Menopause

The menopause marks the end of a
woman’s menstrual cycle and may occur
any time between the ages of 40 to 55
(although the onset is commonly between
the ages of 47 and 50). However, the period
leading up to menopause (pre-menopause)
can go on for years before there is a
noticeable stopping of menstruation.
The precise mechanism underlying the
menopause is not fully understood, but it
seems that the ovaries become
unresponsive to the gonadotropic
hormones secreted by the pituitary gland.
Therefore, the blood level of circulating
oestrogens fall significantly, resulting in
many changes.
There are wide variety of symptoms that
occur throughout this period, ranging from
difficulty sleeping, poor memory, mood
changes, headaches and night sweats.
Perhaps up to about 70 per cent of
menopausal women experience “hot
flushes”. Those are produced by vascular
disturbances and are characterised by a
feeling of warm in the face, neck and chest;
they may be accompanied by blushing or
sweating.
Vaginal dryness is also commonly
associated with the menopause, which may
make sexual intercourse more difficult and
painful. Apart from the physical changes of
the menopause, many women experience
psychological problems. Nervous tension,
Irritability, loss of interest in sex, and
depression are common.
Recent evidence has suggested that
oestrogen replacement therapy for the
suppression of hot flushes and
uncomfortable vaginal dryness increases
the risk of cancer of the womb as well as
breast cancer.
In holistic lifecare, the best prospect of
controlling menopause is in going back to
nature, in terms of intake of a generous
amount of fruits and vegetables, regular
exercise and herbal therapy. While
decreasing hormones is one of the most
noticeable causes of ageing in both men
and women, there are other symptoms and
tendencies as well such as cardiovascular
disease, osteoporosis, arthritic and
rheumatic problems.
Some of the natural remedies being
advanced for total control of menopause
include the extracts of local herbs such as
Allium sativum, Cymbopogon citratus,
Harungana madagascariensis and
Entandrophragma utile.

Candidiasis

Candidiasis is an infection caused by a
genus of yeast-like fungi (formerly known
as Monilia ), often harmlessly present in the
mouth of healthy people. In some
circumstances, however the
microorganisms may proliferate to produce
a symptomatic infection of the mouth,
intestines, vagina, skin or (rarely) the entire
body. The species most often involved is
Candida albicans.
When the infection involves the mouth or
the vagina, the condition is commonly
referred to as “thrush”. Thrush occurs
particularly in babies, but it may also occur
in debilitated adult or those with dentures.
It usually forms a white curd-like deposit on
the tongue, cheeks and palate which may
cause severe discomfort.
The symptoms of candidiasis include
moodiness, extreme food sensitivities with
gas and bloating after meals, depression
and general weakness of the body.
Generally this condition is caused by the
suppression of acute diseases such as colds,
fevers, and other inflammatory diseases
with excessive use of antibiotics. In fact,
even taking so-called natural anti-
inflammatory such as ascorbic acid (vitamin
C) in high doses can predispose one to this
condition.
Patients with reduced immune defenses
(for example, those with any severe illness
like HIV/AIDS and those on drugs that
suppress immunity) may get generalised,
life-threatening candida infection, involving
most organs.
Vaginal candidiasis is one of the most
common causes of inflammation and
itching of the vagina ad vulva, typically
producing a white, curd like discharge.
Vaginal candidiasis is becoming increasingly
common, perhaps partly because of
changes in vaginal acidity brought about by
oral contraceptives. It is often seen in
pregnant women and diabetics.
Candida albicans may occasionally infect the
entire intestinal tract, causing anal itching
and forming a reservoir for repeated
accidental infection of the vagina.
One who indulges in cold, raw foods, and
lacks in proper protein balance can give rise
to the candida overgrowth condition.
Another cause is eating too many rich or
denatured foods like cakes and pastries.
In Holistic Lifecare, some of the natural
remedies being advanced for the treatment
and total cure of candidiasis include the
extracts of local herbs such as Allium cepa,
Senna alata, Plumbago zeylanica and
Jatropha curcas.

