Ewedu can prevent miscarriage, poisoning

By Sade Oguntola - updated: Thursday 24-07-2008

The vegetable Many vegetable crops, particularly the leafy vegetables, are mainly consumed for their nutritional values without much consideration for their medicinal importance.

Apart from providing the necessary nutrients for health and development of the human body, many of these leafy vegetables have come to be appreciated for their importance, even for diverse health problems such as ulcer, high blood pressure, stress and anaemia.

Going through many communities in Africa, these vegetables are however fast losing out because many are not aware of their medical importance to the body or have stopped eating them.

A recent study by Ayodele A.E of the Department of Botany and Microbiology, University of Ibadan revealed some 28 medicinal vegetables of Southwestern Nigeria through a market survey carried out for the available leafy vegetables.

The markets situated in Ibadan, Oyo, Akure, Ago-Iwoye, Ijebu Igbo, Ado-Ekiti, Abeokuta and Ijebu-Ode, all in South western part of Nigeria, were visited for the purpose of this survey. Some of the plants found included Ocimum basilicum (sweet basil) said to be used for fever, pile, sedative and stomach problems and Ocimum grattissimum (tree basil) used for fever, diarrhoea, dysentery, pile, stomach problems and high blood pressure. Also was Corchorus olitorius, called Ewedu by the Yoruba-speaking people.

This is a shiny green leaf vegetable rich in Vitamins A, C and D. It is used in making sauces to accompany stews and enjoyed for its mucilaginous or viscous properties. Some researchers recently pointed out the benefits of eating Ewedu to stay free of some disease causing germs in a study to assess the antibacterial and antifungal properties of the plant.

According to the study titled “Antibacterial and Antifungal Activity of Corchorus olitorius L. (Molokhia)”, its usefulness in the treatment of diseases that may be as a result of infection in different communities can be justified.

The researchers tested and found the extracts of C. olitorius in the laboratory effectively inhibit the growth of a total of 22 microbial species, including 12 bacteria, eight moulds and two yeasts. They included such germs as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Candida albicans, Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus niger.

The researchers said that the human body is able to directly absorb the different compounds in this vegetable and that the plant particularly provides effective protection against infection. The study was published in the 2007 International Journal of Natural and Engineering Sciences.

It is also a cheap source of Vitamin C, according to an assessment by AU: Ijomah-JU; Igwe-EC; Audu-A, all from the Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Federal University of Technology, Yola, Nigeria.

They determined the nutrient composition of five “draw” leafy vegetables, in the 2000 edition of Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences. They found C. olitorius was a good Vitamin C source and so it could help meet the vitamin needs of the body.

However, to have the full benefits of the mineral content of this vegetable, it is better cooked without most of the common seasoners that have monosodium glutamate sold in the market.

A study to assess the effect of processing on mineral availability of Ewedu by G. Oluyemisi Latunde-Dada of the Department of Biochemistry, Obafemi Awolowo College of Health Sciences, Ogun State University, stated that blanching and addition of potash reduces the amount of iron that can be absorbed from a meal that have Ewedu. Iron is very important for the formation of blood in the body.

Excessive intake of garlic can cause anaemia, a low blood level and this has many attendant effects on the body and ones’ ability to carry out day-to-day events. According to experts, a good way out of anaemia arising from excessive use of garlic is an high intake of Ewedu based on a study on “Prevention of Garlic-Induced Heamolytic Anaemia Using Some Tropical Green Leafy Vegetables” published in the 2004 Journal of Medicinal Food.

However, for other health reasons, regular consumption of Ewedu can help to reverse and prevent anaemia, also a side effect of excessive consumption of garlic, this study by Dr. Ganiyu Oboh from the Biochemistry Department, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria, also confirmed,

Iron is essential for the manufacture of haemoglobin, the red pigment in the blood. Low levels of iron lead to anaemia, which is a major health problem in many parts of eastern Africa, particularly for women. Many traditional foods, especially dark green leaves, are good sources of iron.

In addition, Ewedu is a plant that has being found to be good for prevention of miscarriage in pregnant women. According to a study by Akaneme Florence Ifeoma from the Department of Botany, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria, Ewedu is one of the plants that women should eat more often to prevent miscarriage, as it is the practice in Orba and Nsukka towns of Enugu state.

Others include White star apple (Udala or Udara in Igbo and Osan in Yoruba), pawpaw; silk cotton tree (Akpu-ogwu in Igbo; Rimi in Hausa; Araba in Yoruba) as well as Bignoniaceae Newbouldia laevis also referred to as fertility plant, Ogilisi in Igbo, Aduruku In Hausa and Akoko in Yoruba.

