Traditionally, January is when this column forecasts herbal medicine trends of a New Year. it is starting one month ahead this time for the following reasons…
Interest in herbal medicine this year grew so huge that the trends threw up a heavier volume of traffic that would, quite naturally, require much more time to pass.
Next year should witness the presence in the Nigerian market of major corporate players in the world market who, until now, have been somewhat content to let their Nigerian agents test the waters. The point having been made by these agents that Nigeria is a viable market, the multinational producers are coming in their full regalia. The Bell Lifestyle products of Canada will come with about 53 products. The Flora group, which has the blessings of Dr Udo Erasmus, reputable author of fat s that heal, fats that kill reviewed for some weeks on this page, will come with about 60 medicinal products. These would include herbal teas that are specific for particular health disorders. The group I’d like to begin with is the Rain Forest Nutrition which produces the Amazon Basin range of herbal medicines. These plant medicines are tropical, which means many of them, as I have found out, grow as yet in the wild in Nigeria. in the Amazon basin, they are now cultivated in plantations on sustainable basis, well researched clinically and marketed to the world. Because Nigerian medicinal plant researchers, doctors and pharmacemtical companies are still working disjointly, Nigeria has not been able, despite the wealth of its forests in medicinal plants, to produce herbal medicines that will flow in from the Amazon forests from next year.
The Amazon
When one hears of the Amazon, one’s first thoughts are likely to be women warriors in Benin Empire. But it has orgins as well in Greek female warriors of old. in modern times, the Amazon refers to about six countries through which the Amazon River flows. The Amazon River is believed to have been named by Spanish explorer Fransisco de Orelana in 1541. it is fed by steams from a huge basin or valley and flows from the Andes mountain in Peru to offload its water into the Atlantic Ocean about 4,000 miles (about 6,437 kilometres) away. The Amazon River is the second largest river worldwide coming after the Nile in Egypt. But, in terms of water volume, it is the world’s biggest river. it spans about 4,000 miles through three countries: and has banns in three more … Brazil, Peru, Columbia, Bohvia, Venezuela and Equador. The plant medicine products in reference are made by Rain tree Nutrition and carry a badge of the Amazon basin.
Amazon A-F
Many Nigerians suffer from Fungi, candida and mold infections without suspecting they are. Just as many people think tuberculosis affects only the lungs, looking elsewhere for a culprit when this dangerous disease attacks the bones of the spine, for example, causing back pain, there is widespread belief that candida runs riot only in the vagina, where it causes candidiasis. But candidiasis merely means presence of candida in larger population than is normal wherever it is. thus, it may overshoot its bounds in the intestines and get into the blood, setting the stage for invasion of the heart or of the brain and causing all those seemingly inexplainable symptoms, which may overwhelm even a doctor. recently, a woman I met told me three different doctors referred her to a psychiatrist. she had the feeling of something crawling all over her body and brain. she could hardly sleep, was irritable, lost energy and couldn’t perform house chores let along concentrate on her job. The symptoms suggested staphylococus aureus. To that I added suspiscion of candida when, on examination, I found her tongue was heavily grayish. I suggested she run a test for candida which she confirmed three days, after she was advised to try Amazon A-F for candida, Amazon C-F for staphylococcus and Myco Extract for mycoplasma and mycobacterial infections. These are all Raintree Nutrition plant medicines from the Amazon. Three days after starting the medication, she reported some flexibility in the waistline which enabled her to bend the waist and sweep the floor of her house, something she wasn’t able to do in a long while.
Amazon A-F is a compedium of eight synergic herbs which in clinical trials have demonstrated anticandidal, antifungal and anti-mold activities. These component herbs are Jatoba, Pau d’arco, Anamu, Clavillia, Brazillian Peppertree, Cuaco, Fedegoson and Graviola. Except for Graviola, there are all plants couched in Amazon language. Pau d’arco has been found as long ago as about 1980 to be very versatile against 11 fungal and yeast strains, viruses, including herpes I and II, malaria, schustosomiasis, trypanosomiasis, Heliabacterpylori, staphylococus, Streplococus, Candida, Tuberculosis, Syphilis, Gonorrhea etc. so, versatile is it that some physicians enlist it as they do Graviola in cancer therapy.
