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Sunday, 31 May 2015

Ghana government asked to subsidize research cost of herbal medicines

Dr Ebenezer Appiah-Denkyira, Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), has urged government to subsidize research cost into plant and herbal medicines to derive the fullest benefits from them.
According to him, herbal medicines over the years had proved to be efficacious but the level of toxicity, preservation and manner of dispensing had always been the problem, hence the need for government to subsidize the cost of research to help practitioners do the right thing.
Currently, all herbal medicines are supposed to be tested at the Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine at Akuapem-Mampong, however, many herbal medicines which had not gone through such procedures were being sold to the public due to several reasons including lack of resources.
Dr Appiah-Denkyira, who was speaking at the inauguration of an ultra-modern facility of the Kwayisi Christian Herbal Clinic at Ayisaa near Suhum, debunked the perception that herbal medicines were inferior to orthodox ones.
He said what was needed was the modernisation of traditional herbal medicine practice, where the environment including data management, diagnosis and treatment lines would meet the standards of an orthodox clinic.
He said the GHS, over the years, had ensured that most herbal clinics operated according to standards which most had complied with adding that very soon some herbal clinics would be listed to provide services under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Dr Appiah-Denkyira urged management of the Kwayisi Herbal Clinic to collaborate with the district health directorate in the interest of patients since all of them were in the same business of healing and managing diseases.
The Kwayisi Herbal Clinic was established in 1980 by one Barfour Atua Kroko and was popularly known as Ayisaa for healing of strokes and related diseases. It operated in a wooden structure until recently when it had a facelift.
The new clinic consists of Out-Patients Department (OPD), consulting rooms, dispensary, administrative offices, drugs production area and storage among others.
Mr Emmanuel Ampem-Darko, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the clinic, said challenges in the industry included difficulty in getting the plant medicines due to issues relating to ownership and the refusal of some medical doctors to accept herbal medicines as potent.
He mentioned instances where some doctors openly told patients that when they took herbal medicines they would die and even refuse to take care of patients who had already taken in herbal medicines.
Mr Ampem-Darko said there was the need for a healthy collaboration and appealed to the Director-General to help address that issue.

Thursday, 28 May 2015

Effect Of Herbal Medicines On Pregnancy

Herbal medicines refer to herbs, herbal materials, herbal preparations and finished herbal products used in the treatment of disease conditions and maintenance of health. Herbal medicines like their orthodox counterparts act through some mechanisms to bring about their curative effects in the body. Some of these mechanisms are understood and demonstrated by Pharmacologists in the lab through animal studies and other experiments. The outcome of a drug/medicine study gives an idea as to the side effects/undesirable effects expected in people on the medication.
A medication is withheld and not used (contraindicated) in individuals with certain disease condition and pregnancy if the side effects out ways the desirable effects. More than 50% of pregnant women take prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines at some time during pregnancy. In general, drugs should not be used during pregnancy unless absolutely necessary because many can harm the fetus. About 2 to 3% of all birth defects result from drugs taken to treat a disorder or symptom. However medicines sometimes are essential for the health of the pregnant woman and the fetus but the risk and benefits associated with such medicines should be made known to pregnant women by their physicians.
Medicines including herbal medicines taken by pregnant women get to the fetus by crossing the placenta, the same route used by oxygen and nutrients in the mother’s blood needed for fetus’s growth and development. Medicines that are harmful in pregnancy( especially in the first trimester) act through different ways. For instance, some affect the fetus indirectly by reducing the mother’s blood pressure therefore reducing the flow of blood carrying oxygen and nutrients to the placenta. The wood betony plant (Stachys officinalis) is an example of BP reducing medicine in pregnancy. Others act by causing the muscles of the uterus to contract forcefully, triggering preterm labour and delivery or indirectly by reducing nutrient and oxygen supply to the fetus.
Again some medicines that are harmful in pregnancy act directly on the fetus, causing damage, abnormal development leading to birth defects, or death whiles others alter the placenta function by causing constriction(narrowing) of blood vessels thus reducing oxygen and nutrient supply . This results in underdeveloped and underweight babies. The wormwood plant( Artemisia absinthum) when used during pregnancy may cause uterine contractions, miscarriage, and preterm labour .
Although herbal medicines are natural, not all are safe to use during pregnancy. The Food and Drugs
Authority(FDA) urges pregnant women not to take any herbal product without talking to their healthcare providers. Pregnant women are also cautioned to consult a Medical Herbalist(MH), and experienced herbalists registered with the Traditional Medicine Practice Council(TMPC) under the ministry of health Ghana if they want to use any herbal medication during pregnancy. Depending on the source, some information will list an herb as safe to consume during pregnancy, whereas others may list the same herb as unsafe. Therefore it is best to consult with professionals before taking any herb, herbal material, herbal preparation or finished herbal product during pregnancy.
Most women are nervous about the serious side effects of orthodox medications during pregnancy thus they resort to herbal medicines. Such individuals should take note that some herbal medicines also may contain substances or active constituents that can cause miscarriage, premature birth, uterine contractions, or injury to the fetus as discussed earlier. Few studies have been done to measure the effects of various herbs on pregnant women or a developing fetus.

