20 KEY BENEFITS OF OGBONO (IRVINGIA GABONENSIS)

Ogbono is botanically known as Irvingia gabonensis (Aubry-Lecomte ex O’Rorke) Baill and highly demanded  its wide benefits. Ogbono is a specie of African trees that belongs to the genus Irvingia. The high demand for ogbono is due to its high socioeconomic, nutritional and medicinal values. Different parts of the world have different names for Irvingia gabonensis for example, it is known as ugiri or ogbono by the Igbo people, biri, goron, goronor by Hausa people, ogwi by the Benin people, mbukpabuyo by the Ibibio and Efik people, oro, apon or aapon by Yoruba, bobo, manguier or sauvage by French and apioro by the Deltan people. It is equally known as dika, sweet bush mango, odika, iba-tree, chocolatier, African mango, dika nut, duiker nut, manguier sauvage, wild mango, Irvingia and dika bread tree. 

According to Ladipo et al., (1996), the Irvingia genus is made up of 7 species comprising of Irvingia wombolu, Irvingia gabonensis, Irvingia giarobur, Irvingia excels, Irvingia malayaria, Irvingia gradifolia and Irvingia smithii. Unlike the pulp of some other Irvingia spp., the pulp of Irvingia gabonensis is edible, sweet and juicy. Irvingia gabonensis is closely related to Irvingia wombolu. While Irvingia wombolu bears inedible and bitter fruits, the Irvingia gabonensis bears edible ones. Irvingia excelsa Mildbr fruit pulp is hard and inedible while Irvingia smithii Hook.f. fresh fruit is sweet and edible. 

The ogbono tree measures between 15 to 40 meters with slightly buttressed bole. It bears edible mango-like fruits that are highly valued for their nutritious nuts. Ogbono tree is prevalent in the dry and wet tropical zones such as Nigeria, Angola, Uganda, Congo, Cameroon, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire and Southeast Asia. It can grow in a farmland, semi-deciduous forest, canopied bush or gallery forests. Although this fruit is also referred to as bush mango, yet it is in no way similar with mango fruit. 

Irvingia gabonensis tree is distinguished by its compact crown with branchlets that end in a curved, narrow, stipular sheath. The tree grows upright to approximately 40 metres height and 1-metre diameter. This usually covers the leaf bud. The leaves are elliptic, slightly obovate, dark green in appearance and measures approximately 5 to 15 x 2.5 to 6 cm. Ogbono leaves bear between five to ten pairs of irregular lateral veins that have the lower ones to protrude out closely to the margin.

The slender, bisexual flowers are yellow to greenish-white in colour with some clustered racemes formed above the leaves. Ogbono fruits are greenish when unripe but change to yellow when ripe. The evergreen crown is dense and spherical in shape. The drupe fruit is distinguished by its fibrous flesh and the nut is woody and contains one seed.

The Ginger and Garlic Wonders

With the Yoruba Name: (Ginger= Ata ile) (Garlic= Alubosa Ayu)

Garlic

Garlic -- Allium sativum -- is known for its antibiotic, anti-fungal and health-building properties. Garlic is often used as a dietary supplement to reduce cholesterol and high blood pressure, numerous studies support the proposition that oral garlic supplements may lower blood pressure; Garlic has primarily been studied for potential cancer-fighting impacts of its sulfur compounds, these health-promoting compounds are not present in intact garlic, but form when fresh garlic cloves are crushed or chopped and exposed to air. These sulfur compounds have anti-bacterial powers comparable to penicillin, according to the Clayton College of Natural Health. Fresh garlic cloves, rather than tea, contain the antibacterial properties.

Ginger

Ginger has been used in traditional medicine in several cultures for thousands of year. Its use has primarily been directed at digestive disorders, including nausea, motion sickness and loss of appetite. Numerous studies support ginger's effectiveness for these purposes. Ginger increases calcium uptake by the heart, which in turn reduces high blood pressure, according to the Clayton College of Natural Health. However, only fresh ginger produces this effect. The active components of ginger vary widely from plant to plant, so the beneficial effects even of fresh ginger use can not be wholly predictable.

