Rainy season, characterized by heavy rains and cold, is said to be the cause of ailments such as catarrh, sore throat, cough, malaria, typhoid fever and respiratory diseases such as pneumonia and sinusitis, and water-borne sickness like diarrhea and cholera. However, alarming the aforementioned ailments might be, scientists have made research, identifying and validating natural remedies for them. Several local herbs have been proven to possess antibacterial and antiviral properties. The flu virus also, despite having medical cures, has been said by researchers to be easily relieved through natural remedies.
The guidance by Public Health England (PHE) and the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE), stated that cough and catarrh are mostly caused by cold or flu virus, or even bronchitis, and usually last for about three weeks. In a bid to find more efficient cures to these ailments, Nigerian researchers have shown that the application of local plants like pepper fruit, African pepper, scent leaf, thyme, onion, black pepper, chili pepper, Benin pepper, garlic, wild pepper, nutmeg, red pepper, grains of paradise, curry leaf and ginger, can successfully beat the cold virus.
23 local spices were discovered to have therapeutic functions.
According to a study titled “Ethnomedicinal aspects of plants used as spices and condiments in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria” by Ndukwu B.C and Ben-Nwadibia N.B of the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, University of Port Harcourt. Found that 23 local spices were discovered to have different therapeutic applications according to their various local communities. These medicinal plants act as stimulants, expectorants, purgatives, anthelmintic, antiseptic carminatives, laxatives, anticonvulsant, and sedatives for the treatment of rheumatism, diarrhea, asthma, malaria, bronchitis and catarrh.
Scientists at Aston University have also developed a new treatment, that involves the combination of natural manuka honey with a popularly used drug, for lethal lung infections, reducing side effects of one of the drugs recommended for its treatment. Published in the Journal Microbiology, the findings reveal that the scientists in the Mycobacterial Research Group in the College of Health and Life Sciences at Aston University combined manuka honey and the drug amikacin in a lab-based nebulization formulation for the treatment of the harmful bacterial lung infection Mycobacterium abscessus.
Ginger possesses antibacterial, analgesic, & anti-inflammatory properties.
Sore throat, usually related with dry and cold conditions, is a pain, scratchiness or irritation of the throat that gets worse during the process of swallowing. It is most often caused by pharyngitis, a viral infection like cold or the flu. While a virus-caused sore throat might resolve on its own, strep throat (streptococcal infection) – caused by bacteria – requires antibiotics treatment to prevent complications. Ginger has also been recommended in a study published in the Journal of Pharmaceutical and Scientific innovation for the treatment of sore throat due to its possession of various biological activities such as antibacterial, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Another study has shown that through computer modeling, researchers discovered that ginger could prevent influenza infection. Also, published in Journal of Traditional Medicine and clinical Naturopathy, a review of pharmacological activities of turmeric reveals that the fresh juice of rhizome is used to cure bronchitis. To cure rhinitis and cough, experts advise that turmeric be boiled in milk with a mixture of jiggery and should be used internally. The combination of lemon with warm water and a bit of honey or saltwater help to reduce throat pain caused by colds or the flu.
Bark and root are febrifugal and can treat malaria.
Many studies have identified plants that can effectively treat typhoid fever; they include Azadirachta Indica (neem tree), Ocimum gratissimum (scent leaf), Morinda Lucinda, and Carica papaya. Typhoid fever is a major health concern in developing countries with limitations to the success of treatment with antimicrobial agent. Tested extracts of methanol from Glycyrrhiza glabra and Azadirachta Indica embody efficient antimicrobial activity against gram positive and gram-negative bacteria. For malaria, the bark and the root are febrifugal and are discovered to be essential for its treatment. Extracted products from Carica papaya is also used in malaria therapy and treatment of Amoebicide (anthelmintic).
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Local herbs or plants are very effective in treatment most disease or ailments without much side effect and at cheaper rate.
This is very true. Local plants play a very strong role in our health system. While the use of drugs and medicines are good, the use of herbs and root are also medicinal. And it in turn even boosts the immune system. I think we should also conserve our local plants and invest in them.
This local plant are very important and good for the health. This local plant serve as a good medicine for some sickness we should invest more on local plant not to just base on drug. The combination of drugs and local plant medicine will cure many sickness together
In developing nations, typhoid fever is a severe health risk that is difficult to treat with antimicrobial agents.
Rainy season causes catarrh, sore throat, cough, malaria, typhoid fever, respiratory infections like pneumonia and sinusitis, and water-borne illnesses like diarrhea and cholera.
Despite having modern treatments, experts claim that natural remedies can effectively treat the flu virus.
We need to make use of ur local plants t make drugs for medicinal purpose for our benefits,the government and stakeholders needs to come together to do this effectively and efficiently.
If we can explore the flora biodiversity in our country and their ethnobotanical values then we will better appreciate what we have a nation and cherish them. There are several plants that we destroy not knowing the medical value it possess.
Herbal medicine is more organic and are body friendly than orthodox medicine which is a synthesized drugs with a lot of side effects after injection. There are several plants around us which can be of great medicinal value. We are too dependant on orthodox and have failed to explore our surrounding to discover the richness in the flora biodiversity around us. Some ailments we call complicate can be cure by a plant we call common around us.
Making use of local plants are very important. We need to look into it for better and safety of our health. The one’s that is good for medicine. Health is wealth ☺
I’m not against the use of local plants…also I’m not against the use of drugs and medicine the use of herbs and root are also medicinal. A rhythm that accommodate both should be found.
As for me I’d prefer the use of local plants to counter these cold surge illness. I see them much more effective and with no side effect if use properly.
The efficiency of these local plants cannot be overemphasized. Over the years, several plants have been discovered being cure to certain illnesses. To cure rhinitis and cough, experts advise that turmeric be boiled in milk with a mixture of jiggery and should be used internally; among other illnesses.
It is impossible to overstate the effectiveness of these nearby plants. Numerous plants have been shown to be remedies for various diseases over time. Ginger has been recommended in a study published in the Journal of Pharmaceutical and Scientific innovation for the treatment of sore throat due to its possession of various biological activities such as antibacterial, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Another study shows that ginger could prevent influenza infection. And there are more.
In spite of how concerning the conditions described above may be, research has been conducted by scientists to find and validate natural treatments for these conditions.
Researchers have found that natural therapies can be an effective way to treat influenza, despite the fact that there are treatments available through conventional medicine.
People should be encouraged to use the indigenous herbs that have been confirmed to exhibit antibacterial and antiviral effects because there are plenty of these herbs.
Treatment of sore throats is possible with its assistance because of its wide range of biological activities, which includes antibacterial, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties.
The soreness in the throat that can be brought on by a cold or the flu can be alleviated by gargling a mixture of honey or saltwater with lemon juice mixed into warm water.
In underdeveloped nations, typhoid fever poses a significant public health risk, despite the fact that antimicrobial treatment has its limits.
These local plants are very good and they should be preserved by all means because that is what our fire father’s used to cure themselves of diseases and they were alright