the same size as your heating pad, so that the pad heats the whole pack, but does not touch your skin. After each use, you will probably need to add a little more castor oil. You can use the pack many times. When you're not using it, you can store it in a plastic bag in the refrigerator.

Where To Place The Pack

This will depend on what the problem is. In general, it should be on the right side of the body, extending from a little above the bottom of the sternum (breastbone) to about 4 inches below the navel. It should go from the navel around the body on the right side as far to the side as you can get it. Basically, cover as much of your right side as you can.

Using The Pack

Use the pack in the evening, as you are resting before bed. Spread out a large plastic garbage bag on the bed so that the castor oil won't leak onto the bed. Fold a towel (that you will use only for castor oil packs, because the oil is almost impossible to wash out completely). Take the cloth cover off the heating pad. Then put the heating pad on top of the towel.

The readings say that it is important to heat the pack before you put it on yourself. One way is to heat it in the oven on a "low" temperature setting. Another is to heat it in a microwave oven (in a microwave-safe container) for about one minute. Another way is to put the pack on top of the heating pad and turn the pad on high. Let it warm up for a few minutes.

Lie down on your back on the plastic bag. Place the pack on your abdomen, with the heating pad on top and the towel on top of that. Have the heating pad control within easy reach of your hand, because you may need to adjust it so the pack is not too hot or too cold. It should be very warm, but not so hot it burns you. Be careful! If you're not sure how hot is safe, start with a slightly warm session and work up to a warmer one. If it's not warm enough, it may help to rest your arms and hands on the towel to press the pack onto your body.

Keep the pack on for 1 to 1 ½ hours. Have a paper towel handy to wipe the oil off yourself when you get up, and be careful not to get any on the bed. Make up a solution of baking soda in warm water (2 teaspoons to a quart), and use paper towels or a sponge with the baking soda solution to clean off the castor oil. You might also want to take a shower with soap after that.

Use the pack for 3 days in a row. Then take a break for 4 days, and repeat.

After 3 Days Of Using The Pack

On the evening of the 3rd day, take olive oil (not castor oil!) by mouth. Begin with about a teaspoon. If you feel OK, you can take up two tablespoons.
 

General Hits on castor oil pack

1. Cut-to-Size Cotton or Wool Flannel Strips (1 or 2 Layers thick) to be used over the Liver, Thymus, and Spleen Areas.

2. Take 1 Flannel Strip and place on Top of a slightly LARGER Plastic Sheet.

3. Take this Flannel Strip/Plastic Sheet Combination and place it on Top of a Heating Pad.

4. Take RAW ORGANIC Castor Oil, that has been stored in the Refrigerator, and pour 1/4 Cup over the Flannel.

5. Squeeze the Flannel Strips to evenly distribute the Castor Oil throughout.

6. Lift-up the Flannel Strip, Plastic Sheet, and the Heating Pad together.

7. Apply this Castor Oil Pack against the AFFECTED Area of the Body to be treated.

8. Wrap a large Bath Towel around the Body and over the Castor Oil Pack and pin it in place.

9. Turn up the Heat as HIGH as you can tolerate and leave the Castor Oil Pack in place for 1 Hour.

10. Wash the Flannel THOROUGHLY afterwards in a Solution of 1/4 cup Baking Soda and 2 Quarts of very WARM Water.

11. Squeeze the Flannel THOROUGHLY to get the Castor Oil out COMPLETELY and then rinse it in CLEAR Warm Water.

12. Allow the Flannel to DRY, after rinsing it THOROUGHLY or you can use it MOIST for the NEXT Treatment.

13. Do HOT & COLD Showers daily over the AFFECTED Area involved.

14. DEEPLY massage the AFFECTED Area daily, during the HOT & COLD Showers.

15. Continue this Treatment, until the AFFECTED Area is COMPLETELY HEALED.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Read The Oil That Heals by William A. McGarey, M.D., (Virginia Beach: A.R.E. Press, 1993).