The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ‘Infections

  • Women,“toilet infections” and some vaginal issues (3)

    We are still in the woman’s world to which caring men are invited.  After all, women are the mothers, aunts, nieces and sisters of men. To the doctor’s clinics where “toilet infections” and vaginal questions are addressed, we are hopping on a tour to learn more about what some physicians think about these challenges and how they address them. The golden rule many orthodox doctors always refer to is that women should not douche or expose the vagina to chemical substances such as scented tissue paper or perfumed soaps. This golden rule suggests, instead, that they clean up with water. But just this act may be all the petrol that germs unfriendly to the vagina may require to balloon their population.

    Every living organism requires water to grow. The cells, whether human, animal, plant or microbial, is made of about 70 per cent water. When one cell splits into two and two divide  into four, the split half parts need to urgently beef up their water stocks to become not only adult cells but to also be able to carry out their living processes which include reproduction of their kind. To do these, germs need to adhere    to tissue to suck nutrients, including amino acids (building parts of proteins) and water. If they are denied adhesion, they are starved and denatured, they are weak and unable to defend themselves adequately. Thereby, they are far more easily and readily exposed to the vagaries of war with the immune system in which they should by then become pitiable sights or gross mismatches.

    In alternative medicine, many plants offer this winning support when they are used for douching. These plants, or some others destroy proteins which are not the body’s own protein. These foreign proteins, called exogenous proteins, that is proteins foreign to the body, include the germs which, basically, are forms of proteins. Beyond these two helpful activities, herbs may help to stimulate the immune function by, say, stimulating the reproduction of macrophages, those large white blood soldier cells which eat up foreign bodies. Some of these friendly herbs are:

     

    Mango seed extract

    We know about the good, old mango (Mangifera indica) in Nigeria. We use the flowers, leaves, and bark for medicines against all sorts of ailments. We know, too, about its cousin, the African Bush Mango which is currently making the news and the waves around the world not only as an anti-microbial but, also, as a weight loss agent. The African Bush Mango seed provides us with a kernel from which draw soup is made. An American doctor who lived for some time in the Cameroon discovered that many people who ate draw soup regularly had no weight problem. He took some seeds back home which yielded good results in an experiment. Through him, African Mango seed extract gained currency world- wide as a weight loss agent.

    The Mango Seed Extract I propose here is not the extract of African Bush Mango, which the Yoruba call Oro.   (d: r). It is the extract of Mangifera Indica, the popular green or yellow mango of which there are many varieties, including cherry mango when we eat the fruit, we throw away the hard, unchewable seed. But about 15 years ago, I stopped doing that. I sun dried the seeds and broke them up. Inside every seed, there is a soft white pulp called the mango seed kernel.  I knew about it from H.K Bakhru’s HERBS THAT HEAL. He describes it as a great anti-microbial power house. In India, he says, women use it as a spermicide that is as a contraceptive. Before sex, an Indian woman would paste her vagina and cervix with Mango seed extract.  And, sure enough, it killed the sperm, helping them to avoid oestrogen-based pills, intra uterine devices (IUDs) and their many health hazards and, of course, unwanted pregnancies.  I was later to learn that as mango seed extract kills the goose, it also kills the gander, as it were. That means unfriendly germs in the vagina do not survive in its claws. Add to that its weight loss potential when it’s taken with lime and water. Mango seed extract can be peppery in the vagina when used alone as a paste. It is often suggested that it be used with a carrier such as egg white, a protein tolerated by the vagina, Bee propolis cream or coconut oil another anti-microbial.

     

    Golden seal root 

    One of the constituents of this herb which gives it powers is a chemical substance named Berberine. In China, Berberine is extracted from Berberine-containing herbs-and used as medicine. It is anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetes, anti-cholesterol and interacts easily with pharmaceutical medicines, for which reason it is sometimes suggested that golden seal root should not be taken with pharmaceuticals, although its Berberine content may not potentiate reactions caused by pure Berberine extract. To understand Golden Seal Root, which easily one of the most popular Berberine-containing herbs, we need to understand Berberine, if only a little.

