SLC S21 Week 1 - A Comprehensive guide to Herbal Medicines

Background Source

It's interest me to take part in this contest this week as I found this topic interesting. Herbal medicine is one of those medication that is found in almost every homes and there is never a day we do not make use of this either drinking it as tea or we include it in our meals. But whatever the case it is always good to try as much as possible to avoid abusing of herbal medicine.

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Research Assignment: Research and write a history of herbal medicine in your culture or region. Include examples of common herbs used historically.

In my region herbal medicine is widely used and recognised. Right from olden days, herbal mixture has been in existence. It has been the source of treatments that was widely use to treat different types of sickness that was present as at then. I think and herbal medicine was mostly seen, less expensive and very effective for them.

Back then where there was no much knowledge about modern medicine, about medicine was used in the treatment of vast illness that affects the masses. The only effect that was there and is still going on now is that most people have abused the use of this herbal medicine which has resulted in either triggering of chronic illness or resulting in death.

Africans has a lot of about medicines, we have plans and trees growing around us we rare enough animals, we have a lot of crops that is used as herbal medicine. Some drug producing companies do come to Africa to get some help to help them produce a particular medications.

Herbs such as moringa, Pawpaw leaf, quava leaf, bitter cola and Kola nut, tumeric, ginger, garlic, cinnamon etc has been used in my region for the treatment of some ailments.

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Comparison Task: Create a table comparing the benefits and side effects of modern medicines vs. herbal medicines for common ailments (e.g., cold, headache).

Must modern medicines are produced from herbs, a considerable amount of herbs is measured to a particular chemical to produce Morden medicine.

Modern medicine benefits	herbal medicine benefits
Cold; It helps to relief cold in a given number of days it will also required appropriate dosage for effective treatment.It will also need to treat other symptoms that is associated with it, 2 or more medication will be required. Side effects; vomiting, headache, nausea	It gives a faster relief to the cold within few minutes. It will only require a little dosage and the effects is seen. E.g ginger is very effective in treating colds. Side effects; heart burn depending on the quantity
Cough; it will need to treat the bacteria causing it and other symptoms probably test is required for effective treatment. It takes days and multiple doses to see the effects side effects; dizziness	it is also good in treating cough, the effect is also seen within a hours of administration. E.g bitter cola and ginger will really help to relief cough faster. Side effects; reduces weight,
Cramps & pains; it helps in relieving of pains, drugs administration will depend on the area of which the pains is associated. Some therapy will be done to determine the debt of the pains and it causes side effects; nausea,	Cramps &pains; if taken an appropriate dosage it helps to relieve pains faster and it will never be repeated because it also treat the causes of the pains e.g tumeric, ginger, clove and calabash nutmeg etc. Side effects; excessive use may trigger some illness
Abdominal discomfort; a particular causes need to be known so as to know the medication to be given. But once it is detected, a medication indicating the causes will be administered and it will relief the person side effects; the drug chemical may be toxic to the body and may likely cause headaches, nausea and some other reactions depending on the medication	Abdominal discomfort;it has a general antidotes that helps to relief the person. Side effects; may reduces blood sugar, reduce blood pressure depending on the quantity taken
Poison; it has different antidote that will help to relief it	Poison; very fast antidote in relieving of poison e.g bitter cola, Kola nut, palm oil etc
Side effects; it depends on the type of medication used, it causes dizziness, vomiting, heart disease etc	Side effect; sleeplessness, mouth odour

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Herb Identification: Choose 3 herbs from your kitchen like mint, ginger, or turmeric and list their health benefits. Mention the recipes where you have used these herbs.

Cloves are rich in nutrients it contains fiber, vitamins, and minerals in addition to this cloves are high in antioxidants and this helps in reducing the risk of diabetes, hypertension, reduces weight.
It removed free radicals in the body which helps in improving the overall health issues in the body.

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Cinnamon is from bark of tree and it is very healthy to the body. It has high level of antioxidants this, it have anti-inflammatory effects, which may help lower the risk of disease in the body such as help in managing blood sugars, protect against heart disease, and reduces inflammation. Therefore, cinnamon has antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

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Tumeric has a lot of health benefits, it helps to relief pains and any joint inflammation. It helps in weight control, promotes mental health such as depression. It helps in fighting some viral and bacterial infections such as flu.

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Recipe used; I used the above herbs a lot in different recipes because of their health benefits and they have really helped me to stay healthy.

• Food; I do add them to my meals as they are also spices, I enjoyed their flavours in meals. I used a considerable amount of it in cooking. Most times I dry the 3 ingredients and blend then to powder form to enable an easy use of it whenever I'm cooking with it.

• Tea; most times I do combine the three of them and cook with a considerable amount of water depending on the quantity to avoid being highly concentrated. I do drink it as my tea mostly at night to help regulate a sound sleep, helps in maintaining a healthy menstrual circle Thus, avoiding hormonal imbalance, relief menstrual cramps and reduces vagina dryness.

• Drink; I also add them to my zobo drink anytime I prepare zobo.

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Forms of Herbs: Write about the different forms of the herbs.

1. Tea; This form is mostly used, it is boiling of a particular herbs in a hot water and take it as tea. It is mostly likely realiable depending on the type of herbs as some high risk has been burn off.

2. Powder; most of the herbs are dried and then grinded into powder form. This form last longer depending on the type of helps as it is dry. It can be leafs, roots, bark of plants, seeds, flower etc

3. Gel; some of the herbs comes in gel form which is either used that way or use some leaf to produce a gel and it is mostly used on the skin as soap or oil. A typical example of this is aleovera gel

4. Extract ; is divided into two, the powder extract and the liquid form. The liquid can be alcoholic extract, hot water extract, cold water extract, oil extract and aecitic acid extract. So this extract leaf can be used root, bark of plants it can be either squeezed with water or soak with alcohol or acetic acid to obtain what is needed.

5. Syrup; there are some plans that this serial form is being used as medicine This can be seen in help such as root or bark of tree. E.g rubber tree, acacia tree

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Safety Report: Pick one herb and research any potential side effects or interactions with modern medications, and how to avoid them.

Bitter cola is one of those herbs that is commonly used in Africa. It has an outstanding health effects such as used in treating some bacterial infections and viral infections such as respiratory tract and urinary tract infections.

Potential effects; in as much as it has good health benefits, be aware of it potential effects. Excessive use of bitter cola causes;

• Cancer of the mouth

• Heart burns

• Stomach cramps,

• An increased heart rate due to the caffeine-like properties present in bitter cola.

• Allergic reactions in some cases but they are rare

Interaction with medicine; As powerful as bitter cola is it reduces the potency of medicine when taken with modern medicine. It also causes some reaction or trigger some illness in the body when combined with modern medicine. For example when taking anticoagulant (warfarin) and bitter cola, it can result in internal bleeding.

Caution; always avoid taking it excessively, take a proper amount of it and do not take it with a modern medication. Pay attention to yourself while taking herbs

Well this was really interesting.

I will like to invite @adylinah @goodybest and @dequeen to take part in this contest.