The Healing Secrets of Traditional Maragoli Herbal Remedies Revealed
Exploring nature's pharmacy and the local wisdom surrounding the healing roots of Maragoli herbal medicine
What is Herbal Medicine?
Herbal medicine involves the general use of medicinal plants by experts to treat, prevent, and enhance the general health and well-being of an individual. Herbal medicine can be used to treat and prevent diseases in both domestic animals and humans. However, in this article, the main focus is on humans. Different communities have similar and different names for these herbs. However, these herbs have multiple uses and may be used to treat different diseases according to the knowledge of community herbal experts.
Most herbs in the Luhya community are known for the diseases they treat. It is, therefore, not strange to be told that the herb has no known name but treats a particular disease. This might be due to poor passage of information from generation to generation, leading to the loss of some of the names. Some herbs have English names, while others do not. It is therefore recommended to master the pictures.
The herbal medicine in this article focuses on common diseases such as malaria, typhoid, tonsillitis, minor and major injuries, headaches, and asthma, among others.
Elipera (Maragoli/Kabras) - Guava Tree
It is used to cure stomachaches and to stop diarrhea. The leaves are grounded, and the solution is made by adding water to it. This solution is taken when one has stomachaches. Lucheli Namunyu, a herbal expert, had this to say;
"Hizi dawa lazima uwe na mtaalamu bure huwezi kujua kiwango cha majani utatumia na kiwango cha maji utaongeza ili upate dawa unayotaka. Kwa mfano mpera hutumika pia kuzuia kuhara ila tofauti iliyopo ni jinsi ya kuchanganya maji tu kwa majani baada ya kuyatwanga na kiwango ambacho unafaa kutumia. Mambo haya yote unaweza kujulishwa tu na daktari wa mitishamba.
"You need the guidance of an expert to know the amount of leaves and water to add to the grounded solution. Guava leaves are used to treat different diseases; for example, apart from curing stomachaches, they are used to stop diarrhea. The only difference is in knowing the amount of water to add and dosage, which the herbalist knows."
Ologohe (Maragoli name) Olukoye(Kabras name) - Blackjack
It is a common weed in most farms in Kenya and East Africa at large. However, it is a very important herbal medicine. It is used to treat minor injuries as well as to stop bleeding in case of razor cuts, accidental knife cuts, and bruises, among other minor injuries.
The main use of blackjack is treating stomach ulcers. The ability to stop bleeding and heal open cuts confirms its capability to heal stomach wounds. Young leaves of blackjack can be chewed and swallowed by the person who has burning stomach ulcers. The juice from the chewed leaves is used to heal and prevent the wall of the intestines from corrosion by acidic elements which cause stomach ulcers. This herb is also mixed with another herb, and the solution is used to cure sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhea and syphilis.
Kigaka (Maragoli) Shikakha (Isukha) - Aloe Vera
Kigaka is commonly known for the treatment of malaria and flu. It is also used to heal stomach aches. In case the throat is sore, it relieves you from the pain and eventually heals it completely. It also removes skin rashes and makes your body smooth. This herb can also be applied as body oil.
The succulent leaves are grounded, and water is added to make a solution. Take a glass of water twice a day for two days.
A local herbalist had this to say about Kigaka;
"This herb is bitter. In case someone doesn't like bitter medicine let him take this herb accompanied by honey. One should not rub in the eyes after touching the solution of this herb because it irritates the eyes. In case it accidentally drops in the eyes wash it with clean water and itching will stop. You should note that it is not poisonous even if you do not wash the eyes, irritation will stop after some time."
Kayaba (Maragoli, Isukha, Kabras) - Kay Apple
This herb is used in the treatment of boils. This herb treats boils believed to have been inflicted by someone on another person. These kinds of boils are common in Luhyaland, and if not taken seriously, the affected person can die. These kinds of boils affect the armpits and upper chest in between the legs and on the buttocks.
A herbalist who did not want his name to be mentioned had this to say;
"Hii dawa ni nzuri ila ina masharti yake. Kwanza kama dawa zingine za kienyeji zinavyotumika haifai kumpeleka mgonjwa hospitali kabla ya kutumia dawa ya kayaba."
"This herb is good. However, it has its own instructions that have to be followed. Like most herbal medicines you should not take the patient for an injection in the hospital before using this herb on it."