Migraine

Migraine is a specific type of severe
headache caused by alternating dilation and
constriction of the blood vessels on the
surface of the brain; typically lasting
4-72hours, accompanied by visual
disturbances and/or nausea and vomiting.
Another name for migraine headaches is
hemicrania (literally, “half head”),
introduced into modern medicine by Galen
(A.D 131-201), which reflects the fact that
they usually affect one side of the head.
Unilateral headache is still regarded as the
cardinal feature of migraine, although the
diagnosis may be made in the absence of
headache.
What actually causes the changes in the
blood vessels that produce migraines is not
known. Sufferers from migraine are more
prone to allergies. In susceptible people, a
wide variety of factors will trigger this
psychological response, including emotional
stress, hormonal changes, chemicals or
additives used in foods, specific types of
foods, caffeine, drugs, cigarette smoke,
alcohol, strong odours, strong light, air
pollution and even sudden changes in the
weather.
Classically, a migraine starts with visual
disturbances. Jagged brilliant streaks of
light (fortification figures) may be seen on
one side, bright spots may obscure the
vision, which may become blurred or even
completely lost.
This may be followed by numbness or
pinching sensations or pins and needles in
the hands or face, and possibly transient
weakness of a limb or of half of the body.
After 15 to 30 minutes these symptoms
give way to a boring pain on one side of
the head, which typically reaches peak
intensity after an hour or so and may
persist for days. The headache becomes
throbbing in character and is often
accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
The characteristic feature of migraine is that
it occurs in attacks, separated by intervals
of freedom. In addition, the headache
tends to last for several hours and may
persist for days.
In holistic lifecare, it is strongly advocated
that the best way to prevent or control
migraine is by going back to nature in
terms of dietary intake, exercise and socio-
psychological life styles.
Notable among the natural remedies for
effective control and total cure of migraine
is a combination of natural extracts of
herbs such as a Viscum album, Allium
cepa, Allium sativum, Ginkgo biloba and
Zingiber officinale.

