Dr. Miriam Laker-Oketta
During the 2021 portion of the Covid-19 pandemic, which hit Uganda very hard, some people made light of it by saying the pandemic was going to turn the world in. It did in so many ways but specifically, we make note of the approval of Covidex, a local medicinal herb as a supportive drug treatment for Covid-19 and other virus infections by the National Drug Authority (NDA) on 29th June, 2021.
Herbal medicine is one of the oldest forms of therapy in the world that has been used for centuries to treat a variety of diseases including: headaches, indigestion, insomnia and essentially all forms of ailments. It is medicine that uses plants and their extracts to treat illnesses and promote general health and well-being. Some even use herbal medicine to treat more serious illnesses like cancer and heart disease.
There are different types of herbal medicine. Some of the most common types include: herbal teas, tinctures and capsules. Herbal teas are made by boiling water and then adding herbs. The herbs are then allowed to steep in the water for a while. Many of us recall being given some form of herbal concoction growing up. For instance, a boiled and cool drink from young eucalyptus and mango leaves, nasty smelling and tasting onion drinks, black charcoal liquid and the worst of them, the interminably bitter aloe vera extract. Tinctures are made by soaking herbs in alcohol The herbs are then strained and the alcohol is allowed to evaporate. Capsules are made by grinding herbs into a powder and then putting the powder into capsules.
DO HERBAL MEDICINES REALLY WORK?
I will say yes and no. There are many benefits to using herbal medicine. Some of the benefits include; improved health, reduced symptoms of illness, and improved quality of life. Many of the current treatments used have their foundation in herbs; for instance, quinine, which was the backbone of treating malaria for several years, is an extract of the bark of the cinchona tree. Artemether which today is one of the main treatments for malaria, also comes from a plant. Drugs like atropine which ophthalmologists use to dilate the pupils of the eyes to get a better look inside the eyeballs, are also from plants.
Today, many of these plants’ chemical properties have been analyzed and the active ingredients have been replicated to make synthetic medicines with the same chemical formula. Through experimental research, modern medicine has identified the correct doses/quantities that these medicines should be administered. Thus, they have purified the medicinal component and made them easier to administer.
Also, the side effects and mode of action are now better understood so that the right drug in the right quantities can be administered to the people in whom it is most likely to work and least likely to cause dangerous side effects. Research has shown that a person’s mindset can contribute to how they feel. If, for instance, someone is convinced that a particular herb will cure them, taking it will make them
psychologically better. Some herbal medicines with no curative effect may work through the Placebo effect. For this reason, unless a herbal treatment is likely to cause severe adverse effects or prevent the right medicine from working, doctors permit their patients to take their herbal medication alongside the medicine they prescribe. Herbal medicine is also a natural form of medicine. It is, therefore, less likely to cause side effects than other forms of medicine.
DO HERBALS HAVE RISKS?
• Despite the many benefits of herbal medicine, some risks are associated with its use. Some hazards of herbal medicine include: allergic reactions, interactions with other medications and toxicity.
• Often, the correct dosage required for herbal medicines is unknown, so prescribers prescribe in bulk. In some cases, the prescriber has required patients to take up to 20 liters of a herbal mixture within 24 hours, risking both an overdose and water poisoning (toxicity from too much water in the body).
• Sometimes, the herbs are prepared with sub-par hygiene, causing a risk of infection from pathogens in the mixture. Some herbs are administered dangerously, e.g., cutting the skin and applying them, injections, enemas and steaming over charcoal (risk of carbon monoxide poisoning) or boiling water, which may cause burns to the respiratory system.
• Some unscrupulous herbalists combine herbs with steroids. Steroids have severe side effects if given uncontrolled by an untrained person.
• Some herbalists have also attached spiritual connotations to herbs to extract money by instilling fear in their patients. With all its benefits and the risks involved, it is essential to consult a healthcare professional before using herbal medicine to ensure that it is safe for use.