Omusutsu (Maragoli, Isukha and Kabras)
This herb is very powerful in healing fresh wounds and wounds infested by germs. It has a powerful germ-killing element. The Omusutsu tree grows into a very huge tree, unlike most herbal medicines that grow as shrubs. The leaves are grounded mixed with water, and the solution is applied to a cut. A fresh minor cut dries within two days when this solution is applied to it. A big cut or injury may heal between 2- 3 weeks.
Moreover, this solution is used to heal wounds due to water burns and fire burns. In case of severe fire burns, the solution completely heals the wounds in 3-6 weeks. This solution should be applied to the affected area twice a day.
Einguu (Kabras)
This herb is used to treat toothache and to remove false smell from the mouth. The leaves are chewed and left to stay with the saliva in the mouth between 5- 10 mins.
This herb is also used to heal fresh wounds and is applied to circumcised wounds. Although it is bitter, it dries the cut wound fast.
Ekeroka (Maragoli) Eshilokha (Kabras/Isukha)
This herb is used to treat common cold infections and flu (commonly known as muyaka in Luhya).
The leaves are put under the pillow for 2-3 days, and the dreams will go away for good. The leaves are also used to treat internal injuries. You warm the leaves on fire and use them to massage the affected area while they are still warm.
Moreover, if you plant it in the compound, its scent scares away all types of snakes.
Most people used to plant it near their toilets, and the leaves of this plant were used as tissue papers long before tissue papers found their way to the village.
Mwarobaini (Maragoli, Kabras, Tachoni)
It is to treat a variety of diseases. The bark and leaves of a tree are boiled, and the solution too is taken.
This medicinal treatment is believed to prevent and treat more than 100 types of diseases, but the known diseases are forty, which is why it is given the name mwarobaini, which comes from the Swahili word "arobaini" (forty). Some of the common diseases it treats include malaria, flu, typhoid, stomachache, headache, and digestion problems.
Ndulandula (Kabras), Thinandwa (Maragoli) - Thorn Apple
The juice from the fruit of this herb is used to kill germs in a perforated tooth. You should be careful to make sure you don't swallow it and put it in your painful perforated tooth for up to five minutes. After 10 minutes, spit the juice and rinse your mouth with clean water.
The root of this herb is also used to treat stomach aches and indigestion problems. You can remove the root while still fresh and chew it.
Imbindi (Maragoli, Isukha, Tachomi, Kabras name)
This herb is commonly found along river banks and is used to treat mouth infections such as swelling of the tongue, swelling of the mouth, mouth cracking, and malaria. The root of the herb is removed, washed and either chewed as you swallow the juice only or you ground it and make a solution using water. The best way is to chew the root. The same herb is used to heal malaria in its initial stage. This herb can not heal malaria in advanced stages.
Conclusion and points to note
There are many types of herbal medicine with different uses. There are a few things you must observe while using these medicines.
1. Always Consult A Herbalist or Medicinal Expert
First of all, you need the advice of a herbalist to take the right medicine and the right dosage. So, never take herbal medicine without the advice of an expert, even if you know the disease it treats. You may end up using overdose, which will bring you problems, or underdose, which will mean no change in your condition.
2. Beware of Drug interactions
You should tell the herbalist if you are currently using other types of medication like over-the-counter medicine or medication prescribed by the doctor. This is because some herbal medicine reacts with hospital medicine.
3. Herbal Medicines Can be Pricey
Some herbal medicines are very expensive, and some experts cannot share the information with you without a fee. Some are given on solution only, and they cannot tell you the original plant extracts because of the traditional beliefs associated with them. Some knowledge of this herbal medicine is only meant to be transmitted from either father to son or grandfather to a particular grandchild. Therefore, coming up with information about some herbal medicine needs a leakage of information whose consequences are negative to the resource person. In this case, the person who tells you might end up forgetting the herb forever.
4. The Correct Dosage
Taking an underdose of herbal medicine has no effect because it won't be of use to the disease you are treating, but taking an overdose will have effects on your body. This precaution applies to herbal medicine that is orally taken either in liquid or solid form. However, the herbal medicine that is rapped on the skin or applied on a wound has no overdose but may have underdose.
There are selected types of herbal medicines that the experts are always willing to give you information about, but you should always follow the conditions they give you first. This means that getting information on local herbs requires discipline, patience, and perseverance.