The caption is bold, uncertain and flagrant. It says: ‘How to treat all eye problems using bitter kola naturally. It is 100% effective.’ There are other similar public notices that bitter kola cures cervical and prostate cancer, diabetes, and dementia.
There is no shortage of home remedies on the internet. All human problems have proffered solutions there. Upon research, 21st CENTURY CHRONICLE discovered that the credentials and identity of the originator of the bitter kola eye-drop post is unknown and this remedy has been in circulation since 2019.
The post was shared by one Mr. James Agada a resident of Kaduna State, on a WhatApp platform where the 21st CENTURY CHRONICLE reporter saw it.
In a chat with him, he said, “I love natural remedies but I don’t try them without research. I saw this and I posted it knowing that people on the group are enlightened and will research to make their finding before using it. The positive feedback from the post is enormous. People had tried it and it worked.”
When reminded that the claim was made by an non-medical personnel and therefore dangerous and misleading, Mr Agada said: “Since it has been uploaded on the internet, it means research has been done on it. In fact, there is a 100% cure for glaucoma testimony,” he insisted.
Agada seems to have co-travellers in eulogizing the wonders of bitter kola in treating eye ailments.
Mr Abdulaziz Ododo, a resident of Barnawa Kaduna said, he has heard of the bitter kola wonder remedy and “he is spreading the word of total cure.” It is incredible he said, “imagine the money spent on surgery medication and hospital inconveniences by eye patients before now. I am happy people are getting answers from the internet now.”
‘One jacket fits all’ approach kills the eye – Expert
According to Dr. Tijani Avovome, a Primary Care physician, and Director of Medical Services, Federal College of Education Abeokuta, Ogun State, because of the delicate nature of the eyes, the care of it must be left to trained professionals.
“In the orthodox medical practice, there are several categories of personnel responsible for eye care at all levels of healthcare i.e. primary, secondary and tertiary. At the primary level of care, there are ophthalmic technicians, ophthalmic nurses, optometrists and at higher levels there may be ophthalmologists, who are doctors that have undergone specialist training in eye care.
“They differ on what they can diagnose and treat at different levels. These are people who have undergone prescribed training in the care of the eyes. It is good and prudent that we entrust the care of this delicate organ to them.”
Dr Avovome said “sometimes what is manifested as eye problems/diseases may be as a result of other malfunctions or complications from other diseases like hypertension, diabetes and aging,” he said.
He said other problems of the eye may arise from injury, infection or inflammation. “This is why it is not realistic to have one solution to all eye problems. A proper diagnosis is therefore necessary to unravel the fundamental issues that underpin the disease aetiology before treatment can be proffered. This is why everyone seeking medical intervention must ‘avoid the one jacket fits all’ approach of the unregulated sector.”
No herb is good for everyone – Herbal expert
Dr. Davies Shaye Onipinsaiye, Medical Director, Living Spice Nature Cure Hospital Abuja, is a natural medicine practitioner who specializes in the use of herbs for disease management and cure.
He spoke to 21st CENTURY CHRONICLE on use of herbs generally and bitter kola for eye treatment. He said “Traditionally, bitter kola have been taken in the past to resolve eye problems. But the information about these local methods have been distorted over time. There is a world of difference between herbal medication and synthetic drugs or orthodox medication. Herbal medications are natural and have more affinity to the human system. That is why herbs when used properly are curative and not suppressive.”
He explained that “before I prescribe herbal treatment, I do a diagnosis which includes an in depth analysis of body type and blood group. Everything is not good for everybody. For instance, cucumber which is generally known to be very rich in nutrients is not compatible to most people with blood group O. Meanwhile, that same cucumber is known to be highly beneficial to most people with blood group A. It may even have curative effects on them. So it is unprofessional and grossly misleading to say that a particular product is good for everybody.”
Dr Onipisaiye said “it is misleading to declare a 100 percent efficacy for any cure and for everybody. This among other reasons is why the guidance of a professional is needed to give proper direction on what is right and what is wrong for the system.”
He said most herbs are safe when consumed in the right proportion but indiscriminate consumption of any herb is not advisable.
Herbal remedies can cause blindness – Ophthalmologist
On his part, Dr Kalu Anya, a consultant Ophthalmologist and Phaco Surgeon in Abia State University, Aba, told this reporter that people ought to be careful with what they consume as drugs. “Paracetamol, which we all assume is benign, can cause liver and kidney damage. There is no small drug.”
Sharing an experience, he gave chilling insight to this risk when he said “a professional herbalist who has himself cured people of ailments came to seek medical attention in my hospital from Apollo complications after he administered sugar water and his urine to his eyes for two weeks. Upon medical examination, his eyes were swollen and oozed thick puss, after days of intravenous administration of antibiotics, he opened his eyes and the black in his eyes was completely washed off. This patient lost his sight forever.”
Dr Anya said “another fatal eye incident happened to a 43 year old business man doing very well with his business here in Abia. He even employs labour. He also went for a herbal treatment that contained his own urine and waited for it to act for days. By the time he seeked medical help he was blind after we treated the infection that came from the herbal treatment. We refer to these kinds of treatments as Harmful Eye Medications, they may not even be traditional.”
“This is why I will advise that any treatment used for the eye must be approved by NAFDAC and all other regulatory agencies,” he said.
The medical practitioner added that “as a doctor I am not opposed to herbalists, because they have genuine practitioners that undergo approved training.
“The important lessons to take from these experiences is, to avoid delaying medical attention, and that simple infection can be fed with nutritious things.”
He said bitter kola, urine, sugar water and breastmilk and other loosely prescribed cures may not be harmful on their own. But they cause delay in seeking the right treatment for the original disease. “Some of them are nutritious, thereby helping the bacteria to thrive by feeding it. Some urine may be infected with gonorrhea, and when put in the Eyes may cause serious damage to the eyes,” he added.
