Swallowing a bitter pill? Some conjectures on herbal cures for Covid-19
Growing up, I was most excited about two things; receiving gifts, and going out to play. Both were daily experiences, but the latter was time- and place-bound. At home, I could only play with my friends after doing homework, or after finishing my chores on weekends. Weekends were my favorite days. I could play for hours on end without having to think about school. But the inevitable reality check would hit me on Sundays. Another weekend ritual that my friends and I dreaded, was taking agbo-jedi (simply, agbo)
Agbo is a Yoruba traditional herbal remedy for diarrhoea administered to children and consumed by adults too. It was a weekend ritual whether I had diarrhoea or not because of my mum’s constant fear that i ate such sweet things that could make me ill. But agbo is not only preventive. To date, many Nigerians have a firm belief in its curative powers.
During commemorations of (the unofficial World Herb Day) on 2 May, I was reminded of my childhood as I cast my gaze upon the sudden influx of herb remedies that can supposedly cure Covid-19. On the one hand, proponents like the Ooni of Ife — a traditional ruler in Western Nigeria — believe that the pandemic is not above nature and that herbs such as Dogo Yaro (neem tree or Indian lilac) can heal a Corona virus patient.
The global attention accompanying Madagascar’s launch of Covid-Organics — a herbal medicine developed by Malagasy Institute of Applied Research — also follows this trend.
On the other side of the argument, critics note that no proof has been put forward to support these claims. They add that we would not be seeing the daily rise in Covid-19 infections and fatalities if such an easy cure was available. The World Health Organization (WHO) further emphasizes that there is, as yet, no specific vaccine for Covid-19. The science is scarce, and now is not the time to start experimenting with herbal remedies on your own if you contract Covid- 19,” warns the world body.
Nigeria is expected to receive Covid-Organics samples from Madagascar, alongside other African countries like Tanzania, Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, and the Republic of Congo. However, President Buhari has stressed that the herbal medicine will go through a standard validation process before it can be considered for use in the country. He also noted that the plant used for this herbal medicine are grown in the country.
As I learnt in my childhood, herbs are remedial for various illnesses. While they may not cure Covid-19, herbs can help boost immunity against common diseases, leaving hospitals battle to care for the most serious cases. With the added attention brought by the Covid-19 crisis, herb farming offers a lucrative business opportunity. Requiring minimal capital or space, individuals can take advantage of the ample time they have — thanks to stay-at-home directives — to learn how to grow herbs at home. The health, and, potentially, financial benefits, are numerous.
While the future seems uncertain for many jobs, herb farming offers hope for a considerable business proposition post Covid-19.
Written by Dorcas Abimbola Omole
This article is part of Covid-19 Food/Future, an initiative under TMG ThinkTank for Sustainability’s SEWOH Lab project (https://www.tmg-thinktank.com/sewoh-lab). It aims at providing a unique and direct insight into the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on national and local food systems. Also follow @CovidFoodFuture, our Video Diaries From Nairobi, and @TMG_think on Twitter. Funding for this initiative is provided by BMZ, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.
