SUNDAY 3 FEBRUARY 2019 – UWI TODAY
13
Bush medicine, herbal remedies,
traditional healing
modalities– however you refer to it, herbalism is a
practice that has maintained its popularity, and some
of its mysticism, over time.
Globally the use of traditional medicine is
burgeoning, particularly in developed countries.
Statistics for developing nations indicate that over 80%
of the population rely on herbs and plants for health
maintenance and therapeutic disease management.
At home, a recent Merritt-Charles survey revealed
an exposed lifetime prevalence of usage of 86% among
surgical outpatients. A subsequent survey conducted
by UWI Pharmacology Professor and Coordinator
of the Pharmacology Unit of the Faculty of Medical
Sciences Dr Yuri Clement revealed a 40% prevalence
of use among public health sector physicians.
But although science is circling back to seek out the
potential and determine the true effectiveness of these
less conventional remedies within a modern world, is
there sufficient information to ensure our safety in the
practice of herbalism?
Professor Clement is leading research locally to
determine just that. “In the past a lot of the drugs came
from plants and we have to recognise that. The issue
we have today is that people are using drugs together
with herbs and there could be (negative) interaction
between those two,” asserted the Professor.
On November 22 2018, UWI’s St Augustine
Campus hosted Professor Clement’s Professorial
Inaugural Lecture on the topic “Preserving Our
Herbal Medicine Tradition”. The lecture, held at the
Teaching and Learning Complex, attracted members
of the medical community, practitioners of traditional
medicine, students, staff and members of the public.
Healing Tradition
It is postulated that human beings have used plants
and herbs for medicinal purposes since the dawn of
our existence.
In fact, plants were the only medicines used
before 500 BC. Shortly thereafter the Greek physician
Hippocrates – considered the father of Western
medicine – married traditional remedies with a more
practical approach, studying and utilising more than
200 medicinal herbs in his treatments. But even as
medical science advanced, traditions remained.
Speaking about the current environment, Professor
Clement stated that although laboratory research
and animal testing are being executed worldwide to
determine the properties and efficacy of commonly
Of Herbs andMen
Yuri Clement lays the foundation for research on traditional medicine in T&T
B Y L I S A L U A N A O W E N
used herbs, significant research had yet to be
conducted on humans to determine the risk-benefit
associated with using these herbs, either singularly
or in combination with other herbs or conventional
drugs.
265 herbal users were interviewed as part of
the Professor’s survey from a geographically diverse
group of health centres and villages cross-country
to ascertain the perceived efficacy of herb-based
medicines compared to their Western counterparts.
The respondents cited over 100 herbs they used
for the promotion of health and wellness and the
management of specific health concerns.
By far garlic proved to be most popular among
users (48.3%). Its primary uses were for general
well being, cold, cough, fever, cleansing the blood,
flatulence and hypertension.
“A lot of people used garlic for high blood pressure,
and they used it together with their (prescription)
medication. A lot of them said it worked but a small
amount of them said their pressure went (down) too
low,” stated the Professor.
He argued that this was why human testing is a
necessity – because drugs affect people differently.
Testing is needed to determine their safety, efficacy,
how they work, the approach to standardisation,
optimum dosages and possible side effects – as is
required for conventional medicine – so as to allow
for informed administration he said.
However, funding for this type of research could
run into the millions and even though some assistance
is offered from UWI in the form of equipment and
grants, it is not enough.
“I would want to think that Government,
somebody, has to see the importance of this kind of
work and start supporting it,” he said.
When it comes to funding, one of the most
researched herbs is of course cannabis. At a recent
political meeting, Prime Minister Keith Rowley
advised that T&T would be reviewing its marijuana
legislation next year with a view to decriminalising
its use.
“In terms of the legalisation, I think there is
a place for it but it should be managed because
marijuana has side effects,” said the Professor. He
said that the drug had to be decriminalised first to
ensure safe procurement and, most importantly, a
significant educational drive is needed so that the
public understands that there are risks associated with
the benefits.
The respondents cited over
100 herbs they used for the
promotion of health and
wellness and the management
of specific health concerns. By
far
garlic
proved to be most
popular among users.
Professor Clement speaking on the value of research to support
herbal medicine at his Professorial Lecture.
PHOTO: ANEEL KARIM
HEALTH ANDWELLNESS
Herbal Remedies
Lisa Luana Owen is a freelance writer, event coordinator, PR strategist, and traditional and new media marketing consultant.