Monday, 25 May 2015

Return to Natural Living; the Role of Traditional Medical Practice in Ghana

Traditional Medicine Practice (TMP) has been a significant part of the history of medicine in Ghana

Herbal medicine has been, and still is used to treat all kinds of ailments; Bruises, malaria, fever, sexual and reproductive health issues, menstrual irregularities, skin disorders and now, preparations that control the spread of AIDS in people living with HIV and other complex ailments, have been said to have been developed by herbal medical practitioners.

Traditional medicine practitioners use plant parts such as leaves, stems, roots, seeds, fruits, flowers, tree barks, etc., which have been found to have essential medicinal properties to cure diseases. These plant parts are made into various forms, fresh, dried, cut-in-pieces, powder, ointment, oil extract, liquid, lotion, etc. to treat ailments.

In Ghana, the proliferation of Herbal Medicine and the treatment of myriads of diseases by a single medical preparation have created erroneous impressions in the minds of some people.

Concerns have been raised about the safety and efficacy of herbal concoctions in terms of their preparation, hygiene, dosage of administration, packaging etc. As a result, many people have doubted the quality and potency of local herbal remedies.

Others say they believe in the efficacy of plant medicine, but are not comfortable making the choice because they feel not much has been done in terms of having formal regulatory bodies to control the activities especially of private traditional medicine practice in Ghana.

Notwithstanding the wrong impressions, many people still patronize herbal medicine. Some say they choose herbal drugs over pharmaceutical ones because they believe their natural base make them more effective in treating certain ailments with fewer side effects.

Recognizing the role of traditional medical practice in the country, herbal treatment has been incorporated into Ghana’s health care delivery program.

As such, research institutions and other relevant bodies have been set up to ensure the safety, efficacy and quality of traditional medicine and practice.

The Faculty of Pharmacy at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi for instance runs a degree program in Herbal Medicine to maintain and preserve the knowledge and use of traditional medicine as an alternative to orthodox ones.

The Center for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine at Mampong in the Eastern Region has been established to carry out research into plant medicine, address issues of quality and safety in herbal drug use by scientifically validating the therapeutic effects of herbal preparations.

Also, Herbal Medicine Practitioners have formed Associations to regulate their activities, learn from each other and receive formal training to be able to practice their profession in a more organized and trusted manner.

Furthermore, Herbal Units have been established in some government hospitals to promote herbal medical practice in the country. In February this year, a Herbal Unit was commissioned at the Ledzokuku-Krowor Municipal Assembly Hospital at Teshie, Accra.

The Police Hospital in Osu, Accra has also begun operating its herbal unit to take care of persons who prefer Traditional Medicine treatment. Plans to introduce herbal treatment units in some 17 other government hospitals across the country are also far advanced.

A Medical Herbalist at the Ledzokuku-Krowor Municipal Assembly Hospital, Ms Esi Woode, told Citi News in an interview that several patients have been treated with herbal remedies since the establishment of the unit in February this year.

Opanin Kofi Budu, a private herbal practitioner and a member of the registered Physic and Herbalist Association (PHA) also said in an interview that many people choose herbal treatment over pharmaceutical drugs because plant based treatments are relatively safer, in that they have less chemical effects on the body as compared to chemical based medications.

He said plant medicine offer profound curative benefits, are less expensive and readily available. According to him, common skin disorders like eczema and pimples are better cured with natural herbal remedies because they are gentle on the skin.

With the support for what is being done by governments and private institutions to promote Traditional Medicine Practice in Ghana, it is obvious that the role of Traditional Medicine Practice in Ghana cannot be underestimated.

There is the need for stakeholders to do more to correct misconceptions and get more people interested in and comfortable with Traditional Herbal Medicine.

Research institutions should be well equipped to carry out extensive research into plant medicine. There should be regulatory bodies to strictly monitor the operations and facilities especially of private herbal medical practitioners.

Regular skill development training for practitioners and the incorporation of modern technology into the practice would bring improvement into the industry.

With better structures in place, I believe many people would conveniently choose Traditional Herbal Medicine, which is known to be efficient, safe and natural alternative to healthy living.