    Dr. Mercola of www.articles.mercola.com says: “it is effective against “a wide range of bacterial, protozoa and fungi. It can be used topically on cuts and other wounds, and is perhaps most commonly used to treat gastro-intestinal issues, including Traveller’s diarrhoea and, that’s from food poisoning”

    Dr. Mercola says modern research has now come to accept what Traditional Medicine has been saying about Berberine for centuries….. That its uses extend far beyond anti-microbial activities.

    “As reported in the Natural Medicine Journal”, he says, “in the recent years…over a third of the approximately 2,800 studies listed on Pub Med were published in the last five years. These studies reveal that Berberine may have clinical application in a range of conditions.  In order to understand Berberine and why it is now vying for a position as one of the most important supplements in the world, it is important to understand adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinasa or AMPK.

    AMPK is an enzyme inside your body cells. It is sometimes called a “metabolic master switch” because it plays an important role in regulating metabolism, according to the Natural Medicine Journal. AMPK induces a cascade of events within cells that are all involved in maintaining energy homeostasis.

    “AMPK regulates an array of biological activities that normalise lipid, glucose and energy imbalances. Metabolic syndrome (METS) occurs when these AMPK regulated pathways are turned off, triggering a syndrome that includes hyperglycaemia, diabetes, lipid abnormalities and energy imbalances”

    AMPK helps coordinate the response to these stressors shifting energy towards cellular repairs, maintenance, or a return to homeostasis and improved likelihood of survival. The hormones Leptin and Adiponectin activate AMPK. In other words, activating AMPK can produce the same benefits as exercise, dieting and weight loss- the lifestyle modifications considered beneficial for a range of maladies.

    “One way to appreciate Berberine’s potential is to think of it as having the same effect on a patient as increasing exercise while at the same time restricting calorie intake. Think of the effects of AMPK suppression as similar as to that of eating a high calorie diets while leading a very sedentary lifestyle. Berberine is one of the few compounds known to activate AMPK (resveratrol).”

     

    The vagina

    In this vault, Golden Seal Root coast the tissue wall with Berberine. This is a slippery alkaloid which prevents germs from adhering to the tissue as stated earlier. Berberine goes on to activate cellular energy in the mitochondria, and this provides an impetus for the organs to depend itself. By stimulating immune response, the germs which are weakened because they cannot adhere to tissue wall and suck nurture are easily killed off through the help of Golden Seal Root. I have gone this far in respect of Berberine and Golden Seal Root because I often received enquires about my seeming love for this herb. I crave a little more time for a little more explanation by Dr. Mercola, as a way of ensuring some of these enquiries. He says:

    “Berberine works as well as Metformin for diabetes. One of the most celebrated studies on Berberine compared taking 500mg of the compound 2-3 times daily for three months with the diabetes drug Metformin. Berberine was able to control blood sugar and lipid metabolism effectively as Metformin, with researchers describing Berberine as a “potent oral hypoglycaemic agent”. A separate meta-analysis also revealed ‘Berberine has comparable therapeutic effects on type 2 DM (Diabetes melitus), hyperlipidaemia and hypertension with no serious side effects’.

    “As noted by Dr. Julian Whitaker, in people with diabetes, AMPK activation by Berberine stimulates the uptake of glucose into the cells, improves insulin sensitivity, reduces glucose production in the liver. A review published in the international Journal of Endocrinology, further explained on Berberine’s role in treating type 2 diabetes. ‘Modern pharmacological effects of BBR on glucose metabolism includes improving insulin resistance promoting insulin secretion, inhibiting gluconeogenesis in the liver’ stimulating glycolysis in peripheral tissue cells, modulating gut microbiota, reducing intestinal absorption of glucose and regulating lipid metabolism.

    BBR (Berberine) is used to treat diabetic nephropathy (DPN), diabetic neuropathy (DN) and diabetic cardiomyopathy due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity”

     

