From Chuks Collins, Awka
Again, it has been discovered that certain human ailments that defy conventional western drugs regime respond effectively to local African herbs and roots. ? And it?s just a handful of experienced meticulous herbalists that have so far successfully broken that natural health code. ? Chief (Prof) Elias Egoigwe Osinkennia, a versatile workaholic, widely travelled natural medicine dispenser is among the few. He has distinguished himself in the application of natural roots and herbs for the cure and treatment of diverse human ailments; thereby openly proving that such could be flushed out of the human system completely. In an interaction with journalists during a recent conference on ?Way forward for natural African herbs and roots?, in Lagos, Prof Osinkennia disclosed that ?with proper diagnosis, meticulous administration of the right herbs, doses and period of administration, a sickness could be eliminated from a patient?s system completely and he/she becomes fully fit again?.
Blaming quackery, seeming government?s lack of interest, foreign influence/campaigns for the relegation of African medicine and treatment to the background, Osinkennia said that all hopes are not lost. ? Quackery: Throwing more light on the issues he identified as the collective key impediments to the growth, development and standardization of local medical roots and herbs research, production and administration, the acclaimed Egbengwu Nimo, Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra state-born herbalist blamed the infiltration of the profession by unregistered and untrained hands as a major drawback. He argued that just like any other honourable profession, herbal medical practice has its own share of dissidents, fakes and outright fraudsters who go about making noises on radio/television stations and other mass media. These groups go about daily conning unsuspecting desperate needy patients of the money. Such often end up complicating and mismanaging the ailments, because they lack the know-how in diagnosis and drugs administration.
He however insisted that it?s not enough reason for the authorities to try throwing away the baby with the bath water. That every forward looking society must provide for ways to fight every form of deviants within its fold. ? He described the use of natural herbs and roots as one of the age-long methods our forebears had relied on for the cure and treatment of virtually all classes of ailment, long before the advent of science and western chemicals and medicines. And that it clearly worked for them without any recognisable side effects. ? His membership registration certificate as an authorized and recognised herbal medical practitioner which he said reinvigorates and reaffirms the confidence of those who come to consult him from foreign countries and all parts of Nigeria was conspicuously displayed amongst other such important notices in his consulting room. Hear him, ?when one is proficient in his job or profession, he need not advertise or announce himself, because his good works would announce him to the world beyond his immediate environment and scope. That is the history of Ichie (Prof) Elias Egoigwe Osinkennia of Egbengwu, Nimo; that is me?. He declared with a measure of pride and accomplishment.
Describing his professional calling as hereditary, Osinkennia disclosed that his father and grand-father were all reputed herbalists in their days, with their feat reverberating beyond the frontiers of Eastern Nigeria. And that so far, two of his own sons-David and Emmanuel are already taking after him, with a view to taking over. That they are not doing so as a trade or vocation, but as natural gift imbued them by the Almighty. That the signs of having the gift of natural curative medicine always manifest early in life, even as a toddler. ? Narrating his experience, the seventy-five years old grand-father said he reportedly led a very quiet life as a toddler. That even as an elementary school pupil he would get some green leaves, crush them and apply its solution on the wound of an injured mate and it would heal within 3 days leaving no scar. For other ailments like headache, he would mix some select green leaves together, encourage the playmate to just inhale a small of its scent and he recovers in a matter of minutes. It was then seen as the ?kids? thing? and fun for him and his play mates. This now makes them send for him whenever any falls ill. Despite these early signs, no one took serious interest until nature mysteriously forced him to come back to join his father Chief Osinkennia Egoigwe, who was already a popular practicing herbalist at the time.