Saturday, 23 May 2015

Don’t Neglect Herbal Medicine – Govt Told

CHRISTIAN KWASI Agyeman, CEO of Taabea Company Ltd -  producers of Taabea Herbal Mixture – has expressed grave concern over the seeming neglect of the herbal industry by the government, stressing the need for the government to support the industry to grow beyond the borders of Ghana.

Mr Agyeman, who is also the National Chairman of Universal Ghana Herbal Manufacturers’ Union (UGHEMU), said the herbal industry, despite its laudable contribution to the health of the country, is not being supported adequately by the government – a trend, he noted, was impacting negatively on its growth.

He has, therefore, charged the President Mahama-led government to implement the necessary measures and policies that would generate public interest in the use of herbal medicine in the country, insisting that the herbal industry could boost the country’s economy if the government gave it proper support.

“Herbal medicine is now improving beyond human understanding and this shows why people have accepted the use of it. We call on government to give us a little push to promote the industry,” he said, noting that with government’s support the industry could perform better than it is currently doing.

Mr Agyeman, in an interview with DAILY GUIDE, requested that “Government should engage in an effective collaboration with the herbal industry to project the herbal products even beyond the country.”

He added that government should take a central role in the promotion of the medicine in the country just as some Asian countries like India had adopted.

The CEO of Taabea Company also urged government to reduce taxes on the importation of herbal raw materials as a means to support the industry, adding that the expansion of the industry would automatically lead to the creation of employment opportunities for the youth.

As a measure to reduce the importation of orthodox drugs as well as ensure the appreciation of the fast-falling cedi, Mr Agyeman proposed that the government should encourage the use of herbal medicine by way of promoting it.

The Taabea boss estimated that the country’s revenue could grow by a staggering 53 percent if herbal medicine, which has lately taken new technological dimensions, was given the needed attention and support by the state.

Taabea Company Ltd started its operation in 2008 and has grown to become one of the biggest players in the herbal industry, offering direct employment to 74 people and other sales executives across the country.

The company in 2013 was awarded by WHO and GHATFRAM at the Traditional Medicine Awards Day ceremony for promoting traditional medicine in Ghana. The event was sponsored by the Indian government.

The chairman of UGHEMU stated that players in the industry, aside saving human lives, had provided educational scholarships and sponsored educational programmes to communities as part of their social responsibilities.

Saturday, 16 May 2015

Herbal medicine producers target American market

The Ghana National Traditional Healers Association in collaboration with regulatory bodies is working assiduously to open up its market share to capture the international community, particularly the USA, by June 2015.
According to the Association, a consultancy firm has revealed that the African community in places like Maryland and Washington D.C., both in the USA, holds herbal medicines from Ghana in high esteem, hence its [Ghana National Traditional Healers Association] keen interest to penetrate those markets to augment foreign exchange earnings from non-traditional exports.

The dream has been rekindled by a 30-day intensive “Training in Quality Herbal Products Manufacturing and Entrepreneurship for Improved Productivity and Competitiveness” for a selected 100 practitioners, Baffour Agyapong, Brong Ahafo Regional Association Chairman, has told the B&FT in an interview.
The training workshop was facilitated by the Department of Herbal Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), with sponsorship from the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET) and Skills Development Fund (SDF).


He said the training has bequeathed to practitioners the needed technical know-how to produce herbal medicines that meet international standard conformity: including bottling; label requirements such as ingredients, dosage, batch numbers, undesirable effects, clinical particulars among others.
“Hitherto, some practitioners were collecting raw materials from roadsides and around refuse dumps; they used to package medicines in empty alcohol and water bottles. We were doing that out ignorance,” he noted.


Mr. Agyapong revealed that the Association has contracted a manufacturing company to produce bottles for its members. “We now also have close ties with the Food and Drugs Authority and the Ghana Standard Authority as well, to ensure periodic standardisation checks at the various facilities,” he added.

He lamented the indiscriminate felling of trees, and the clamour for and excessive use of agrochemicals in controlling weeds, explaining: “The trend is a threat to their source of raw materials, as most medicinal trees and plants species are in danger of extinction.”
He appealed for government to help establish more certified centres at vantage towns to aid their business. He stated that most practitioners -- after testing their sample products at the Akuapim Mampong Centre for Research into Plant Medicine and KNUST -- are unable to produce commercial quantities for sale due to scarce certified production facilities.


Mr. Agyapong concluded: “Governmental support will ensure a vibrant traditional medicine practice; wealth/job-creation; and enhance revenue generation to boost the local economy and also complement operations of orthodox medicine in pursuit of quality healthcare delivery.”

