Experts in a survey for herbs for treating fibroid have identified 102 medicinal plants and 16 recipes used in treating fibroid in Ogun and Osun states.
The study, carried out with the purpose of documenting information available on traditional plants from herbs sellers and traditional medical practitioners that are used in the treatment of fibroid, indicated that many of the recipes included plants in the Euphorbiaceae family.
The survey documented in the June edition of the Journal of Research in Forestry, Wildlife & Environment indicated that more traditional medical practitioners are involved in the treatment of fibroid as compared to herb sellers. It was carried out by Mr M. A Adebisi at the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN).
The plants’ parts usually used for the fibroid treatment include the plant root, bark, leaves, fruits, seeds, extracted juices from the fruits, and bulb. Most of the preparations had leaves.
The method of preparations includes soak, decoction, infusion, pyrolysis, fermentation, cook or fry and pound and air-dried. Most of the plants were prepared from the combination of more than one plant parts. Few herbs preparation was made from a single plant.
The recipes included cutting in pieces and soaking in water equal amounts of Xylopia aethiopica (Eeru) and Cocos nucifera (coconut seed and pod) for three days. Half a teacup is taken daily for at least 90 days.
Seeds of Diociea reflexa (Agbaarin) and leaves of Sida pilosa are ground and soaked in local gin and a quarter of a teaspoon is to be taken for 90 days.
The bark of Kigelia africana (Igi amuyan), fruits of Ricinus communis (Lara), leaves of Newbouldia laevis (Akoko) and leaves of Pseudospondias microcarpa (Ekeja) were soaked with fermented maize water to which table salt had been added. One teacup of it is to be taken for 90 days.
The fourth recipe indicated that leaves of Macaranga barteri (Agbosa) were ground and soaked with local alcohol. Four teaspoons are taken daily for 30 days.
Others included soaking the bark and seeds of Xylopia aethiopica (Eru) with a dry gin for two to 24 hours. A small- cup full of this is taken twice daily for 30 days.
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