Amazon A-V
This medicine comes encapsulated as an extract, designed against all kinds of viruses; nine herbs make up the encapsulated brand, namely…
• Bitter melon, Clavillia, Mullaca, Jergon sacha, Carquega, Amargo, Chanca Piedra, Mutamba and Anamu.
In 1993, a study with mice showed that water extract of Anamu increased immune cell production (lymphocytes and interleukin II). another study that year, also with mice, roused Natural killer (NLC) cell activity 100 per cent with improvements in interleukin II and interkeukun output. More studies present Anamu as anti-tumour, antileukaemic and anticancerous. Jergon Sacha as a single herb is prescribed for snake and spider bites and viral conditions such as hepatitis and HIV.
Amazon Menstrual support
There are 10 herbs lumped together here which South American herbal practitioners prescribe singly or compounded for hormonal and reproductive challenges. Once the herbs, Abuta, i.e. nicknamed ‘midwives herb’ is used against uterine fibroids, uterine spasms, such as menstrual pains, bleeding, endometriosis absence of menstruation, painful menstruation, excessive blood flow, water retention and premenstrual syndrome (PMS), among other female conditions.
Abuta is reported to prevent threatened abortion, uterine bleeding after childbirth, inflammatory conditions in the reproductive system. in Peru, the bark of cumaseba tree is found phytestrogenic and used for pain, cramps and inflammation. in Peru and Brazil, Bellaco capsules have been credited with anti-inflammatory potential uterine fibroids ovarian cysts. Considered an emanagogue worldwide, Erva tostao, two studies with monkeys revealed uterine bleeding common in the use of Inter-uterine Device (IUD). The only contraindications in the use of Amazon Menstruation support is during pregnancy, breastfeeding and history of Erva tostao reducing heart functions.
Amazon Joint-Muscle support
Traditionally used by South Americans for joint and muscle injuries, this formula comprises eight herbs: Cats claw; chuchuasi; Amor Seco; Tanya; Picao Predo; Iporuru; Sarsaparila and Guaco. Of the lot, I am familiar with only Cat Claw and Sarsaparila. Cats Claw, this colum has reported, grows lushfully in Southwestern Nigeria. At a Gothe-Institute seminar on Nigeria herbal recipes a few years ago, the representative of Commission Q, the German equvalentry Nigeria’s NAFDAC, samples of Cats Claw were taken from Nigeria and planted in Germany under a German government-funded 10-year research. Today, German doctors prescribe Cat’s claw for arthritis and pain. Cat’s Claw is the leading component of this Amazon joint and muscle medicine. it is described in the product literature as sulfused with antioxidant chemicals, such as ‘tanins’ catechins and proiyanidins… plant sterols (beta sitestorol and campestorol)”, which give it some of its anti-inflamatory potential. in various studies, this plant has been found to inhibit inflammation in 46 per cent to 89 per cent of cases. Chuchuhuansi performs no less. Arrow seed releases tense muscles. Iporuru blocked COX-! Prostagland, in a cause of joint inflammation and damage. Sarsaparilla detoxifies and aids absorption of other medicines. thus, the product offers potential for dealing favourably with “arthritis, joint and muscle injuries and muscle and joint inflammation.”
Amazon throat – E2
We are currently in the dusty harmattan season. Everyone is inhaling dust and coughing or spitting. Some people will inhale germs along with the dust to set the stage for health problems in the future. This is one of the few Amazon products I have personally tried since I do not cough. it was not available when, last week, I had to advise a woman with a bad cough that raged for about 10 minutes every session with a serious weight lost.
Instead, I suggested Olivir 75, taken one capsule four times daily, which helped. By the following day, she was able to sleep under an electric fan with her coughing about 50 per cent radical whereas, before, the fan aggravated the condition.
There are seven herbs in this formula, namely,
Embaulsa, guaco, Culen, amorseco, Bellaco capsi, ayapana, Matico and Canchalagua. The recipe is contraindicated for pregnant and lactating women as well as for hemophiacs (people with bleeding disorders) and people on blood thinning drugs on Guaco has tendencies to thin the blood.
