By Blessing Bature
The rising cost of medicines and other healthcare services in Nigeria is forcing an increasing number of citizens to turn to traditional medicine as they struggle to afford treatment for common illnesses.
Across communities, particularly among low-income households, many Nigerians who once relied on conventional hospitals and pharmacies are now exploring herbal remedies and other forms of traditional treatment as cheaper alternatives.
The development has raised concerns among health professionals, who warn that the growing dependence on unregulated herbal preparations could expose citizens to additional health risks, especially when such remedies are used without proper dosage information or medical supervision.
The price of essential medicines has risen sharply in recent years, driven by the high cost of imported pharmaceutical products and raw materials, exchange-rate pressures, transportation expenses and other operational costs.
For many households already dealing with high food, transport and housing costs, purchasing prescribed medicines has become a major financial burden. Some patients reportedly resort to buying only part of their prescriptions, reducing dosage or postponing treatment altogether.
Others have turned to local herbal practitioners, believing that traditional remedies are more affordable and, in some cases, more effective than pharmaceutical drugs.
In interviews with our correspondent, some residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) said they had consumed traditional medicines to treat various ailments, describing them as affordable, accessible and rooted in remedies handed down through generations.
However, some acknowledged that they often took herbal mixtures without knowing the exact ingredients, dosage or possible side effects, raising concerns about the risks associated with the use of unregulated traditional remedies.
Parker Audu, a resident of Dei-Dei of the Federal Capital Territory, said she had used traditional medicine on several occasions to treat ailments, particularly when she could not afford or easily access conventional medical care.
According to her, herbal mixtures were often recommended by relatives, friends and neighbours who believed in their efficacies, making them a common first option for some people before seeking treatment at a hospital.
She said, “There are times when I take herbal medicine because people around me say it works. Sometimes, you may not even know all the leaves or ingredients used, but because it is something people have been using for years, you trust it.”
On his part, former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Maurice Iwu, a Professor of Pharmacognosy and Chairman of the Bioresources Development Group, warned Nigerians about the potential health risks associated with herbal concoctions, commonly known as Agbo adding that those taking such unregulated medicine risk liver, kidney and other organ damage.
Iwu explained that herbal concoctions are mixtures of herbs and other natural ingredients traditionally used for their perceived medicinal properties. While such remedies have been used for centuries to manage various health conditions and are often regarded as natural alternatives to conventional medicines, he cautioned that they could also pose serious health risks when improperly prepared, contaminated or consumed inappropriately.
According to him, some ingredients used in herbal concoctions may contain heavy metals such as mercury, lead and arsenic, which could cause serious health complications when consumed over a prolonged period.
He further warned that some ingredients used in Agbo could contain potentially carcinogenic substances capable of increasing the risk of cancer when consumed in high doses or over an extended period.
In an interview, a traditional medicine expert at the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr Emmanuel Nwusulor warned Nigerians against consuming unregulated herbal mixtures, particularly agbo prepared with highly concentrated alcohol.
Nwusulor said while traditional medicine could be beneficial when medicinal plants were properly identified, prepared and administered in appropriate quantities, some concoctions hawked by roadside vendors could pose serious health risks.
He explained that some herbal mixtures were prepared from the bark and roots of plants and extracted with highly concentrated alcohol, which could extract large amounts of alkaloids and other compounds.
Also speaking on the matter, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, said traditional medicine had remained an integral part of the health-seeking behaviour and cultural heritage of Nigerian communities for generations.
According to him, Nigeria’s Traditional Medicine Policy recognises the important role traditional medicine has played in meeting the healthcare needs of the population and provides a framework for its development and appropriate integration into the national healthcare system.
Salako said the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, through its Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (TCAM) Department was mandated to develop and implement policies, promote the development and commercialisation of indigenous Nigerian traditional medicine, and facilitate its integration into the national health system.