In these communities, equal quantities of Corchorus olitorius and pawpaw leaf are cooked to boiling point, allowed to cool very well and then dispensed. One tumbler of this is taken three times daily or the stem bark of the silk cotton is boiled and taken.

Written in the 2008 edition of the African Journal of Biotechnology, the researcher said the presence of proteins and carbohydrates in most of the herbal plants might be a factor in arresting threatened miscarriage, which is specifically due to malnutrition or infections. Since the herbal plants may supply the needed macronutrients or their precursors, the increased need for protein, energy and micronutrients during pregnancy, lactation, infection or trauma could be met eat vegetables like Corchorus olitorius.

The chemical contents it was suggested may function to control threatened miscarriage through these processes. Their analgesic properties may help to relieve pain in the lower back and abdomen; their antispasmodic properties may relieve cramps, which may accompany bleeding from the uterus while their bactericidal effects may help to control infections.

Their analgesic properties was also corroborated in animal models in the April, 2008 Journal of Natural Medicines by Malaysian researchers that assessed the pain relieving properties of the water extract of Corchorus olitorius.

Root scrapings of the plant (Ewedu) are used in Kenya to treat toothache, a root decoction as a tonic, leafy twigs in Congo against heart troubles, an infusion from the leaves is taken in Tanzania against constipation, and seeds in Nigeria as a purgative and febrifuge.

Snail water, avocado seed, honey suppresses bronchitis, asthma effectively

By Seye Adeniyi

Bronchitis is a distressing and often a serious type of inflammation affecting the windpipes or bronchial tubes within the chest. In most cases, it results as a result of some infections higher up in the nose and throat. The common cold has also been said to be the most frequent cause of acute bronchitis.

In most cases of acute bronchitis, trachea and bronchial tubes are acutely inflamed and the tissues become swollen begin to secrete and pour into the windpipes to protect the inflamed muscus membranes and unless this thick, sticky material is removed, it may seal off the windpipess and cause other problems like as pneumonia.

During the acute stage of bronchitis, the patients may feel there is a high fever and perhaps some difficulty in breathing. Other symptoms of acute bronchitis include a deep chest cough, hoarseness and some level of pains in the chest.

Small children may also experience bronchitis if accidentally they inhaled foreign body into the bronchial tubes. This may lead to the inflammation of the bronchial tubes.

Younger children may also develop this condition and this could result in a serious condition called croup - a serious complication in which the larynx and vocal cords are inflamed and swollen so that breathing is extremely difficult.

Asthma is another common breathing problems that needs to be managed effectively. It could be fatal if wrong treatment is given to the patient. Many patients with asthma also suffer from emphysema. During a severe attack, some of the windpipes becomes plugged with thick, sticky mucus and the patient may not be able to breath properly. This is what causes wheezing.

As a result, the air sacs becomes greatly distended and some of their walls may rupture. In a very serious or severe attack, there may also be some bleeding into the air sacs of the lungs.

Treatment of asthma often include steam inhalation to bring relief. However, if all known medications and treatment fails to bring appreciable results and it seems there is nothing to turn to for effective cure, asthma and bronchitis patients are advised to look inward and seek relief and solution from natural medicine.

Do you know that effective solution to these two breathing problems lies in a small moving creature known as snail? Are you also aware that a popular fruit called avocado contain chemical solution to asthma and bronchitis . Many people also know that honey is medicinal, but do not know how to use it to bring relief for asthma patients.

The good news is that snail water is an effective natural therapy for these two breathing disorders. To prepare this anti-asthma, anti-bronchitis medication, get snails and bring out the mucalaginous, slimy or gummy fluid in it. Filter the liquid and keep in a clean bottle or container. Get some avocados fruits and remove the seeds inside. Sun dry the avocado seeds until it is completely dry.

Then grind the avocado seeds into powdery form and mix with the snail water already kept in a clean container. Then add pure honey to the mixture and keep it aside for three days. Asthma and bronchitis patients can take two teaspoonful twice a day. This is the recommended dosage no matter the severity of the breathing problems. Taking this natural therapy for two to three months is like saying bye-bye to asthma and bronchitis.

Avocados, it should be emphasised is rich in glutathione, a powerful antioxidant that attack free radicals in the body and blocking intestinal absorption of certain fats. Avocado also supply even more potassium than bananas and are strong source of beta carotene.

Apart from having a potent power of curing asthma and bronchitis when mixed with snail fluid which contain good amount of zinc and other important elements, natural medicine practitioners also believe that this simple fruit is also very useful in the treatment of viral hepatitis (a cause of liver cancer), as well as other causes of liver damage.