Tuesday, 12 May 2015

Ghanaian Herbal Doctor cures HIV /AIDS

Whiles great scientists across the world are still in a quandary regarding efforts at finding a cure for the deadly HIV/AIDS disease, a herbalist at Agona in the Efigya-Sekyere South District of the Ashanti region of Ghana claims to have a cure for the dreadful disease.
Dr Yaw Boadi Mensah Herbal Center at Agona in the Sekyere South District in the Ashanti region of Ghana has totally cured many from the deadly HIV/AIDs disease after going through a very short treatment period.


Medical reports from major lab and hospitals in Ghana like, Medilab Diagnostic Center, Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, 37 Military hospital, etc.
Dr. Yaw Boadi Mensah whose herbal powers have transcended the borders of this country has cure for HIV/AIDS, Syphilis, Hepatitis A and B, Gonorrhea, Stroke, Ulcer, Impotence and piles.
Dr. Yaw Mensah Boadi is saying that HIV and AID s is an evil disease which can be bought to everyone irrespective of his status or creed and is also classified as a sexually transmitted disease prevalent in Africa and some parts of Asia.


Orthodox medicine has failed to find a cure to this disease. Being a viral disease it can be passed on to another person through several means such as sexual intercourse and blood transfusion.
The famous herbalist called on government to accord the necessary recognition to the herbal industry since the sector is a multi-million cedi industry that employs a greater number of people who otherwise would be out of job.
T/Dr Boadi disclosed that herbs have been used to cure all kinds of diseases in ancient times when there were no orthodox drugs or medicines. He believes that it is a gift from God for him to heal people and set them free from the deadly HIV/AIDS disease.
Dr Boadi can be contacted on 00233543871609

Wednesday, 6 May 2015

Traditional Medicine Practitioners want recognition

The Greater Accra Chairman of Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC), Mr. Oscar Asamaoh Donkoh, has appealed to government and the National health insurance Authority to include traditional herbal medicine in the national health insurance scheme as indicated in the Scheme’s Act.
He said this would help pharmacies and some herbal dealers to avoid the sale of fake or duplicated herbal medicines to members of the general public.
Mr. Oscar Donkor again appealed to the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health service to ensure an active collaboration between traditional medicine practitioners and the enforcement of the profession by the Traditional Medicine Practice Council.
He expressed concern about the fragmentation amongst practitioners “as some of the herbal dealers are money centered and their action cause embarrassment to the fraternity and bring the name of the profession into disrepute”.
Mr. Oscar further appealed to FDA to question herbal dealers to provide their membership with the traditional medicine council before registering them.
Dr. George Kuffour, senior lecture at KNUST at the department of herbal medicine, who was lecturing Greater Accra herbal practitioners’ branch on the theme, “Practice Preference and Problems”, called on government to ensure that the cost of testing the usefulness and efficacy of herbal medicines at the Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine is affordable to practitioners of traditional medicine.
He called for a system in research and educational institutions to ensure that research findings are made known to all traditional medicine practitioners in a timely manner through periodic briefings and workshop.

Saturday, 2 May 2015

Herbal Medicine graduates to face-lift herbal production in Ghana

Fingers are being directed at graduates of herbal medicine as the answer to a positive change in medicine production in Ghana.
Experts say perennial issue of side effects and overtime resistance of orthodox medicines could be relegated to the background if we embrace herbal drugs.
This has resulted in the battle between herbal medicine and the orthodox one for the medicine market.
Though this makes it difficult for consumers to choose between the two, herbal medicine is surprisingly receiving much attention.
But recently, the new paradigm has come under a lot of heavy public backlash and uproar raising questions about the potency of some of them.
In recent times there have been reports of serious complications and sometimes even death of some patrons of the so called herbal medicines.
This has compelled some respectable section of the public to suggest the going back to the orthodox medicine to avoid the worst.
But students and graduates of the Herbal Medicine programme at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology are vehemently opposing the idea.
A young doctor of the Herbal Medicine Department at the KNUST is positive herbal medicine graduate is the answer to this recent brouhaha.
Dr.Richard Amoh believes these students are scientist who will inject best and appropriate scientific procedures and add to quality into the industry.
This, according to him would go a long way to curbing the issue of false, unhealthy and unhygienic concoction sold in the market.
Leadership of Ghana Herbal Medicine Students Associationis worried the media only talks about the negative things persons they describe as quark in their industry are doing.
Public Relations Officer, Ebenezer Agyemang also called on the public to support the new wave into accepting herbal drugs by propagating the good side.
“Herbal medicines are good but before you take them you should check where is coming from, how to use it and who is administering it,” he said.
Statistics haveshown that 25 percent of drugs prescribed in America have plant derived products.
And 600-700 herbal based preparations are prescribed by 70 per cent of German physicians.
Countries like China, India and Cuba have embraced the new wave and that has reduced their mortality ration.
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