Why African nutmeg treats diarrhoea, prevents sickle cell crisis

When next you develop diarrhoea, that age
long cooking spice may be the way out. The
use of African nutmeg for the treatment of
diarrhoea has been widely acclaimed in
many African communities.
Researchers studying its efficacy in the
treatment of diarrhoea have proposed that
it is one herb that should be industrially
processed and sold as an anti-diarrhoea
drug; given that diarrhea is a major
problem in many developing countries due
to a variety of factors ranging from
consumption of contaminated food/water
to reactions or intolerance to certain foods.
African nutmeg (Monodora tenuifolia), a
shrub which usually grows into a medium-
size forest tree, is very widely distributed in
Nigeria, where it is used as an ornamental
plant for food and as medicine.
The seeds of the African nutmeg also
known as Calabash Nutmeg once dried, are
grated and used as a substitute for nutmeg,
especially in West Africa, the shrub’s region
of origin where it is also sold extensively as
a less expensive alternative to nutmeg.
Its shelled seed is also sold as a spice. This is
more pungent than the whole fruit and
tends to be used more with meat dishes,
such as the recipe for goat stew (Isi Ewu)
though it can also be grated and substituted
for nutmeg in sweet dishes.
In traditional medicine practice, it is widely
used to relieve toothache, dysentery,
dermatitis, headache and as worm expeller.
The seeds are used as ingredient in herbal
medicines in Southern Nigeria. In food, they
are used as spice.
When ground to powder, the kernel is used
to prepare pepper soup as a stimulant to
relieve constipation and control passive
uterine hemorrhage in women immediately
after child birth. Other uses include the
treatment of body aches, chest pains and
rashes due to river blindness and leprosy.
An inventory of plants used in the
treatment of various skin diseases in nine
rural communities in Ovia North East, Edo
state by Dr. R.K.A. Egharevba from the
Department of Crop Science, University of
Benin indicated in the 2008 edition of
Research Journal of Agriculture and
Biological Sciences, that the ground seeds of
African nutmeg are used to treat worms.
Several studies have documented the
medicinal uses of this plant also referred to
as “Ehuru ofia or Ogbono” (Igbo), “Gujiya
dan miya”(Hausa) or “Abo làkòòs¹ or
ariwo”(Yoruba). One of such is studies was
that by Ezenwali M.O; Njoku O. U and Okoli,
C.O from the University of Nigeria, entitled
“Studies on the anti-diarrheal properties of
seed extract of Monodora tenuifolia”. This
was documented in the 2010 International
Journal of Applied Research in Natural
Products.
The researchers, in validating the use of
African nutmeg as anti-diarrheal remedy in
traditional medicine, milled some dried
African nutmeg seeds and then extracted its
constituents with methanol. The test was
divided into two stages. In stage one, the
toxicity of the methanol extract of African
nutmeg in mice was verified. This was
followed up with another on the effects of
methanol extract of African nutmeg on
diarrhoea which was evaluated in rats.
One hour after intraperitoneal
administration of treatments, the animals
received castor oil orally and were
individually placed in a cage, the bottom of
which was covered with a white sheet of
paper for observation of the number and
consistency of fecal droppings.
The number of both wet and dry droppings
was counted every 30 minutes for four
hours and the white paper changed after
each evaluation. The frequency of passage
of stools in these experimental rats was
then compared with that of the control.
They found out that the methanol extract of
African nutmeg significantly reduced the
number of fecal droppings at the doses
tested and reported that the African nutmeg
reduced water and electrolytes secretion
into the small intestine, which substantiates
its use in the treatment of diarrhea in
traditional medicine.
They declared that pre-treatment with the
extract suppressed the propulsive
movement or transit of charcoal meal
through the gastrointestinal tract which
clearly indicates that the seed extract may
be capable of reducing the frequency of
stooling in diarrheal conditions. Delay in
gastric motility causes further absorption of
water from feces and may additionally
contribute to reducing its watery texture.
Although the mechanisms by which the
extract of African nutmeg reduced gastric
contents and watery texture of diarrheal
stools as well as gastrointestinal motility is
still not clear, they suggested the possibility
of formulating the powdered seed of this
plant or its alcohol extract to a herbal anti-
diarrhea remedy.
They wrote, “from this study and the age
long use as condiment, toxicity may not
preclude use as a medicament.”
From results of the toxicity test on the
extract in mice, they suggested that the
seeds may be generally regarded as safe,
with a remote risk of acute intoxication.
According to them, the high degree of
safety is also consistent with its popular use
as a local spice in food.
Meanwhile, a new study entitled, “In vitro
antisickling effects of Xylopia aethiopica
and Monodora myristica” has just added
these spices to the list of food items that
can help to alleviate problems associated
with sickle cell disease.
The study was published in the June edition
of the Journal of Medicinal Plants Research.
It was carried out by Dr. A. A Uwakwe from
the Department of Biochemistry, University
of Port Harcourt, Nigeria and Dr. R.N.
Nwaoguikpe from the Department of
Biochemistry, Federal University of
Technology Owerri, Nigeria.
Testing the extracts of Xylopia aethiopica
(guinea pepper) and nutmeg on blood
samples that were collected from patients
confirmed to have sickle cell disease, the
researchers found that irrespective of
whether they used the water, chloroform,
methanol or butanol extract of these spices,
they were able to prevent red blood cells
becoming sickle in shape to varying extents
– from 70 per cent to 90 per cent in 15
minutes.
Although the crude aqueous extracts of the
spices had the highest antisickling
effectiveness in comparison with its crude
form, the experts suggested that these
spices, when used in combination with
other nutritious foods like fruits and
vegetables, might be a promising option for
the effective management of sickle cell
disease and its many complications.

