Introduction
Africa is labelled as a third-world continent, emerging and dilapidated, yet for all the negative press and stereotypes, they forget to ask, ‘Why did Africa experience lower COVID-19 death rates despite its limited access to modern vaccines?’ The answer to this lies in the very soil we walk on. Recently, a viral, painful cough swept through our capital. Although it wasn’t as devastating as the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak, adults and children turned to modern medicine for relief. Despite finding some relief, pharmacy shelves failed to eliminate the outbreak, so many turned to herbal remedies. Unlike in the past, when herbal medicine knowledge was limited to families and close-knit groups, it now becomes widely shared, both online and in person.
A Concerned Community rallies through WhatsApp in a Mother’s Desperate Cry
Mom 1 types: “Good morning, ladies. I need help because I am stressed out. My children have a cough that hasn’t responded to three rounds of modern medication. They cried all night, especially the youngest (1.3 years), who vomited while coughing and had a fever. I hardly slept. What should I do? We’ve tried both tablets and syrups.”
Responses:
Mom 2: “Same here. All of mine were eventually put on IV drips by a pediatrician, and now they’re okay.”
Mom 3: “Cefodox syrup and Cadiphen worked for my 9-month-old.”
Mom 4: “Outbreak is real. My daughter’s class of 30 had only 6 presents; everyone is sick.”
Mom 5: “Apidone syrup helped us.”
The Veteran Herbalist Mom’s Recipe
Boiled a mixture for the school-going children, who are between the ages of seven and fourteen. It includes the Red Bottle Brush tree, also called Mwambala butonnya (Callistemon citrinus) along with mango leaves, eucalyptus leaves, and jambula, the Java or Malabar plum. To help mask the bitterness, add a bit of honey.
Lady 2: “Bamaama, this cough is going to kill me… It’s back, bigger and better.”
Responses:
“Have you tried drinking tea from boiled leaves, branches, or flowers of the Kakomera (Cypress tea)? Pick and boil or steam leaves in water and drink. These two are your go-to for any respiratory issues from a common cold to asthma and whooping cough!”
“Have you tried boiling lemon, ginger, and garlic? Add honey for taste. This is a powerful immune booster. Alternatively, chop red onions and garlic, boil with their peel, and then mix with pure honey. My sister’s daughter had the same persistent cough until her mother gave her a homemade mix: honey, turmeric powder, garlic powder, and ginger. The girl is now fine.”
“I used to give it in small spoonfuls, even to my 8-month-old. It caused a bit of diarrhoea but cleared the symptoms.”
Despite some respondents sharing modern medical remedies, most suggestions revolved around natural remedies. While some mothers worried about the impact of herbal medicine on young ones, other mothers suggested adapting the dosage to regular cough syrups using standardized measuring spoons.
Conclusion
When modern medicine is unavailable or unaffordable for people, Africans turn to nature’s pharmacy for fresh organic health remedies. While other parts of the world pour billions of dollars into managing viral infections and seasonal illnesses, Africans simply walk into their backyards to pick a cure.