    Candidiasis

    While Golden Seal Root, as a Berberine-containing herb is good news for the diabetic and carbohydrate-consuming people who are near-border diabetics or who do not wish to become diabetic, it should be good news as well for people who suffer from candida, fungi or other yeast infections. In the treatment of candida in the vagina, doctors often prescribe Nystatin and advise their patients to avoid or limit carbohydrate foods or plain sugars. I do not think this will effectively address the problem. Women have a knack for sweet things and may not readily see the link between their vaginal candidiasis and the intake of carbohydrate foods or sugars. It should be better, in my view, they are helped to burn blood and tissue sugar and fats, which may also cause problems which the candida, fungi or yeast are confronted on other fronts. Golden Seal Root can be taken orally and used as a vagina paste. The duration should be for about seven days with a break of seven days. During this break or holiday, the infection may obtain a respite and wish to re-enforce. The break is necessary because, friendly as Golden Seal Root is to the mucus membrane, it may become dehydrating if it taken over a prolonged period of time. In the “holiday” period, other herbs such as Grape Seed Extract and Aloe Vera, may keep the watch. In the case of the vagina, vitamin E soft gels or Aloe Vera soft gel may be inserted overnight in this period. Both help rehydration and regeneration of tissue damage by the infection. Pure virgin coconut oil may also stand on guard before the return of Golden Seal Root therapy seven days after. Within one month, it should be possible to cear the vagina of all its unwanted guests. This is the stage or time to introduce the wanted guests, the friendly bacteria (probiotic). This can be done with the insertion of probiotic capsules for several days.

     

    Candida albicans

    Most women are content to know they have vagina candida and to trust their doctor’s prescription to knock out the itch, discharge and pain. Only when these drugs fail them do they begin to seek more information on this bothersome ailment. They do not seem to realise that oral thrush or greying of their tongues is a sign that candida may be overgrowing its population in the intestine and need an immediate check. Candida albicans is a single cell organism present in the eye, nose, throat, genitals and the intestine where it causes no problem if it does not overgrow its allotted population. Many factors cause it to breach this population control. Many factors may be responsible either singly or in combination with others. Basically, candida albicans should not exceed its population ratio vis-a-vis the population ratios of other organisms. Depletion of the immune system can knock out this arrangement. So can stress. So can diseases such as cancer and HIV. So can antibiotic and steroid use. So can the use of birth control pills which dismantle hormone system balance. So can emotional disturbances, environmental factors and being overweight.

    Not much may be thought of candida overgrowth expressed as through on the tongues or in the vagina until probably becomes invasive or systemic candida in the mouth looks like a mushroom, when viewed under the microscope. It has a big head, a stem and a root system buried in the tongue. We can imagine what candida in the eye may cause to vision. The dangers of invasive candidiasis are many and include death. Physicians believe candida is relatively easy to treat when it has not overgrown its normal yeast form by which time it may have graduated to what we may call the Big Boy. The Big Boy is the Hyphal form when it begins to produce filaments and biofilms and, with this capacity invades the blood stream, tissues and organs. This condition is rarely seen in people whose immune systems are not compromised. Other herbs are showing promise against candida albicans. A 2013 study showed that the plant gynema sylvetre revered the dangerous hyphal form to simple yeast cells. This is an interesting study. In the 1980s, I sold Gymnester alone or combined with other supplements of diabetes or elevated blood sugar. If it is knocking a dangerous candida albicans from back into a less dangerous state, if it is anti-sugar, if candida albicans thrives on a sugar fuel, it means anything which can help normalise blood sugar that is also anti-microbial should be able to perform this feat.

    Gynema Sylvester was reported in that study to overwhelm another terrible fungus named aspergillus. The list of herbs that can be deployed against candida and bacteria and viruses which overgrow in the vagina and disturb it is endless. Some of them are Olive Leaf Extract, Black Walnut hull, Garlic, Tea tree oil, Pau d’ Arco. I have seen great wonders wrought by proprietary blends such as Amazon AF and Amazon CF, oregano oil Olive oil and feminine wash.

     

     

  • Respiratory infections still kill children

    Many children are suffering from lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI), says a pulmonologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Dr Michelle Dania.

    Dania who spoke exclusively with The Nation, said more need to be done to reduce the rate of LRTI, especially as it affects the lower part of the airways and lungs.

    According to her, any infection below the respiratory tract known as the larynx is the lower tract infection because it is close to the voice box. “Any infection above the larynx is an upper respiratory tract infection,” She added.

    Dania, who is a consultant physician said there are tubes that take air into the lungs. They are the trachea, bronchi and the long parenchyma, he said, adding: “Infections affecting the tubes are mostly known as bronchitis or acute bronchitis. Bronchiolitis can be found in children less than two years.”