Africa, neglecting its traditional medicine at its peril –Expert

Even as traditional medicine continue to be
the mainstay for health care for many
African and global herbal medicine market
had increased three fold in just five years, a
medical expert, Professor Olarewaju Moody,
said Africa was neglecting this health care
sector to its peril.
Professor Moody in an inaugural lecture,
entitled, “The sense and the Nonsense of
Traditional Medicine in Africa: The Odyssey
of an Herbalist’s Grandson in Nature’s
Laboratory” at the University of Ibadan,
declared that future of African traditional
medicine would remain bleak, if it continued
to be neglected.
According to him, despite the global
upsurge in global market for herbal
medicines, growing at the rate of 10 to 15
per cent per annum — Africa’s contribution
is so low compared to Europe and America,
which accounts for 63 per cent of the world
market.
While China continued to be the major
exporter of traditional medicine products to
the world market, he said that Africa
traditional medicine was still to be
embraced uncritically.
According to him, African traditional
medicine claims should receive more
rigorous sympathetic investigation by
groups of collaborating scientists and
clinicians to ensure that several questions
on African traditional medicine are
answered.
“There are many questions that still remain
unanswered as far as African traditional
medicine is concerned. How for example
does one explain or set about research on
the phenomenon of magun, in Yoruba land
which is still common place and which also
claim to involve the use of aspects of
traditional medicine? How does a ring worn
by a sexually active African woman prevent
conception?,” Moody queried.
He expressed concern over the prospects of
indigenous knowledge of ethnomedicine
and traditional medicine lasting far into this
millennium given the involvement of many
charlatans in traditional medicine as well as
the disappearance of forests and
knowledge of the usage of plants to heal
diseases.
Meanwhile, he pointed out that the doctrine
of signature concept on which some
ancient cultures based the use and
applications of plants in the treatment of
illnesses should not just be seen as utter
nonsense but rather a means to discovering
other new drugs.
“In the course of examining the ‘nonsense’
however, landmark discoveries leading to
enduring drugs had often emerged,” he
said.
Professor Moody stated that, “these
chanced findings known as serendipity in
science as well as those validating the
folkloric usages of plants continue to
provide the impetus for us in the discipline
of pharmacognosy and drug discovery
programmes to start from indigenous
knowledge however weird and senseless
the information might appear to be on the
surface.”
Two examples that illustrated serendipity
according to him was the scientific
investigation of Rose periwinkles reputed in
traditional medicine for the treatment of
diabetes and snake-like root of Rauwolfia
serpentine (asofeyeje in Yoruba) in the
treatment of snakebites by Indian tribe
men.
According to him, “scientific investigations
into Rose periwinkle folkloric claim by Eli-
Lilly scientists showed that extracts of this
plant rather than lower blood sugar, in fact
led to the death of the experimental
animals. The extracts and fractions cause
the destruction of the white blood cells in
rats, an observation that was to lead to the
discovery of two anti-cancer substances
with abilities to destroy abnormal disease-
causing white blood cells.”
“ Rauwolfia and its constituents such as
reserpine (with its Nigeria equivalent called
asofeyeje in Yoruba have since found their
way into modern medicine as ingredients in
hypertension treatment but not for snake
bites as the root was originally used in
traditional medicine.
Meanwhile, giving an account of his
contribution to upgrading traditional
medicine, Professor Moody declared that
through his collaborative studies both
locally and internationally, the inclusion of a
number of plants in herbal recipes for the
treatment of parasitic and microbial
infectious diseases( e.g. malaria, candidiasis,
polio) inflammatory-based diseases
( arthritis, sickle-cell anaemia) and diabetes
has scientific merit and constitute a great
national asset for further development into
clinically useful chemotherapeutic agents.
Already, he declared that plants found
useful in treatment of sickle- cell disease
included ripe and freshly fallen leaves of
Terminalia catappa (Indian almond) and
Cissus polpulnea (Yoruba : Ogbolo)
Moreover, Professor Moody affirmed that
his past efforts at evaluating and isolating
anti-inflammatory chemical substances
from plants such as sphenocentrum
jollyanum (Yoruba; Akerejupon) reputed in
Nigerian ethnomedicine confirmed its
usefulness for rheumatism.
With a hindsight into traditional medical
practice, he said the synergistic effects that
compounds have when administered as a
mixture in herbal remedies and
phytomedicines should be taken cognizance
in drug discovery and development from
medicinal plants.
Meanwhile, he pointed out that studies have
found out that inclusion of local plant foods
such as Hibiscus sabdariffa (Yoruba: sobo),
cashew, Africa breadfruit garden egg and
bitter leaf in the diet of diabetics was
helpful in regulating blood sugar level.
Nevertheless, Professor Moody said there
was an urgent need and challenge for the
government to stop playing lip service to
the issue of research and development
necessary for the standardization and
utilization of traditional medicine so that it
could be included into the national
healthcare system.
According to him, “the good aspects of
traditional medicine deserve to be salvaged
through the provision of all necessary
facilities for research and development.”
In view of the world-wide upsurge in the
interest and utilisation of herbal medicines,
he suggested that courses on aspects of
pharmacognosy and traditional medicine
should be made compulsory for students
and conventional health practitioners for
proper awareness of the issues at stake.
According to him, with over 80 per cent of
the population in Africa depending on
health care provided by traditional
medicine, it is quite clear that a more
effective utilisation of the wisdom and
knowledge in this system is critical and
necessary if health care in the region is to
improve.

