Minister, Odukoya, Emeje Endorse Muanya’s Book on Local Foods as Medicines

Prominent figures in the health sector, beginning with the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate; a renowned Professor of Pharmacognosy at the Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, Olukemi Odukoya; Professor of Pharmacy and Director General of Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA), Martins Emeje; among others have endorsed a new book “Herbal Spices: Local Foods As Medicines” authored by a former Deputy Editor of The Guardian, Mr Chukwuma Muanya.

Prof. Pate, while receiving copies of the book in his office, in Abuja, recently, expressed his confidence in Muanya as an exceptional journalist, who has demonstrated a high level of professionalism.

“You are a professional,* Pate said. “I have immense respect for you. I want to encourage you to continue on that path and success will be yours at the end of the day.”

He continued: “This is very good. These days, it is easy to copy what everybody else is doing, but you identified a niche and it was original. You brought an alignment between your training, professional practice as a journalist and research to make your contribution. You connected it with the foods that we like to eat. I am very proud of you. I am very glad that you have done this and thank you for coming to share it.”

Also appraising the importance of the book, Prof. Olukemi Odukoya, in a foreword to the book said the emerging recognition among health professionals is that food plays not just a supplemental but a central role in the health of people globally.

“It is therefore necessary to study our local foods and traditional diets to promote the wellbeing of the populace through reading of this book, Herbal Spices: Local Foods As Medicines…., as a song without end. The present book of ten chapters is Volume One. It is the beginning of the song contributing to a comprehensive coverage of the needs to achieve a radiant health and longevity at affordable costs. The reader will benefit greatly from the primary benefits of eating local foods,”she said.

Appreciating Prof. Pate for the recognition, Chukwuma Muanya, earlier informed him on the objective of the book, which is an evidence-based and scientifically authenticated herbal remedies for chronic diseases as well as how he has been able to prevent and treat common sickness in Nigeria such as malaria, typhoid fever, hepatitis, toothache, staphylococcus aureus, premature ejaculation, low libido in men and women, erectile dysfunction, fibroids, prostate enlargement, ulcer, Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), cancers, hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease, diarrhoea, infertility, tuberculosis, cold, cough, catarrh, haemorrhoid and pile, among others with herbs.

Muanya, a conventional herbalist, pharmacognocist, researcher, science and health writer, and media consultant, who is also the CEO of CAMS DIAMONDS Nigeria Limited, identified poor diet as a the leading cause of bad health, and accounts for many more deaths than alcohol and drug abuse. Food is not only to fulfill the appetite. A little attention regarding the benefits of the foods eaten on health, can give a better life, and eventually, one can enjoy the wealth in health.

Odukoya added: “The book is a compendium of practical activities for you to try out. It is for everyone. It also answers every question that a student of herbal medicine and nutrition could possibly want to ask. Enjoy the book and really hope that you find it very useful as a household song.”

Muanya explained what informed the writing of the book is a huge knowledge gap in evidence-based preventive medicine in Nigeria and indeed all over the world. “This book will guide you on what to do to prevent most diseases, cure some and ameliorate others,”he disclosed.

Others endorsers of the book are: Prof. MacDonald Idu, Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State; Dr Joy Odimegwu of the Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos; former Managing Director/Editor-In-Chief, The Guardian Newspapers Limited, Eluem Emeka Izeze; CEO of Clean Serve Energy/ former Managing Director, Arik Air, Chief Chris Ndulue among many others.

To Emeje, the book “provides specific steps in preparing home remedies based on results of empirical research.” For Izeze, with this book, “everyone can take responsibility for his or her lifestyle.”Ndulue said: “A wholesome meal served fresh and hot by the master-dietician and natural health expert of our time.”To Odimegwu, the book is “bringing the age-old knowledge of herbal medicines into many homes.”Idu said: “Great resource for herbalists, naturopaths, healthcare professionals.”

The 178-page book, with 10 chapters, lend credence to the famous statement of Hippocrates (460-357-BC), which says, “Let food be the medicine and let medicine be the food.”

Muanya explained through the book that many Nigerians are languishing with one ailment or the other due to changes in lifestyle especially food. With diseases like cancer and other Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, high blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol level, stroke, and kidney damage are on the rise, healthcare has become unaffordable. This emphasis why Nigerians must leverage local foods as medicines.

Meanwhile, Chapter One of the book deals with why more people are getting sick: Ignorance, my people perish because of lack of knowledge.

Chapter Two dwells on the common diseases in Nigeria and their natural treatments.

Chapter Three explains the miracle of local spices and herbs.

Chaoter Four unveils the herbal blood tonics for sickle cell and anaemic conditions.

Chapter Five is on microbial/viral infections and herbal antibiotics for HIV, measles, chickenpox etc.

Chapter Six is on diabetes and natural cures.

Chapter Seven identifies local plants for haemorrhoid and pile.

Chapter Eight: Foods of Love. Considering the rising cases of infertility in the country and flagging libidos in even in young men and women, the chapter provides evidence-based solutions. It unveils herbal cures for low libido in men and women, weak erection, premature ejaculation, dry vagina, poor sperm count and quality, early menopause, poor quality eggs, blocked fallopian tubes and infertility.

Chapter Nine: Hypertension and reproductive problems. Hypertension is a silent killer and is associated with sudden death, stroke, heart attack, kidney damage, erectile dysfunction to mention but a few. This chapter provides herbal cures for hypertension, low sperm count, and other related issues.

Chapter Ten: Cancers have become so common in Nigeria that almost every family has lost someone to the deadly disease or have another managing the condition. This chapter deals on growths and tumours, fibroids/prostate enlargement and cancers. It provides evidence on how herbal mix shrinks fibroids, prostate enlargement and cancers.