FAKE HERBAL DRUGS

With speakers and megaphones their messages are heard in the streets and in the markets; “Herbal Tonics”, “Kooko Bitters”, soaps and creams. They speak mightily of their potency and the marvellous hand of God at work in their scientific products. Some say “Buy this tonic and experience the healing power of God.” Are they selling God or the drug? And which does the healing?

My main concern is not with what they are selling but with how they are selling them – the advertisement. With my health background I know most of the symptoms they present are vague and ambiguous and cannot be used to diagnose the diseases they claim their herbal preparations can cure. Malaise, headache, constipation, urinary urgency, pains (muscle, join, abdominal) can never be used alone to diagnose any condition for appropriate treatment. These are sometimes even experienced once a while by the “normal” healthy person.

This is deception on the path of these so-called herbalists to the public. For how can you claim you have medication for treating hernia and appendicitis? These are conditions that require surgical interventions. Their herbs might reduce the pain and the inflammation/swelling but will never reverse/cure the condition. In the end, it’s the public that suffers the complications as a result of the delay in seeking the appropriate treatment.

Diseases must be diagnosed correctly before any treatment prescribed. Otherwise, any treatment given is to manage the symptoms that discomforts the person. There are herbal centres that have the equipment, personnel and resources for right diagnosis but the ones on our streets do not. They create wrongful diagnosis based on general symptoms to get their clients to buy their concoctions. There is this caustic soap amongst them that makes the skin dry, scaly, with burning sensations after a single use. They claim its an anti-acne soap, I say it's an anti-skin soap.

These actions has reduced the trust people have in herbal medicine and it is a shame as the certified herbal doctors adamantly watch them tarnish the image of such an important science. Moreover, the FDB and other authorities in charge should be on their toes making sure these drugs are made under standard conditions and certified for public use else they should be off our markets to save the ignorant. I won't be surprised if after a thorough inspection of these drugs, most turn out be ordinary parfumed gels, ginger drinks or toxic tonics.