THURSDAY, 4TH APRIL, 2019-HERBAL MEDICINE-THE VOICE OF DR. OSEI

Abibiduro With Dr. Osei

April 4 at 7:27 AM

#HERBAL MEDICINE

The practice of herbal medicine has stood the test of time, being passed down from one generation to the other.

Over the years the practice has been based on trial and error. Most practitioners too attribute the healing properties to spiritualities.

Herbal medicine started off in the ancient times using the doctrine of signature which states that 'like treats like'. This basically means that, the shape or aroma of a plant material can be linked to the organ that it works on in the body. For instance kidneys are shaped like beans thus the red beans are used to treat conditions associated with the kidneys.

The introduction of Science showed some level of truth in these claims but not entirely as some plants are known to contain chemicals which can be toxic, eg: cyanogenic glycosides and some carcinogenic, eg: pyrrolizidine alkaloids.

As discussed earlier, traditional medicine is a bigger umbrella of which herbal medicine is under. The practice of herbal medicine is purely Science and has no spiritual backing.
The later puts the practice under traditional medicine not herbal medicine. Eg: If a mallam or a fetish priest or a prophet gives you herbs are the claim the herbs will work due to some enchantment, it is does not qualify as a herbal medicine but traditional medicine.

Herbal Medical Officers are trained scientifically and clinically in herbal medicine.
They make diagnoses through detailed patient history taking, physical examination and laboratory investigations when necessary.

Always see a Herbal Medical Officer when you visit any herbal clinic or district hospital.

#PIC: Dr. Maxwell Owusu, Herbal Medical Officer, Medi Moses Clinic and Prostate centre.

~Dr. Osei
0249546674