This was after he had unsuccessfully tried his hands on a couple of trades, including blacksmithing.??The young Osinkennia acknowledged that he was the only one amongst his siblings that inherited the gift and mastery of herbs/roots and their individual efficacy from their father before his demise. He named some common plants, leaves and their leaves that he say have medicinal values, unknown to the people who handles them regularly. ? Government interest: Osinkennia who took off in his herbal practice under his father(Egoigwe) in 1964 said that he has remained steadfast in it till date, and has garnered so many awards for professional ethics, community service, leadership and industry. ? While under his father?s tutelage in his early days of his career, the young Osinkennia was reportedly sent for further training at the Njikoka Herbalists Associates. It was the highest such institution within the county council at the time. It was fully recognized by the then government as part of a screening body for all legitimate herbalists at the time. That was a kind of institute for all professed herbalists within the council area at that time, preparatory to their formal certification and registration for public practice in the state. His herbal hospital with certificate No 199780, dated August 24,1974, was signed under the hands of the then top East Central state government?s authorized Zonal herbal medical officers-Dr E.N.C. Onyeana, and Prof N.E.O. Ofoegbu who were all professional herbalists. He reiterated the stride, courage and immense contributions of renowned former Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan who was a distinguished scholar in western science and education, yet was a first class herbalist of international repute also. He equally gave kudos to Anambra-born Rev Father Arazu who is another internationally acclaimed herbalist, to mention but a few such scholarly herbalists. Both men, he noted, never allowed their deep accomplishments in western education and knowledge to cow or becloud their commitment and immense contributions to the development of natural medicine through use of herbs and roots as a reliable means of community and national healthcare delivery.
He therefore urged the Federal, state and local governments nationwide to encourage further research, development and standardization of herbal medicine and practice in the country at once. He stated that such have been acknowledged to be very efficacious in the treatment of stroke, ulcers, poisons, mental illnesses, infertility, epilepsy, etc. This, he pointed out was, ?..we cannot therefore attempt to suppress it or its accomplishments for ever?. He stressed that because of his rich experience and versatility in the knowledge of different herbs, their potency and applications, other in the medical profession often come to him for consultations, some drugs and guide. ?Oftentimes I show them the herbs and roots, and guide them on how and when to apply them.??He said he refers patients to orthodox medical hospitals without hesitation whenever cases that were not natural issues are referred to him. Desirous of expansion and better packaging, he intends to acquire grinding and blending machines to assist in faster preparation of his herbs/roots. This would enable them to be easily displayed on the shelves.
Foreign influence: Nations like India, South Africa, Kenya and many others, he pointed out, have motivated and encouraged their herbal practitioners to flourish, improve and excel. Such nations, he stressed, have visibly as a matter of deliberate national policy continued to appropriate large chunk of their annual budget to herbal medical research, its study and growth. Through that, according to him, they have continued to expand the frontiers of herbal and natural medicine not just for the benefit of their nations but mankind, including developed nations of the Americas, Europe and Asia. It was such; he added that most of our moneybags today throng those countries for medical tourism, for purposes that would have been a simple task in Nigeria. Even the western nations took in theirs and refined their knowledge in herbs and roots, scientifically extracted the active ingredients and used edible starch, water and gels to mix/mould them into harmless ingestible tablets, solutions and capsules. We then turn round to scramble for them under high-sounding colourful and multifarious brand names as the best life-saver for mankind.
This same people dutifully ship/export them down to us as ?refined? finished products, using few of our unpatriotic officials and businessmen accomplices and partners to discourage our own people like himself with the know-how to jettison our herbal drugs/medical practice, its research and development. To seal the conspiracy, they turn round to call both our home-grown drugs and herbalists all manner of unflattering names, branding their herbal products as unscientific, crude and lacking in quantity/quality clarity, or such demoralizing and offending names. ? He wondered rhetorically why western nations dutifully encouraged their citizens who are gifted with knowledge in herbal medicine with mouth-watering research grants and all the necessary laboratories. They even oftentimes lure some of ours too, for good. Whereas here we deride, neglect and relegate them to the background because of overdependence on every imported foreign finished products, including healthcare products. ? Botanical gardens: Describing his involvement in herbal healing as a mystery that no one including himself could ever fully understand or appreciate, he simply alludes to the saying that whoever the gods want they take, willy-nilly, one way or another. ?The gods actually approached me through several means but since I was unable to decipher the signs, life then became herculean for me until I yielded to the natural calling for service to humanity.
