Greetings everyone. I am happy to partake in this contest. I thank the admins of @Steem4Nigeria. For hosting us with this wonderful theme:

My Super Home Remedy.

Join me as I give answers to the questions asked in the contest.

What does home remedy mean to you?

Home remedies in my opinion are those products found in or around the house that can be administered as medicine in order to provide temporary or instant relief from discomfort or illness.

Those household products can be found mostly in our kitchen. Examples include, garlic, turmeric, salt, sugar, ginger, honey and so many others.

Honey can be used to treat coughs and relieve symptoms of cold.

Turmeric, ginger and garlic are usually mixed together with water or alcohol to make a combo for treating infection.

Salt and sugar when mixed in the right proportion together with water forms Oral Rehydration solution (ORS)- this is used to replace lost electrolytes in the body as a result of excess stooling and vomiting.

Other home remedy products that can be found around our home are those plants in our locality that we use to treat common illness. Examples of the medicinal plants are; awolowo leaf, Chaya leaf, bitter leaf, fluted pumpkin, dogoyaro tree e.t.c.

Awolowo leaf is used to stop bleeding from cuts

Chaya leaf and pumpkin which are very rich in iron can be used to treat anemia.

Do you consider home remedies better than chemically composed products? Why?

Yes I actually do because home remedies are mostly natural products. And anything natural is less toxic to the body compared to chemical products.

Home remedies have been used to treat illness for ages. Our forefathers relied on herbs back in the day for the treatment of Illness and to improve their well-being and vitality. This method worked so well for them and it is also working for us today.

But there are limitations associated with home remedies which includes but not limited to the following:

Wrong Plants maybe used

• A plant may be mistaken for another. And as we all know each plant has its own unique properties. In other words, no two plants are exactly the same. Therefore when the wrong Plant product is consumed it may cause harm to the individual.

Faulty preparation

• When the right method of preparation is missed, this also poses another health challenge. That is why only experienced herbalists or people should prepare home remedies.

Dosage Problem

• This is yet another challenge as there is usually no specific or precise dose to be taken. Unlike synthetic medicine that has an age appropriate dose for every drug. Therefore, it is difficult to know when one is either overdosing or take below what is required.

Yet, I still prefer Home remedies because
• They are safe
• They are very effective in providing relief from illness
• They can be used as dietary supplement
• Less toxic to human body

What's your super home remedy? What condition do you use it to treat?

Let me Introduce to you the Jehovah's witness leaf, ogwu obara (blood tonic) This leaf is more efficient in boosting blood than the regular chemically composed drugs, do you know why? The leaf is rich in vitamin B12, Zinc and Iron
Zinc helps the body function properly and also helps in protein formation while Iron is what the body needs in order to produce more blood. Vitamin B12 aids in red blood cell formation in the body.

I usually take it after treating ailments like malaria or after my menstrual cycle

It can be used to treat anaemia

Show us how your super home remedy is prepared (step by step) and the application.

In order to extract the juice from the leaf, below are the steps to take.

Step1

• After plucking the quantity of leaf that you want. You wash them thoroughly, to remove dirt and germs from the body of the leaf.

Step2

• Wash your pot and pour water on it and then you put the leaves that you have washed. And place it on the fire. Allow it to boil for sometime

Step 3

• You let it boil till the water changes to pink or crimson red. Then you bring it down to cool off.

Step 4

• Shake well and pour the juice into a glass cup and drink. Once or twice daily

Conclusion

Home remedies are natural and pocket friendly methods of treatment since they are products usually within our reach and easily accessible. They can also serve as a first aid treatment before we get to the hospital if the situation becomes more serious than normal.

I invite @udyliciouz @sahmie and @ruthjoe to join me and participate in this contest.