By Abujah Racheal
The wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, Mrs Aisha Buhari, on Tuesday advocated the use of traditional medicine as an integral part of health care services.
Consequently, she urged Nigerians to embrace traditional medicine for the treatment it offers through the use of natural plants and herbs.
Buhari, represented by Hajiya Hajo Sani, made the call in Abuja, at the presentation of three books by Zainab Sharif, a Pharmacist and Director / Head of Department, Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines (TCAM), Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the books are Medicinal First Aid Kit ( Kitchen Spices Rack), Common Medicinal Plants of Nigeria and Healing Recipe and Herbal Therapy for Common Ailments.
They provide information about the various herbal plants available in Nigeria.
Buhari, who noted that Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine were also important components of treatment options , commended the author for documenting her experience.
I wish to therefore congratulate the author for this great feat and call on Nigerians to purchase copies, and use them at home, to ensure long lasting healthy living.
I also call on other traditional complementary and alternative medicine practitioners to conduct their research with approved institutions to find cures for diseases that have bedeviled Nigerians, she said.
The wife of the president said that the books would be of utmost benefit to Nigerians and health care practitioners.
The Ooni of Ife, his Majesty Adeyeye Enitan, who attended the occasion as the royal father of the day, said that the country needs to focus on improving and developing its traditional herbal medicine .
According to him, it can also be a source of income for the country.
He said that traditional medicine explored the use of diverse medicinal and natural plants and herbs.
We will not believe our common onions has antioxidants and compounds that fight inflammation, decrease triglycerides and reduce cholesterol levels, all of which may lower heart disease risk.
Their potent anti-inflammatory properties may also help reduce high blood pressure and protect against blood clots, he explained.
He said that traditional medicine is a major part of our social health repositioning in Africa and serves as a major source of health services.
Also, the Minister of State for Health, Sen. Olorunnimbe Mamora, said that the ministry hadtaken giant steps toward the promotion, development and institutionalisation of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine practices in the country.
This includes the existence of the Department of Traditional, Complementary