    Dr. Dania said pneumonia, acute bronchitis and bronchiolitis are the most common types of LRTI. “Some people see influenza as LRTI whereas it affects both the upper and lower respiratory system.” she said.

    She spoke of asthma as a non-member of lower respiratory tract infection. Why? “Normally, some infections can worsen the symptoms of asthma because it is not an infection per say. Asthma is not classified as LRTI unlike pneumonia.”

    She said tuberculosis can be classified as lower respiratory tract infection because it has organisms which also cause infection in the lower part of the respiratory tract.

    “LRTI generally are caused by organisms, viruses, adenovirus and bacteria,” she said.

    The specialist listed cough, fever, abnormal breathing and restlessness as common symptoms of lower respiratory tract infection. “Fever is a major symptom and patient will need to take enough fluid to prevent dehydration,” she noted.

    Dr Dania said: “Antibiotics are used to manage infections. Also, supportive treatment is needed. Many times when patients have LRTI, they develop fever and use antipyretic (medication to bring down the fever).”

    Her words: “Generally, children are prone to infections because they are still young and are building their immunity. Most times, they have lots of recurrent viral infections.

    “Depending on what the likely organisms are, not all LRTI are induced by bacteria. However, those induced by bacteria will need antibiotics but those induced by viral infections, the patient may not need antibiotics.”

    The preventive measures, she said, are exclusive breast feeding for children, proper nutrition, immunization and vaccination from zero to five years. She advised on frequent hand washing with soap and water to prevent contamination of LRTI.

    Speaking on the severity of LRTI, she said, oxygen should be given to patients to support their breathing and intravenous to take fluid into the body.

    LRTI incidents, she said, are reducing due to the use of vaccination. Also, people are now adopting good lifestyle and mothers have been encouraged to breastfeed their babies.

    “The menace of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has made the infection not to be well controlled because HIV patients are prone to LRTI. Otherwise, I would say it is on a downward trend,” Dania said.0404.

  • Combat skin infections with herbs, good nutrition 

    Combat skin infections with herbs, good nutrition 

    The human skin serves as the outer coverings for the body. It also shields the delicate internal organs. It is the largest organ of the body and it reflects what goes inside. Natural medicine practitioners therefore attach great importance to the health (state) of the skin.

    Among many other functions of the skin, it’s role as an organ of elimination is of interest to natural health care providers. Some individuals are of the opinion that the skin could be treated solely from the external and they end up buying and stockpiling soap, ointments and creams for their skin problems all to no avail.

    I am a Naturopath. Naturopathic medicine is a distinct primary health care profession, emphasising prevention, treatment, and optimal health through the use of therapeutic methods and substances that encourage individuals’ inherent self-healing process. In naturopathy, we look at various ways to promote skin health by supplying the skin with what it needs. Most importantly, we help it play its major role which is eliminating toxins as it should be. When conditions such as skin irritations, boils and rashes etc begin to manifest periodically and consistently too, a diligent practitioner would immediately commence detoxification programme for his clients.

    In nature cure, the three basic principles of maintaining or preserving health include Detoxification (the elimination of morbid matter); improve micro circulation; and balancing the body system. These three principles will enable the body dispose toxins that are hindering the body’s sound health. That allows the body to rejuvenate and heal itself without drugs.

    Skin diseases are many and varied, from fungal infection such as eczema and athletes foot to parasitic, bacterial and viral skin conditions, such as scabies, impetigo and mouth sores respectively.

    What most naturopaths do when confronted by serious skin conditions in their clients can be summarised as follow:

    •Exhaustive health evaluation

    •Colon cleansing protocols could immediately be undertaken. One is as healthy as his colon.

    •The patient is asked to consume a specific quantity of water daily depending on his age, weight, nature of his activity and (suspected) diseases. This ensures adequate body fluid for the elimination/flushing process.

    •Alteration of the client’s diet. His food will largely be composed of fruits and vegetables .This could last for few days or weeks, during which acid-forming foods must be avoided or drastically curtailed.

    •Blood purification herbs/foods such as Vernonia amygdalina (bitterleaf), Garcinia kola (Bitterkola), Fluerya aestuans (local stinging nettle), Gongronema latifolium (Utazi , Igbo) and Picralima nitida (Abere, Yoruba) may be administered.

