As the world marks African Traditional Medicine Day on Sunday, patrons of herbal medicines are on the rise in Nigeria.

A check by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), at various markets in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, where herbal and traditional medicines are sold, indicate good patronage, regardless of the proliferation of western drugs.

NAN check also revealed that patrons of herbal medicines cut across the various socio-economic strata in the country.

Mrs Ganiyat Gbolagade, a herb seller at Oje Market in Ibadan, told NAN that both the rich and poor, the elite and the downtrodden were her customers.

She said herbal medicines were especially very popular among expectant and nursing mothers.

``There are some illnesses that affect new born babies, such as rashes and these can only be cured with herbs. Orthodox doctors know about them," Gbolagade said.

NAN checks also revealed that ailments for which herbal drugs are popular include pile, typhoid fever, hypertension and sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhoea.

``When these people come to us, they explain their ailments and we give them herbs and also instruct them on usage. If they are wrongly used, it could cause some other ailments,'' Gbolagade said.

She said it was wrong to demonise herbal medicine sellers, insisting that there was nothing wrong in African traditional medicines.

``Some people say those who sell herbal drugs are witches and could be very dangerous.
But that is wrong. What we sell are good. We are not witches," she said.

Mr Adeyemi Adeyemo, a businessman, attested to the efficacy of African herbal medicines in an interview with NAN.

He told NAN that herbal drugs cured him of his hypertension, which he had suffered for a long time.

``I have been to different hospitals in search of a cure, but the doctors kept giving me drugs to suppress it.

``But a herbal mixture from one Iya Alagbo (herb seller) cured me. For almost two years now, I have not complained of hypertension," Adeyemo said.

Mrs Tayo Ojo, a Secretary at the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, said that orthodox and herbal medicines work independently.

``But I don't like taking herbs. I believe in orthodox medication but I don't discourage people from taking them. Taking of drugs is psychological, "she said.

However, Dr Odunayo Oluwatosin, has called on the Federal Government to find a means of putting an end to the indiscriminate use of herbal drugs , without a standard dosage.

Oluwatosin, Dean, Clinical Science Department at College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, told NAN that herbal drugs were good, if only the sellers could quantify their usage.
``Herbal drugs should be subjected to scientific measures before they are taken. I believe in herbal drugs and in fact most orthodox drugs are got from plants.

``I will advise the public to beware of herbal mixtures without dosage," Oluwatosin said, pointing out that many people had lost their lives due to the indiscriminate usage of herbal medicines.