Brazilians use Embuba traditionally for all sorts of respiratory disorders, such as “asthma, bronchitis, coughs, whooping cough and pneumonia. in 1870, Brazilians made a herbal drug, Opodeldo de Guaco for bronchitis cough and rheumatism. in Chile, Cuber, another component of this Amazon recipe, is used as bronchodialator, something which enlarges the airways to make more air flow to and from the lungs. in Brazil, Culen is used for asthma. Research has found to be “antibacteria, antifungal antihyperlipemic, anti-unflamatory, antimutagenic, antioxidant, antispasmodie, antiviral, cytotoxic, ferifuge and hepato protective.”
Amor seed parades no less credentials. in 10 separate studies, researchers found that it blocked many substances produced during an asthma attack. These include spamogens, which promote contractions in the lungs. Bellaco cpsi, which also comes from Rain Tree Nutrition as a single product in capsules and fluid extract, finds use in Peru for inflammation, fever (pain) smooth muscle relaxation. Traditionally, it is found in the Amazon region to be more effective than the pharmaceutical drug Nystatin, often prescribed by doctors for Candida and other fungi infections. Bellaco capsi is prescribed, also, for wounds, such as ulcers, tuberculosis, syphilis and manage. in 2004 and 2006, Brazilian researchers found the plants bark had artimicrobial action against disease-causing organisms such as Micobacterium phlei, Candida, E.Coli, Staphylococus Bacillus and Psendomonas.
Thus, Amazon Throat E7 should be a powerhouse remedy for upper respiratory infection in a country such as Nigeria where the environment is not only dusty, but smoky from automobile exhaust, electricity, generators, firewood cookings and factory fumes, all of which compromise the health of the throat and the breathing system.
Myco
This product comes in capsule and extract formats aimed at mycoplasma trobles. Myco refers to fungi and plasma to the almost colourless fluid part of the blood from which red blood cells are separated, but in which white blood cells are suspended. Plasma feeds the cells and removes their wastes. unfortunately, some microorganisms live in the plasma, causing havoc in the cells if unchecked. Many drugs do not reach these organisms there, accounting for some reasons some illness are not effectively cured if confronted at all. Now, other 100 diseases have been documented to be caused by mycoplasma, that is fungi which live in the plasma. Mycoplasma pneumonia and about seven other mycoplkasma infections have been linked to many auto immune diseases directly or as co-agents.
These diseases include: Rhematoid arthritis, Alzheimeis Chronic Fatigue sybdrome (CFS), Multiple Sclerosis, Filoromyalgia, Asthma, Lupus, to mention a few problems. in 1997, the journal Emerging Infections Diseases, published by the National Centre for Infectious Diseases and the Centre for Diesease Control and Prevention, reported that mycoplasmas ere re-emerging and sophisticated, causing malignancies and unexplained and complex illnesses.
Myco Extract or Myco Capsules require diet supplementation with probiotics and digestive enzymes if taken for more than 30 days. They also call for increased fluid intake and, often, combination with Amazon A-f, Amazon Immune Booster and Amazon Lympth support. Its components are mullaca, brazillian peppertree, anama, Clavillia, Macela Fedegoso, Picao Presto and Urva Ursi.
The Amazon Basin is on the way here, indeed with many more products than space will allow mention here. Some of them are Amazon Urinary Support, Amazon Blood Support, Amazon Brain Support, Amazon CNS support (for the Central Nervous system), Amzon Bowel Support, Amazon Adrenal support, Amazon liver Support, Amazon stomach E-7 and lots more. I am waiting to hear of Amazon Vision support.
I must state that the Amazon basin is not richer than Nigeria’s tropical rain forests in terms of the diversity of plant medicines.
It has only just happened that, in the Amazon, Gown and Town are working together. Gown, of course means researchers in the Universities and town, doctors and industry.
In Nigeria, every one is on his own, no serious links or focus. and that is why we are dependent on other people for medicines, drug or plant, when Nature, before it incarnated us here, had prepared all we need for existence. This should be food for thought in 2012.
Arise, O compatriots.
Welcome, Amazon Basin.
May it be that you are sent to open our eyes.