Garlic and Ginger Tea

Garlic and ginger tea can be used as a treatment for colds and easing the symptoms of flu. This use takes advantage of garlic and ginger's antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as ginger's reputation for easing headache and relieving nausea. Since studies regarding these healthful properties of ginger and garlic have focused on consuming the fresh products or dietary supplements, it is uncertain whether a tea made from fresh or dry garlic and ginger would impart the same healthful properties. However, ginger and garlic tea tastes good, especially with honey and lemon, and adds warm fluids to the diet when suffering from a cold or flu.
Garlic and Ginger Dangers
Garlic and ginger both thin the blood, leading to increased risk of bleeding. Taking ginger and garlic together can interfere with blood clotting. Neither should be consumed when you are taking other anticoagulants like aspirin or warfarin. Ginger also increases the absorption of other medications, and garlic can reduce iodine absorption, which also interferes with the function of some medications, particularly for thyroid patients. Studies supporting these warnings were based primarily on fresh consumption or dietary supplements, so the effects of garlic and ginger tea on medication interactions are uncertain at best. Consult your doctor before beginning any home treatment for high blood pressure, as consuming ginger and garlic in supplement or tea form may interfere with your medication and create a real risk of health dangers. But adding a reasonable quantity of ginger and garlic to your meal is Health benefiting.Bottom of Form

The difference Between Sorcery and Herbal Usage

As a matter of Prudence, many Nigerian citizens have a vague understanding of the difference between Sorcery and the Usage of herbs for treating simple illnesses. Usage of Medicines have emancipated and taken over our normal way of life. Our ancestors lived their lives without Tablet, although tablets save in some cases, but we should not depend too much on them, in other to avert Kidney failure and other related complications. Sorcery is the art, practices, or spells of a person who is supposed to exercise supernatural powers through the aid of evil spirits; black magic; witchery. Herbs are natural, they save lives, they deliver from the wrath of the gods. Witchcraft (also called witchery or spellcraft) broadly means the practice of, and belief in, magical skills and abilities that are able to be exercised by individuals and certain social groups. Witchcraft is a complex concept that varies culturally and societally; therefore, it is difficult to define with precision and cross-cultural assumptions about the meaning or significance of the term should be applied with caution. Witchcraft often occupies a religious, divinatory or medicinal role,and is often present within societies and groups whose cultural framework includes a magical world view. Although witchcraft can often share common ground with related concepts such as sorcery, the paranormal, magical, superstition, necromancy, possession, shamanism, healing, spiritualism, nature worship and the occult, it is usually seen as distinct from these when examined by sociologists and anthropologists.
Herbal medicine, also called botanical medicine or phytomedicine, refers to using a plant's seeds, berries, roots, leaves, bark, or flowers for medicinal purposes. Herbalism has a long tradition of use outside conventional medicine. It is becoming more mainstream as improvements in analysis and quality control, along with advances in clinical research, show the value of herbal medicine in treating and preventing disease.

What is the history of herbal medicine?

Plants have been used for medicinal purposes long before recorded history. Ancient Chinese and Egyptian papyrus writings describe medicinal uses for plants as early as 3,000 BC. Indigenous cultures (such as African and Native American) used herbs in their healing rituals, while others developed traditional medical systems (such as Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine) in which herbal therapies were used. Researchers found that people in different parts of the world tended to use the same or similar plants for the same purposes.
In the early 19th century, when chemical analysis first became available, scientists began to extract and modify the active ingredients from plants. Later, chemists began making their own version of plant compounds and, over time, the use of herbal medicines declined in favor of drugs. Almost one fourth of pharmaceutical drugs are derived from botanicals.

What is herbal medicine good for?

Herbal medicine is used to treat many conditions, such as allergies, asthma, eczema, premenstrual syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, migraine, menopausal symptoms, chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, and cancer, among others. It is best to take herbal supplements under the guidance of a trained provider.