    •In some non-open skin wound conditions, the use of Epsom salt for skin brushing and bathing would help in promoting peripheral blood circulation in the skin area and eliminate toxins trapped in the subcutaneous skin.

    •Antimicrobial herbs such as Garlic, tumeric, Aloe vera, cloves, Xylopia aethiopica (Uda, Igbo, Eru, Yoruba) and Alchornea cordifolia (Ipa In Yoruba) may be recommended.

    • Nutritional supplements, such as Vitamin A, C, B-complex, Pantothenic acid (B5), E and Omega 3 fatty acids are usually recommended as specific to individuals.

    •Only when the above conditions are fulfilled can we begin to think of topical applications of soap, ointments or creams. Remedies that are efficacious when the holistic treatment has been done on any skin problem include Coconut oil, Aloe vera gel and Shea butter.

  • Protecting health workers from infections

    Protecting health workers from infections

    The Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) imported into the country in July showed the high risk health workers are exposed to. The index case, the late American-Liberian Patrick Sawyer, infected several health workers, including the late Dr Stella Adadevoh. How can health workers tackle infections? This was the thrust of a two-day training in Lagos. OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA reports.

    Prof Agbaje Onini (not real names), a Consultant Paediatrician at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, with over 20 years  experience, had a close shave with HIV when a two-year old child living with the virus was brought for treatment.

    There was the need to take some blood samples for analysis and the determination of the viral load. The resident doctor and the nurses had a huge task of obtaining the sample because the child was throwing tantrums. At a point, the needle was inserted into the arm of the child, but the vein was missed. The needle with some blood was withdrawn.

    Prof Onini, drawing from his experience, then offered to calm the child, to facilitate the drawing of the blood sample.  He succeeded. He held her arm, asked the mother to hold her well and beckoned on the resident doctor to take the sample. As the doctor was about inserting the needle, after ascertaining the point of the vein, the child, obviously scared of the needle, jerked its arm  twisted her body, and the blood stained needle went into the professor’s arm.

    He immediately washed his hands and other skin surfaces, and observed other Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), which involved taking anti-HIV medications.  A few weeks later, he went for screening and, luckily, he tested  negative to HIV.

    A Professor of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Prof Folasade Ogunsola, said that was a close  shave.

    “For the consultant paediatrician should have asked the blood stained needle to be discarded, in a provided box, not minding the cost of purchase and go for a new one. And in spite of his wealth of experience and exposure, he skipped some global best practices,” said Prof Ogunsola.

    Mrs Ogunsola, the Provost, College of Medicine, University of Lagos (CMUL), said occupational transmission of infections to health care workers is common because fewer people observe infection control guidelines in their workplaces.

    Speaking as a resource person at the two-day workshop for healthcare practitioners drawn from across the country, on global best practices, Mrs Ogunsola told the participants: “As a health care worker, you may be exposed to many sources of infection. Infections may be transmitted by blood, body fluids, air, respiratory secretions or by direct contact with other infectious materials. You can protect yourself from infection by following the infection control guidelines in your workplace, by using personal protective equipment (such as gloves and masks) and by treating all blood and body fluids as though they are infectious.”

    According to her, diligence in the following areas is needed to help reduce the risk of occupational transmission of infections to health care workers.

    She said: “Administrative efforts are needed. Here in Nigeria, some infection control guidelines are not put in place in some workplaces. And sometimes, when these provisions are made, they got stolen or vandalised out of ignorance or sheer carelessness. Hence, all health care organisations should train health care workers in infection control procedures and the importance of reporting occupational exposures. Organisations should develop and distribute written policies for the management of occupational exposures.

    “Development and promotion of safety devices should be prioritised. Effective and competitively priced devices, engineered to prevent sharps injuries should continue to be developed for health care workers who frequently come into contact with, for example potentially HIV-infected blood. Proper and consistent use of such safety devices should be continuously evaluated.

    “Monitoring the effects of Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) is important. Data on the safety and acceptability of different regimens of PEP, particularly regimens that include new antiretroviral agents, should be monitored and evaluated continuously. Furthermore, health professionals who administer PEP should communicate possible side effects before treatment starts and should follow patients closely to make sure they take their medicine correctly. Though these recommendations focus on the hospital setting, the recommendations for personal protective equipment (PPE) and environmental infection control measures are applicable to any healthcare setting.”

