Exploring power of natural remedies

By Tatenda Kunaka

The power of natural remedies to cure disease has for decades been heavily overshadowed by pharmaceutical drugs, until now.
It is becoming clear that homemade and natural remedies play a pivotal role in the prevention and curing of various ailments at far lower cost than conventional drugs.
Natural remedies such as herbs, fresh air, water and sunlight strength the immune system. Herbs help people to combat coughs, relieve bronchitis, calm nerves, normalise digestion, reduce asthma attacks and pulmonary problems.
Richard Lucas a herbalist once said there is a renewal of scientific research regarding the therapeutic value of plants and trees.
Wise and informed use of herbs may cure deficiencies before they become full blown.
Sekuru Murehwa a traditionalist said herbs should be a regular part of a person’s lifestyle.
“Medicinal herbs have a huge preventive value and can cure almost any illness, people should frequently use them,” he said.
“People are exposed to GMOs, alcoholic beverages, drugs and tobacco substances that weaken our bodies, therefore, herbs are essential to minimise harm.”
The World Health Organisation (WHO) adopted a resolution urging governments to take traditional medical systems and treatments of their respective countries seriously but use of herbs and other remedies is less popular in Zimbabwe.
Natural remedies have no side effects like chemical drugs.
Dr Timothy Stamps once said: “Sometimes herb-based medicine can be better and safer and it is unfortunate that more Zimbabweans do not look after themselves and prevent diseases, relying on health workers to intervene only when an illness affects normal life and makes people stay in bed.”

Below are some of the traditional medicines and natural remedies and their uses;

Lemon leaves: Boost the pulse rate (boil the leaves and drink liquid).
Mango leaves: Treats boils, reduces asthma attacks, cures chest pains and heals diarrhoea.
Avocado leaves: Boost blood supply and regulates blood pressure (BP).
Activated charcoal (Chin’ai): Heals stomach aches. Antidote for poison.
Aloe (Gavakava): Heals wounds, cures stomach aches and
clears pimples and black spots.
Ginger (Tsangamidzi): Heals stomach pains and is a remedy for colds.
Amarula (Mupfura): Cures diarrhoea and prevent malaria.
It is a tonic for tiredness.
Black Jack (Mutsine): Treats ulcers, swelling of tissues due to fluid accumulation and diabetes. Used as a vegetable.
Snort Apple (Mutohwe): Used to treat earache, roots are chopped and put in water.
Garlic: Treats respiratory illness, stomach disorders and skin problems; scientific experiments suggest that the right amount of garlic in food can offer protection against certain types of cancers. Garlic combats many varieties of bacteria and fungi according to scientific research.
Shumha: The fruit is used to heal ringworms and skin diseases. Burn the extract and apply the affected part.
Mukundanyoka: Cures malaria, blood pressure, diabetes and toothache.
Mutsambadzi: Treats colds, stomach ache, eye problems and cures wounds.
Moringa: Stimulates appetite, reduces viral loads, boosts the immune system, boil the plant extracts and drink.
Mubvamaropa: The bark is used to cure stomach disorders. It cures headaches and malaria.
Mupangara: Used to treat toothache.
Dhorofiya: Treats many diseases like glaucoma, ulcers, herpes and diabetes. Heals wounds. Nhau/Indaba