Growing up in Nigeria, there was always one cure for everything — malaria, body pain, stomach trouble, even “spiritual attack.” You guessed it — , that bitter brown concoction with a smell strong enough to announce your arrival from streets away.
Everyone has a story, and here’s mine.
“Drink This, It Will Flush Your System.”
It was a rainy morning in Yaba. My cousin Ayo had been coughing nonstop. Auntie Sade arrived, armed with a plastic bottle of brown liquid.
“Drink this herbal mixture. It works fast,” she declared.
Ayo hesitated but obeyed. One gulp later, his face twisted in horror. Two hours after, he was sweating and sprinting to the toilet like an Olympic athlete. 😂
According to Auntie Sade, it worked. “The cough has reduced now!” she smiled. But nobody asked what was inside, how it was made, or if it was safe.
That’s the truth about many Nigerian homes ;trust and tradition are often our only prescriptions.
Herbal mixtures aren’t the enemy. They’re part of our heritage. Long before pharmacies, our ancestors used herbs to heal and stay well.
But not all herbal mixture is safe.
Today, many are:
1. Unmeasured– No dosage, risking overdose. 2. Unregulated – Often made in unhygienic places. 3. Unknown– Ingredients hidden, sometimes mixed with alcohol or harmful additives.
In trying to “flush” the body, we may harm vital organs like the liver and kidneys. The goal isn’t to reject tradition but to balance it with science, safety, and sense. ✅ Consult a doctor. ✅ Choose NAFDAC-approved products. ✅ Know your ingredients. ✅ Stop if symptoms persist.
Culture isn’t the problem. Ignorance is.
So next time someone says, “Just take small, you go dey alright,” pause. Ask. Think.
Your health deserves more than a bitter guess.