Cashew seeds can help fight against diabetes

In what is best described as a proof of the
effectiveness of cashew tree products in
diabetes, scientists studying its natural
components have postulated that it might
be a cure for diabetes probably in the
future.
Scientists at the University of Montreal and
the University of Yaoundé in Cameroon
studying how cashew products affected the
responses of rat liver cells to insulin found
out that only the cashew seed extract
increased the absorption of blood sugar by
muscle cells.
The cashew tree is native to northeastern
Brazil and in other countries that are in the
southern hemisphere.
It is known that when the body fails to
respond well to insulin and/or does not
produce enough of the hormone, then a
person may display high blood sugar levels
and develop diabetes. Throughout the
world, around 220 million people are
suffering from diabetes.
In some people with diabetes, a condition
called insulin resistance prevents the body
from processing the hormone, which
regulates energy and the processing of
sugars in the body. Lack of insulin can lead
to heart or kidney diseases over time.
Medical experts say that risk factors for
developing diabetes include family history,
being overweight, leading an inactive
lifestyle, and high blood pressure.
For many years, cashew tree products are
believed to be effective anti-inflammatory
agents, counter high blood sugar and
prevent insulin resistance among diabetics.
This research study published in the journal
Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, no
doubt ascertain that the best part of the
plant to use in the treatment of diabetes
should be the cashew seeds rather than its
other parts such as the leaves, barks and
apples.
The cashew seed is the nut that grows at
the end of the apple, and contains oleic acid
the healthy ingredient in olive oil, as well as
minerals like copper, zinc, phosphorous and
magnesium which can reduce the risk of
the metabolic syndrome that contributes to
diabetes development. It is also a source of
B vitamins, protein, fibre, antioxidants and
low saturated fat.
For now, experts say that exercising,
maintaining a healthy weight and eating a
healthy, balanced diet are among the best
ways to prevent diabetes and control blood
sugar levels naturally.
However, it iws hoped the research will lead
to new diabetes treatments in no short
distance from now.

