Medical experts have expressed mixed reactions over the efficacy of local herbs combination, popularly known as “Agbo” in the Yoruba language, as an alternative to orthodox medicine for the treatment of different ailments.

While the sellers of the herbs and roots claim it can cure piles, arthritis, malaria, fever, among other diseases, some experts have concerns about its impact on peoples’ health.

Chine Chisom, a neurologist at National Hospital Abuja (NHA), said most herbal preparations are unrefined and cannot be relied on.

She said “another thing is that there is no dosage as to the quantity one can use and because of this, it causes a lot of havoc to the body.

“It can be toxic and affect the liver and the kidney;  it is not advisable for people to be taking it,” she added.

Precious Adetunji, a nutritionist, also aligned herself with the assertion that taking herbal medicine could cause kidney problems.

Femi Oguntebi, a pharmacist also at the NHA, cautioned against the use of herbal concoctions in treating ailments, noting, however, that most orthodox medicines were derived from plant extract.

“The issue with herbal concoction is that there is no standard dosage, no clinical trials and the problem of one herb treating three to four diseases is dangerous,” Mr Oguntebi said.

However, Taiwo Alabi, a local herb seller said herb preparations were the major medicines used in the olden days to treat diseases.

According to Mrs Alabi, herbs and roots have the capacity to treat many diseases. “Local herbs and roots are more effective than orthodox medicines,” she added.

Also, Abiodun Dahunsi, a trado-medical doctor, said herbal combinations were effective enough to take care of sicknesses if taken as prescribed by practitioners.

Toyin Yusuf, a local herb seller, also said “since most orthodox drugs are derived from roots and herbs, it shows that they can heal all kinds of sicknesses”.

Meanwhile, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) had on December 29, 2021, warned Nigerians against patronising hawkers of herbal concoctions for lack of storage standards.

The director-general of the agency, Mojisola Adeyeye, told journalists in Lagos that drugs hawked on the streets or in buses should be avoided because of the uncertainty of the source.

(NAN)