The story grandparents tell portray an African community of real aged men. Men whose hair are grey with age and wisdom. Though bent with age, the men of those days took care of themselves without much help from their relatives. The story of 85 year old men in time past actively participating in farm work pervades all African society. This picture though unbelievable by today’s standards was the truth in African communities many decades ago. Today the present generation gape when they see a 90 year old man or woman, how come such decay? China and Japan have high rate of aged people of outstanding age because of high acceptance of traditional medicine and foods. They kept the knowledge of herbs and nutritional foods safe passing it from generations to generations. Africa was not short of foods, medicinal herbs and plants in the past however much of the knowledge on how to use them is lost. Sparrowlite will be looking at these plants in the series forgotten mirracles.
Igbo : Ube bekee.
Swahili : Parachichi
Yoruba : piha onyibo
Zulu: ukwatapheya
Oromo: abukaadoo
Shona: yekotapeya
Avocado is super packed with nutrients such as caloris, potassium, sodium, dietary fibre, magnesium, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin K, vitamin B6, B3, B1, phosphorus, folate, carbohydrates, protein, iron, zinc
A food is said to be balanced diet when it contains all the essential nutrients. cleverly called Heaven's gift, Avocado is the best of the best in terms of nutritional package. The coming of Europeans afforded our fathers the chance of adding healthy foods to their already healthy recipes. Eaten alone, the fruit sustains one easily because of its high fibre content and at the same time supplies a good value of essentials. Avocado is packed with more potassium than banana revered for its potassium content. Potassium is highly needed in the body for many of its processes. Blood pressure, water level and many electricity dependant processes in the body rely on certain potassium concentration to function properly. Did I tell you potassium is needed for nerve coordination? Oh yes! Impulses moving around your body require potassium. Avocado contain 35% calcium more than banana. Avocado helps decrease accelerated aging. Old men still waxing strong was once a common view in Africa, however this trend is shifting towards the left due to increase acceptance of processed foods. Avocado is packed with anti-oxidants which help maintain the body immune system. It contains oleic acid which makes it a food for the heart.
Avocado can be served in so many ways without compromising its nutrient package.
SCENT LEAF
Igbo: nchuanwu
Hausa: daidoya
Yoruba:effirin
Zulu: Iboza
Akan: Nunum
The plant is native to Africa. It is an essential ingredient in many dishes of Western Africa. The reliance on this plant in cooking many western African dishes stemmed not only because of its enticing aroma and taste but also for its potency as a drug. Scent leaf was used for many ailments with proven efficacy in the past. Then it was solely relied upon in the olden days due to the yet to surface state of modern medicine.The use of scent leaf recorded infinitesimal cases of side effects.
African fathers of old knew the right dosage for every ailments requiring scent leaf. A little of this knowledge is retained today though its disappearance is certain unless documentation is taken serious.
The plant contains carbohydrates, sodium, potassium, iron, zinc, vitamin C, manganese, phosphorus, flavonoids, tannins, sapronins, phenolics, alkaloids, fibre.
The importance of scent leaf can not be over emphasized since it has proven its worth since the earliest documented history of Africa. Scent leaf has anti-bacteria and anti-fungal properties. The plant steamed for few minutes is used in treating catarrh. The patient is held over the steam under a blanket in a way he inhales the scent leaf steam as he breathes. This medication is practiced among the Igbo people in Nigeria and the process was superficially described in Chinua Achebe's 'Things Fall Apart'. Scent leaf reliefs catarrh in quicker time once inhaled as steam. Another well known medication involving scent leaf is the treatment of stomach disorder. The juice is also used for treating cholera, stomach pain and diarrhea. The use of the plant for this purpose is not restricted to Africa. In eastern Imphal villages in Manipur Asia, the plant is used in different medicinal preparations for treatment of stomach disorders.
In many homes in villages across Africa, scent leaf serve as an insect repellent with high efficiency. In these homes the plant majorly serves as mosquito repellent.
One of the major uses of the plant during the old days was in malaria treatment. The plant juice is extracted by squeezing the leaves and then taken. However it is worthy to note that most times for such cases the plant juice was blended with the juice of other plants such as Gongronema latifolium before ingested. Malaria though prevalent in those days close to 90% of West African forests thrived, the indigenous people survived easily. A comparison of health status of those days and that of today can be deduced from the sudden deaths of early west African European settlers. What sustained the natives were medicinal leaves and herbs of which scent leaf proved important in treating malaria.
There are many preparations of scent leaf for medicinal purposes.
The plant scent leaf was also utilized as an anti-convulsant. The practice of squeezing the juice of scent leaf into the mouth and face of a convulsing child is still in use today in many parts of Africa especially in Nigeria. Another medication involving scent leaf that lived to this day is its use in child delivery. The plant is used by midwives to cure a newborn baby's cord. The plant is first crushed or squeezed and then placed over the cut cord to facilitate quick healing and also as an antiseptic. The antiseptic properties of the plant was well utilized by older people in western Africa for cleaning of wounds and for treating skin related diseases such as ringworm.
PINEAPPLE
Igbo: Ọkwụrụ bekee
Hausa : àbàrbáá
Yoruba: ope oyinbo
Zulu: uphayinaphu
Swahili: mananasi
Apart from the sweet juice people look for nothing else in pineapple. Even among the juice lovers a good percentage is allergic to the berry. Many people know little about the other uses of pineapple apart from its refreshing juice. Clearly few with this knowledge grew close to their fathers and grandfathers.
The berry is highly nutritive containing carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, zinc an high water content. The leaves of pineapple serve as anti-helminth medication. Fresh juice of the berry is used in the treatment of indigestion. To an extent the juice is used to treat cough. Pineapple is also effective in treating gastric irritability and jaundice.
A very interesting fact is the use of the plant as an abortifacient especially the green unripe fruit. Traditionally it is used to induce mensuration or abortion. Another interesting fact is the effect of pineapple on bone growth. Traditionally the plant has proven the test of time satisfying both thirst and nutritional needs of Africans.
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