Tackling snake bite with mango kernel extract

Snake bite constitutes a relevant public
health hazard in remote areas of many
counties of the world, especially in
communities’ whose economic activities are
mainly agricultural. In such communities,
poisonous venom from such snakes as
viper, rattlesnake and cobra causes a high
number of deaths.
All snakes will bite when threatened or
surprised, but most will usually avoid
people if possible and only bite as a last
resort. Although snakes found in and near
water are often mistaken as being
poisonous, most species of snake are
harmless. However, with the poisonous
snakes, a bite could be deadly if not treated
quickly.
Bites by venomous snakes result in a wide
range of effects, from simple puncture
wounds to life-threatening illness and
death. Usually, symptoms of snake bite,
depending on the type of snake, may
include bleeding from the wound, blurred
vision, convulsion, diarrhea, dizziness and
increased thirst. Some individuals beaten by
a snake may experience other symptoms
such as excessive sweating, weakness, loss
of muscle coordination, rapid pulse and
fever.
Statistics from the Federal Government
Snake Bite Treatment Center, Kaltungo,
Gombe State, show that three deaths and
189 reported cases of snake bites were
recorded in March in Kaltungo and its
environs. Due to the hotness of the climate
during hot periods from March, the cases of
snake bites are expected to escalate
because this is the period when reptiles,
particularly snakes, come out.
In 2009, statistics from Comprehensive
Health Centre, Zamko, owned by the Jos
University Teaching Hospital, indicated over
half of the patients on admission were
victims of snake bites, some of whom also
came from Adamawa, Gombe, Kaduna,
Taraba and Nasarawa states.
Although death by snakebite is not common
in temperate parts of the world, it is
estimated that, every year, it accounts for
as many as 40,000 fatalities throughout the
world, particularly in tropical countries
where access to hospital stores of antivenin
is very difficult because of distance, and it
is usually not possible to accurately identify
the species of snake that bit the person.
In contrast to the difficulty of availability of
this modem treatment in large areas of the
developing world, many societies that live
in such places use plants to treat snakebite.
Meanwhile, the plants used to treat snake
bite have attracted the attention of several
scientists. One of such is the mango kernel
extract found to be helpful in treating snake
bite in Thailand.
To many, all there is to mango is the flesh
part that is relished because of its
sweetness. But much more than this, one of
the medicinal uses of the leftover of a
mango after its fleshy part has been
consumed is its kernel.
Researchers assessing the effectiveness of
the ethanol extract from the seed kernels of
Thai mango (Mangifera indica) stated that it
exhibited potent and dose-dependent
inhibitory effects on venoms of Malayan pit
viper and Thai cobra under laboratory
conditions.
They reported that some chemical
constituents of the extract of the kernel of
mango bind themselves to the snake
venom, thus preventing local effects of the
venom at the site of the snake bite, which is
painful, tender and also kills the tissue
around the site of the bite.
Thailand researchers reporting the efficacy
of the extract of the kernel of fully grown
unripened mango as antivenom in the 2009
edition of the journal, Molecules, stated that
the extract of the kernel of mango could
serve as an alternative approach that could
be applied in the field to complement
antivenom therapy in the neutralisation of
venom-induced local effects.
In addition, the neutralising effects of
methanol extracts of Indigofera pulchra,
Aristolochia albida, Guiera senegalense and
Sterculia setigera which were investigated
by researchers from Ahmadu Bello
University, Zaria, validated the traditional
claims of their usefulness in management of
poisonous snakebites.
The study entitled, “Ethnomedical Treatment
of Poisonous Snakebites: Plant Extract
Neutralized Naja nigricollis” and carried out
by M.S. Abubakar, E. Balogun, E.M.
Abdurahman, A.J. Nok, M. Shok, A.
Mohammed and M. Garba, was documented
in the 2006 edition of the Pharmaceutical
Biology.
They reported that “extracts of Indigofera
pulchra. and Aristolochia albida gave 33.3%
and 44.4% protection to mice treated with
minimum lethal dose of venom; some gross
pathologic symptoms of envenomation
were alleviated. However, minimal activities
were shown by Guiera senegalense. and
Sterculia setigera”
While both Indigofera pulchra. and
Aristolochia albida. were found to neutralize
the anticoagulant, hemolytic, and
phospholipase activity of crude venom, the
study showed that Indigofera pulchra. and
Aristolochia albida are useful in some
pathologic effects of Naja nigricollis.
Though medicinal plants remain largely
unnoticed and neglected, other plant extract
confirmed under laboratory conditions for
treatment of snake bite include Cissus
assamica, Parkia biglobosa extracts and
Mucuna pruriens seed extract.
Meanwhile, experts explained that many
plants used for treating snake bites work
through two mechanisms — the chemical in
the plant interact with one or more of the
venom constituents so that they cannot
bind to the receptors in the body, or
pharmacological inhibits the venom at the
receptor site itself.