A cleric, Father Anselm Adodo, tells OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA how to obtain in the new year an awesome health, which does not mean the absence of pain or disease, but harmony of body, mind and spirit, based on proper use of nature’s provisions.
Father Anselm Adodo of the Catholic faith has said only a holistic approach to health and well-being can provide lasting solution to human sickness. As the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Pax Herbal Clinic and Research Laboratories, the cleric said simple steps such as relaxation, communion, silence, awareness, and forgiveness can guarantee a healthy life.
Father Adodo explained that relaxation was the first step towards healing, adding that modern people do not know what it means to relax, being so used to tension and anxiety. “We need to learn to be still and be conscious of our body,” he emphasised, adding: “Healing is a communion, an interchange of energies between two or more people.”
His words: “The whole cosmic system is based on the dynamism of give-and-take. Healing requires silence. Noise causes dessipation of energies between two or more people. The healer should lead the sick to silence, so that they can hear the deeper music of life. Awareness means being ready to acknowledge our fear of change; being in touch with what we are feeling at every moment and being conscious that our thoughts affect us and other people more than we imagine.
“To refuse to forgive is to live in bondage. When you forgive, you are not doing God a favour, or doing your offender a favour; you are doing yourself a favour. You forgive so that you can be free. Many people are sick because they refuse to forgive. Forgiveness brings healing.”
To ensure that more people obtain healing, Pax Herbal Clinic and Research Laboratories have set up Pax Natural Medicine Hospital with branches at G.R.A, Ikeja and Ajah.
According to him, the goals of the outfits are to practice evidence-based medicine. This requires putting high-tech documentation facilities, diagnostic facilities and computerised data capture system.
He explained: “A centre for genuine African holistic healing that blends the physical and the spiritual aspects of the human person. We target Nigerians in need of herbal/alternative therapies, who want to be attended to privately and confidentially. There is a limited accommodation by special arrangement for those that may need days or weeks of rest, nutrition therapy or observation.
“We intend for it to become an international cancer screening and management centre. We do organise regular health talks for executives, focusing on preventive measures. Special focus on HIV/AID research towards the production of effective herbal anti-retroviral medicines. Herbs should always be gathered fresh, early in the morning when their natural oils are at the maximum. Herbal natural oils are highly volatile, and the steadily increasing heat of the ascending sun depletes them.”
Father Adodo said for one to obtain maximum benefit from herbs there are some simple guiding laws. They include: “Taking herbs before meals, except when they cause irritation.
Why?
Taking herbs before meals is often convenient and the practice usually assures that herbs and foods are not mixed. However, taking herbs after meals may be necessary if the before meal dose yields adverse gastric reactions. The primary difference (as recognised by modern research) between before-meal dosing and after-meal dosing is the higher activity of the digestive system for an hour or more after meals, compared to that before meals. The ingestion of food stimulates the release of digestive juices (including many enzymes and bile acids) and activates the intestinal absorption mechanisms and peristalsis.”
He added that one should take the right amount. “The right dosage should be taken. The herb decoction or pills ingested on an empty stomach, especially if the dosage is small, may produce a limited stimulation of this system and hence result in a slower action during the assimilation of herb materials. One should also separate foods, drugs, and herbs, unless there is good reason to do otherwise.”
WHY?
Modern experience with drugs shows that simultaneous ingestion of drugs with food or beverage can sometimes cause changes in absorption and effects. For example, ingestion of tetracycline with milk results in reduced absorption of the drug. “People relying on protease inhibitor drugs (for HIV treatment) are well aware of the significant restrictions placed on the relationship of meals and drug dose timing because of lowered absorption when food is present. By contrast, ingestion of vitamin C (or other vitamins) along with foods can enhance absorption and utilisation of both the vitamins and any minerals that are present. Ingestion of certain pharmaceutical products with alcohol can cause adverse reactions because both produce a pharmacologic effect on the liver.”
Explaining further, Father Adodo said there are food-herbs interaction. “It is possible that food components bind-up and therefore inhibit the absorption of various herb ingredients. The relatively low volume of herb materials consumed at one time (especially when not taking a high-dosage decoction) compared to the amount of food materials consumed suggests that it is possible for foods to inhibit the absorption of some herb components,” he said.
Another rule to observe is to use stimulants in the morning and insomnia remedies at night. This is because for sedatives, many formulas that treat insomnia will have an immediate effect if taken about one-half hour before going to sleep as well as potentially providing a long-term solution with regular ingestion over a period of several weeks or months. Other formulas will release body energy and will cause insomnia at night. In sensitive individuals, it may be necessary to take no herbs for four hours prior to bedtime. Similarly, energy stimulating formulas might be best taken in the early morning; much like one consumes coffee at that time.
Timing is another rule to observe. With regards to time of administration, tonic drugs should be taken before meals, those irritant to the stomach and intestine after meals. Anthelmintics should be taken when the stomach is empty, and drugs for calming the mind should be taken before sleep. Anti-malarial drugs should be taken two hours before the attack. For acute diseases, there is no restriction as to the time of administration. Encourage getting a full daily dose of herbs even if timing is ignored.
For herb-drug interaction, he said while there have been very few reported incidents of adverse interactions between herbs and prescription medicines (drugs), such potential exists and caution is urged when combining medicines. Interactions are unlikely to create toxic compounds, but they may affect the way your medication is utilised by the body and can either potentate (increase) the effect of the drug or block its absorption. If the safety or efficacy of the drug is highly dose dependent then serious problems can occur.
And if you are expectant or breastfeeding, Fr. Adodo said while there are a number of herbs that can be very helpful for problems, which arise during pregnancy, there are many more herbs which are not suitable for use during this time. “We strongly advise that pregnant mothers do not take herbal remedies unless under the guidance of a qualified herbal practitioner. Herbs are absorbed into the bloodstream and are therefore, likely to be present in breast milk. If you are breastfeeding, please seek advice before using any herbal product.”
For those who may want to go on taking Tinctures, the cleric said Tinctures are a very handy way of taking herbs as they can be easily carried around in pockets or a handbag and taken in a small amount of water or fruit juice. “The herbs are usually absorbed in about 15 minutes. The best time to take tinctures is between meals or up to 15 minutes before meals, unless otherwise advised.”
And on Infusion? He said: “Infusion simply means “tea”. Just like when you make tea, you pour boiling water over some leaves or flowers. That’s what you do to make an infusion. A therapeutic dose will be one teaspoon per cup, and let it stay for 10-15 minutes. Then you can add sweetener, juice or whatever you need to do to make it a happy part of your routine. And you can also go for decoctions, which is the most common traditional way to take herbs. It means boiling Herbs that look like roots and barks. Sometimes it takes hours to boil, and the smell and taste, which are often unpleasant, can hardly be controlled, no matter the amount of sugar or honey added.”
He advised that one should also exercise, check the numbers/do routine screening- Blood pressure (Bp), Body Mass Index (BMI), urine analysis, and eat healthy by avoiding junks, fizzy drinks, excess salt and sugar.
