From Azoma Chikwe
The use of orthordox and alternative eye care services to fight eye diseases will reduce the burden in the country.
Speaking at a forum, Dr Eno Abasi, Director, Fresh ‘n’ Trim Center, Abuja, said alternative therapies have provided answers to some eye diseases effectively that would have been a challenge if patients waited for the accessibility of an orthordox approach that would involve surgery and also expensive.
She cited a grandmother in Bosnia who licks eyeballs to cure ailments and provided affordable remedy for many patients. Also, in Chengdu, China, a Chinese barber who uses knife to clean eyes has provided care and treatment for a lot of patients.
She unveiled an ointment, a product of robust research and development which she claims provides solution for blurry vision, eye worms, cataracts and eye mucus.
On her research and practice in alternative medicine, Abasi said, “It is a calling from God Almighty. When I was living in Lagos, I met the late Mrs Elizabeth Kafaru, the author of some herbal books. So, while assisting to sell her books, I was not only reading them but also putting knowledge to use. I got information from them and administered them on people by telling them what to do with various herbs. Calls started coming in to tell me the herbal recommendations were working.
“Shortly after, I learnt about the College of Natural Medicine, Lagos, under the federal Ministry of Science and Technology at Kofo Abayomi street, Victoria Island from Quincy Ayodele. I enrolled, get my certificate and since it has been testimonies all around.”
She noted that she has been into natural medicine for over 20 years.” I have been into natural medicine for over 20 years. When I started I was still working but along the line, I had to leave office work and focus on making a difference in people’s lives through natural therapies.
“When God sends you to do things, he will always be there for you. The Holy Spirit always guides me and God always shows me things I should do.
“Sometimes, I come down with an ailment, God shows me what to apply and it always works. When I come across people who are afflicted with the same ailment, I apply same treatment and the results have been amazing.”
She said almost every plant has cure for an ailment. “Indeed, God has blessed mankind with plants, flowers, roots, tree barks, seeds, fruits or leaves that can be used to treat lots of ailments. We need to be cautious by consistently embarking on an in-depth research to ascertain the plants that are poisonous and to know what and what to combine.
“Also, the dosage and type are very important in natural medicine treatment. A medication that will work faster for blood group O patients may not work for another patient with blood group A or B. Natural medicine and the conventional medicine are effective in their own ways but I always lay emphasis on the importance of first detoxifying the organs before any treatment. When you are detoxifying, you are healing your organs from the brain down to the feet
“In the process of detoxifying you have a whole lot for the body in terms of removing excessive gas, free radicals, fats, toxins and parasitic worms that are in the system. When you detoxify, you will glow from the inside to the outside. Once the organs are oxygenated and the PH level is okay, through the detox, it becomes easier to take care of the outside, but the inside must be taken care of first.”
On how receptive Nigerians are to natural medicine, she said, ‘The pharmaceutical people have to sell their products but Nigerians now know what is good for them. I am happy that a lot of Nigerians are beginning to look inward, they don’t allow people brainwash them any longer. Those things that they keep asking people not to take are the things that are even most beneficial to the body system.
“For example, Cayanne pepper cures ulcers if you the dosage but they will tell you if is bad for your health. They discourage people from taking anything that will affect their patronage and sales under the guise “it is not good for your health.” Nobody should take a treatment for life. Individuals who knew the benefit of herbal medicine will continue to patronize herbal medicine no matter what they say.
On how big the natural Medicine market is, Abasi said, “China, India, United States and United Kingdom are into natural health, eating right, getting closer to natural and plant based foods and fruits. In India they have orthodox and herbal medicine hospitals and individuals patronize the one they want freely.
“Here in Nigeria, we wash bitter leaf and throw the water which is the most important aspect away but Americans are now doing bitter leaf capsule and they send it to us in Nigeria to buy.
“Also, most of the drugs we get from the Western world are plant-based, there are also different types of oil extracts even from salt, water melon and so many other plants that can be used to soothe the nerves and bring relief for so many ailments.
“We now have machines in Nigeria that we can use in extracting oils. Personally, I prepare plant-based oils that cures any type of skin disorder or headaches including migraine.”
