By Eze Nwabueze
A traditional medicine expert and Chairman, Anambra State chapter of the Nigerian Association of Traditional Medicine Practitioners (NANTEMP), Dr Cyril Akudigwe, has dismissed fears that there is yet no known cure for the deadly coronavirus pandemic, saying the virus can be cured with herbal remedies.
He said that as an internationally acclaimed herbalist, he is not in a position to confirm whether orthodox medicine can cure the virus, but he can only confirm that as the virus is toxic, natural roots and herbs can easily eliminate it from patients.
Speaking to reporters at the Infectious Diseases Unit of his Herbal Medicine Hospital at Nkpor Junction, near Onitsha, Anabura State, Akudigwe, the Managing Director of Jeso Do Eme Akapo Ijo Na Igala Herbal Medicine Company, maintained that herbal medicine was the main solution because the virus contains a poison, which he said is incompatible with orthodox and western medicine.
He said that information has it that the symptoms of this disease are malaria, body aches, dry throat, cough and catarrh, and that these diseases can be cured with both herbal and orthodox medicine, but this particular virus is associated with poison and is therefore beyond the reach of orthodox medicine, leaving herbal medicines and roots as the only alternative treatment.
Therefore, the government should refer patients, especially those with chronic infections, to real Chinese medicine doctors for treatment after they test positive for the virus. The government should also procure testing equipment to check people’s condition, just as humans and pet dogs are being tested in the US and Europe.
He maintained that the current lockdown in the country is not necessary, adding that what is needed at this point is to provide test kits, test everyone, direct those who test positive to the right places and allow those who test negative to continue with their normal work.
On the arrival of Chinese doctors in Nigeria, Dr. Akudigwe frowned upon the Federal Government’s invitation for the doctors, adding that if the Chinese doctors cannot treat those who have died in their own countries and other western countries such as Europe, America and Asia, their coming to Nigeria is of little use to Nigerians as the death toll has already exceeded 3,000 and the number of infected has reached about 82,000.
