The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ghana Associations of Medical Herbalists (GAMH), Prince Osei, has mentioned on Happy Morning Show (HMS) that samples of herbal medicine have been sent to the lab for research as a possible cure for coronavirus (COVID-19).
The PRO of GAMH (which is the only professional association of herbal medicine professionals) trained at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) revealed this in an interview with the host of Happy Morning Show (HMS), Samuel Eshun. He said: ‘’As I speak, some members of our association have already sent samples of herbal medicine to the requisite bodies pending research and approval as the cure for coronavirus’’.
He however stated that there exist in Ghana several herbal immune boosters in the country which can be used in the fight against coronavirus while waiting for a cure.
‘’ Hydrochloroquine and azithromycin that are being used to treat coronavirus are only treating symptoms. If you have headache or cough, that is what will be treated. If you look at recovered cases currently, you will see that immunity is key so I urge government to really look at the registered immune boosters produced in Ghana as part of managing coronavirus cases here in Ghana’’, he said.
He also drew attention to the fact that all affected countries are overwhelmed with the number of confirmed cases they have so even if a cure is found elsewhere today it will be difficult for it to come to Ghana.
He, further touted the credentials of herbal medicines from Ghana on the African continent. ‘’In Africa, Ghana’s herbal medicine is trusted, so why can’t government look at herbal medicine as a credible alternative’’, he said.
He explained the distinction between GAMH and Traditional and Alternative Medicine Directorate (TAMD).
‘’At GAMH we believe that there are some phytol chemicals in herbs that is why we take the herbs to the lab to ascertain the efficacy of the components of the herbal medicines using scientific methods. However, traditional medicine has some spirituality components. When you go to a fetish priest for herbs and you are told to observe certain rituals before or after using the herbs that is traditional medicine, herbal medicine relies on science’’, he explained.
Prior to the introduction of the professional practice of herbal medicine, made possible by way of formal education/training in Ghana through the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), the unprofessional/informal practice of herbal medicine existed and still exists.
Original article ghanaweb.com
