Researchers at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) have found that while most herbal medicines sold in Nigeria are safe to use, they are not effective in treating diseases.
This was revealed during a media briefing by the Centre for Research in Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine at NIMR.
The Deputy Director of Research in Biochemistry and Nutrition, Dr. Oluwagbemiga Olanrewaju Aina, said that although the herbal products tested were not harmful, none of them proved to work for the illnesses they claimed to cure.
“All the 46 herbal products we tested over the past six years were safe in animal studies, but none showed real medical benefits,” Aina said.
Since 2019, the Centre has tested herbal products used for pain relief, malaria, COVID-19, cancer, and arthritis. Some of the products tested included Kampe Bitters, Divine Herbal Eye Medicine, and Yusram Colon Cleanser. They were found to be safe when used in normal amounts.
Other well-known products, such as Madagascar’s COVID Organics Herbal Tea and Vernonia Antiviral Herb, were also tested and found to cause no harm when used repeatedly.
“Just because a product doesn’t hurt you doesn’t mean it works,” Aina warned. “Many herbal sellers make false claims or even mix their products with regular drugs.”
He explained that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centre also tested several herbal and drug treatments, including Virucidine and Ivermectin.
None of these showed better results than normal medical treatments.
Aina urged herbal medicine producers to prove scientifically that their products actually work, not just that they are safe.
He called for more funding, better laboratory equipment, and standard research facilities.
“We want herbal medicine makers to identify the active ingredients in their products and show how they work.
A safe drug that doesn’t cure anything is still a public health issue,” he said.
He also advised Nigerians to be careful about what they consume.
“People should not believe every claim made about herbal medicine. Science must support tradition with evidence,” he added.
Over the past six years, the Centre has studied 46 herbal products, trained hundreds of students and researchers, and worked with universities in Nigeria and abroad.
However, Aina said the Centre still faces problems like poor funding, lack of modern labs, and the growing challenge of drug resistance.
He concluded that traditional medicine remains important in African culture, but scientific testing is necessary to make sure the remedies are not only safe but also effective.
Herbal Medicine
“Herbal medicine has a place in our health system but it must be backed by evidence,” he said.