My medical health accomplishments can only be ascertained and testified to by the public who are the greatest beneficiary. Taking journalists down memory lane, Osinkennia presented more than 126 different awards and honours certificates he has received over the years. There were also recommendations and attestations from distinguished Nigerians including a former Anambra state Chief Judge, Justice Godwin Ude Ononiba, and The St Mary?s Catholic Church Nimo where he is patron; and His Majesty?Igwe?John Okoye-Agilo of Nimo in whose palace Prof Osinkennia is a titled cabinet member. Each testifying to his philanthropy and benevolence. ? Justice Ononiba, himself an erudite jurist attested to ?have known him closely for more than forty years as a herbal doctor whose skills, efficiency, honesty, benevolence and godliness have traversed the entire nation and beyond. Dr Egoigwe is a gift to Nigeria and humanity. Treatment of various ailments that defy orthodox medicine is for him a divine calling and he handles them with humility and love?. ? The very low level of government interest in herbal research and roots development, he pointed out was the main reason for the lack and near absence of botanical gardens around, that would readily have been providing local herbalists with necessary ingredients.
Such gardens as could be seen in places like India, Pakistan, Indonesia and even Switzerland enable the drug manufacturers with easy access to the roots and herbs they require for their products. ? Osinkennia disclosed that what we have today as ?food supplements? are granulated natural roots and herbs tactically packaged in fashionable presentations by smart herbalists from other countries. ? ?This was because governments of their countries were very interested and involved in the sector, with a view to making the best out of it. They believed in their people?s abilities and the efficacy of their medications. Then the authorities simply would step up studies, regulations and supervision of the practice. Most universities in those countries have herbal medicine/research as courses of study. This enables constant improvement in their applications and presentations in line with modern medical trends. ? However he has over the years participated in most top of the range herbal/medical research workshops and seminars in parts of the world.
These he admitted have improved his know-how in herbal treatment and application. Such organizations include the National Research Institute of Nigeria, Shell Petroleum Development Corporation(SPDC) and the Anambra State Development Association. A loving father and husband, Prof Osinkennia reveals that he could be seen as a man of both worlds of herbal and orthodox medicine, two of his sons are currently studying Medicine and Pharmacy in the university respectively. ? In open display of his appreciation for orthodox medicine, Osinkennia built and donated the present maternity hospital to his Nimo community, in order to promote maternal/child health care in the area. He has given out and continues to give out scholarships to bright but indigent students, build houses for the poor and also writes off their medical bills, amongst other philanthropic gestures he undertakes for people from various parts of the country. He is an active member and patron of many religious, community and national/international socio-cultural organisations for the promotion of love, peace and good neighbourliness. So far, he has a reasonable number of herbal drugs to his name, waiting certification. Its reason local and foreign universities and organizations who have learnt of his medical exploits honoured him with four doctorate degrees. ? Curiously, he revealed a sharp and steady rise in the mental cases in the country presently, especially among men from ages 20-50 years. He traced it to a number of socially related causes, including economic, unemployment, marital, political and spiritual.
These, he pointed out now manifest in the rising insurgencies, restiveness, veiled economic cum religious intolerance, kidnap, murders, rape and armed banditry all over the nation. He therefore urges those in positions of authority to use their offices to deliver democracy dividends, employments, skill acquisition centres and health facilities for the citizens. He proposes to acquire land to expand his botanical garden and build a research laboratory for herbal medicine in Anambra state soon. That he would teach free of charge in any institution in the country, or even overseas as a way of sustaining his knowledge even after him. He therefore wants government to get involved now, believing that the right time to do so is now, beginning with provision of water, good access roads, erosion control and security in the area.