1.  Let us not forsake the Herbs, Let us detest wicked Sorcery, Use herbs wisely.

The saviour Alligator Pepper

Alligator pepper, which is botanically known as Aframomum melegueta is a popular herbaceous perennial plant that is originally from West Africa in countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Liberia, Cote D’ivoire, Sierra Leone, Togo, Gambia and Ghana.With the Yoruba Name (Ataare). It belongs to the zingiberaceae or ginger family and thrives mainly in swampy habitats especially in the West African coasts.

The seeds of the alligator pepper are similar to the grains of paradise however alligator pepper seeds are usually sold enclosed with the pods while the grains of paradise are sold as single seeds.

The tree grows about 1 meter tall with narrow lanceolate leaves that have similar appearance with the bamboo leave.
The fruit is distinguished by its ovoid shape with reddish colour when fresh however, the colour changes to brown when dry.
The skin of the fruit has close similarity with the back of an alligator and this suggests the origin of its name. The fruit contains many small brownish seeds with sharp peppery, bitter, pungent and  aromatic flavour. The fruit encloses the seeds, which are sealed with inner thin papery whitish skin. It’s strong pungent, peppery taste is as a result of its aromatic ketones and high tannin content.
The Alligator pepper is very useful both spiritually and medically, Alligator pepper is a highly valuable spice as a result of its high medicinal and nutritive values; for example, the phytochemicals derived from its seeds are being used since time immemorial for treating several diseases.

The Often Neglected and Mystical Coconut Water Uses

The Natural Endowment called Coconut

The Myth we were often told when we were young is "if you drink coconut water, you will be as dumb as a lamb". We followed the myth and we neglected the useful water. Thank God for science, that made us know the constituents of the coconut water and also its usefulness. Coconut tree with the Scientific name (Cocos nucifera) is a member of the family Arecaceae (palm family) and the only accepted species in the genus Cocos. Its Yoruba name is "Agbon".
Naturally refreshing, coconut water has a sweet, nutty taste. It contains easily digested carbohydrate in the form of sugar and electrolytes. Not to be confused with high-fat coconut milk or oil, coconut water is a clear liquid in the fruit's center that is tapped from young, green coconuts. When eaten raw soft young Coconut increases brain activity and help increase intelligence.
It contains easily digested carbohydrate in the form of sugar and electrolytes. Not to be confused with high-fat coconut milk or oil, coconut water is a clear liquid in the fruit's center that is tapped from young, green coconuts.
The Coconut Oil is also very useful.

What you need to know about Yoruba Beliefs about herbs and their Usage

The beliefs of the Yoruba people about herbs, their usage and Why they are preferred to some Medical Tablets.

 

The medical traditions of the Yoruba people of western Nigeria developed within a culture that deeply respects and venerates ancestors. The Orishas, or gods of the Yoruba, were former ancestors such as Oduduwa, the legendary ancestor of all Yoruba people, and his son Ogun. Respect for family and ancestors is so deep that when Yoruba people die, they are buried under the floor of the family house. Their spirits remain with and protect the family.

The Yoruba believe that sickness is a whim or punishment of a specific god or ancestor, who must be identified and placated, or else is caused by witchcraft for which the appropriate counter charm must be employed. They developed a shamanistic medical tradition utilizing both Herbalism (practiced by the onishegun, herbal healers) and divination (practiced by the babalawo, priests of the Ifa cult.)

The Herbal Usage of the Goat Weed (Ageratum Conyzoides)

Ageratum Conyzoides, (English Name= Goat Weed) Yoruba Name = Imi Esu. Is a tropical plant commonly found in the southwestern and other wet places in Nigeria. It is dispersed by water and animals. It is an annual herb with hairy ovate opposite leaves and very common throughout the West Africa region. Flowers are tubular floral, and is often pale-blue but sometimes white in colour.The chemical compounds are demonstrated in strong smell of the plant which is attributed to a strong but pleasant smellina volatile oil, this is yielded in distillation Vanillin (strong smell). Other properties are coumarin saponin, tannins and alkaloids.