COMMON PLANTS FOR WEIGHT LOSS, DIABETES AND IMPOTENCE

Not many people would consider that all plants in our surroundings, including those referred to as flowers, have medicinal uses. Well, surprisingly common herb like waterleaf, Amarathus and stubborn grass help to improve infertility and control raised blood pressure.
Mr Seye Tella, a herbal consultant, Tehla Herbal clinic, DSTV office Complex, Liberty stadium, analysing the usefulness of common plants in our environment for condition such as hypertension, weight loss, diabetes, impotence and skin problems, said nature is rich in what humans need to live healthy, including foods.
Tella, a pharmacist, said that many times, individuals weed their compounds, never considering what the plants could be used to improve their health.
According to him, in Yoruba land, it is said that every leaf is a medicine, but knowing their usefulness is another issue.
From his study of herbs, he said, bitter leaf, commonly referred to as Ewuro in Yoruba land, helps in reducing blood sugar, repairing pancreas, regulating blood cholesterol level as well as treating stomach ache.
Also, bitter leaf prevents malaria, prevents toothache, induces labour, a worm expeller, fights fatigue and exhaustion, inhibits breast cancer as well as enhances good night sleep.
The herbal expert cited grape fruits, lemon and turmeric as also common ingredients for ensuring weight loss.
Interestingly, he declared that the every parts of trees such as orange, mango and sponbim are sources of natural recipes for different health problems.
Tella, saying that even though the same plant could be used for different conditions by different herbal expert, scent leaf, also called efirrin, works for health problems such as stomach disturbances and lowering of blood pressure
“If you have stomach ache, just chew or squeeze some scent leaf. Also, for high blood pressure, squeeze it in water and take a shot of it,” he declared.
Aside fresh water leaf or its water extract, which lowers blood pressure, he said it is used for hormonal regulation in infertility cases, corrects frigidity in women, ameliorates menopausal symptoms and helps to ensure menstrual regulation.
“Water leaf, in combination with some other herbs, was used in treating a woman whose menses had stopped for 14 years. Her menstrual cycle was restored and that year, she conceived,” he said.
Tella, however, said a combination of herbs is used in natural medicine therapies.
For diabetes treatment, for instance, herbs that naturally increase the body uptake of sugar are combined with others to improve insulin production, make the body more sensitive to insulin and ensure the body’s general wellbeing are combined.
“The active chemicals extracted from the plant may be effective in animals but not work in humans; as such, the whole plant is used alongside others to reach the threshold required for its effectiveness. What is done is to look for other herbs that have complementary activity and bulk it up. However introducing heat, drying or other forms of processes oftentimes affect the effectiveness.”
The expert in herbal therapies for many ailments including weight control, a predisposing factor for many non communicable diseases such as diabetes, stroke and cancer, emphasised individuals eating as close to nature as possible to say healthy and that are free of many prevalent ailments.
“It has been proved over time that problem starts when we do not eat right. That is why you are better off eating like vegetarians, who eat as close as to nature as possible. From basic science, heat for instance can change the chemical composition of a food item.
“Aside applying heat, other condiments such as sweeteners and artificial seasonings further make the food more deadly. Natural seasonings like ginger, turmeric, locust beans and garlic are better. The benefits of locust beans, for instance, outweigh monosodium glutamate that is present in bouillon cubes.
“Eating artificial sweeteners and condiments tilts the pH level of the body towards acidic levels and the more acidic the body system, the more it is prone to diseases and infections. But eating naturally and exercising ensures the right pH is maintained in the body.”
In treating conditions such as diabetes, stroke and hypertension, he said, aside herbal therapies, diet and exercises are central.
According to him, “Once the client is committed to exercising and diet prescription, over time, he or she is weaned off conventional medicines that only use herbal therapies to take care of ailments such as hypertension and diabetes.”