    The convener, Dr Efunbo Dosekun, president of Anu Dosekun Healthcare Foundation, spoke on part of the reasons for the event, with the theme: ‘Introductory workshop on infection prevention and control’ said: “Though these recommendations by Prof Ogunsola focus on the hospital setting, the recommendations for personal protective equipment (PPE) and environmental infection control measures are applicable to any healthcare setting.

    Dr Dosekun said: “Healthcare personnel (HCP) refers to all persons, paid and unpaid, working in healthcare settings who have the potential for exposure to patients and/or to infectious materials, including body substances, contaminated medical supplies and equipment, contaminated environmental surfaces, or aerosols generated during certain medical procedures. HCP include, but are not limited to, physicians, nurses, nursing assistants, therapists, technicians, emergency medical service personnel, dental personnel, pharmacists, laboratory personnel, autopsy personnel, students and trainees, contractual personnel, home healthcare personnel, and persons not directly involved in patient care (e.g., clerical, dietary, house-keeping, laundry, security, maintenance, billing, chaplains, and volunteers) but potentially exposed to infectious agents that can be transmitted to and from HCP and patients.

    “Simple life-saving techniques of hand washing, cleaning with bleach or disinfectants are fast fading away. That is why, more HCPs are contracting infection. It is amazing how people don’t protect themselves again from airborne and aerosol diseases. As a health care worker, you may be exposed to many different sources of infection. Infections may be transmitted by blood, body fluids, air, respiratory secretions or by direct contact with other infectious materials. You can protect yourself from infection by following the infection control guidelines in your workplace, by using personal protective equipment (such as gloves and masks) and by treating all blood and body fluids as though they are infectious. This workshop discusses some of the infections that may be transmitted at workplaces and ways HCP can avoid getting them. And what to do when exposed.”

    She said the basics are: “Consider every patient to be infected and avoid contact with his or her blood or body fluids. Avoid risky behavior when using needles and other sharp instruments (including scissors, scalpels, blades and knives). For example, do not attempt to recap needles. Carefully dispose of sharp instruments in appropriate contain, (including gloves and face shields), to avoid getting blood on your skin or in your eyes when you are performing procedures that may cause splashes or spills. And be certain you are immunised against hepatitis B. Get tetanus vaccine as well. This vaccine should be offered to you in your workplace.”

  • ‘Infections, watery sperm responsible for infertility’

    A traditional Obstetric and gynaecologist Dr Nkem Atu-Akowe, has identified infections, low sperm count and hormonal imbalance as major causes of infertility.

    Others are assospermia, which is no sperm at all, blockage of the fallopian tube, cervical blockage and pelvic inflammation.

    According to her, nature has a cure for these problems.

    Herbal preparations, she said, can reverse the problems when applied correctly.

    She said about 80 per cent of infertility comes from men. This, she added, can be attributed to infections, which often leads to low sperm count and (or) no sperm at all.

    “In Nigeria, it is women who take medicine because it is perceived the problem is with them whereas it is the men.

    “A lot of people also attribute infertility to spiritual attack, which may not be so,” she added.

    She said women can have blocked fallopian tube due to infections.

    On treatment, Mrs Atu-Akowe said the first step is subjecting the patient to diagnosis after which treatment commences.

    “If there is infection, we use herbs to detoxify the system. Through this, we flush out free radicals and then we give the patient some system cooling herbs.

    “In the case of hormonal imbalance, we balance the histrogen, progesteron and the body,” she added.

    Mrs Atu-Akowe said herbs can also be given to infertile women to trigger ovulation.

    “We use herbs, such as Ogbolo roots to enhance ovulation. Also, Abere is used to deworm or control the worms, which hinder conception. We try to control vaginal bleeding/ discharge known as Eda in Yoruba with some herbal preparationn, she added.

    She said infertile women can also be given tummy massage and set the womb to the right position if its wrongly positioned. “Some wombs are distorted due to abortions, among other conditions but tummy massage can help to correcct that.

    For those women who have advanced in age, she said, there are herbs that can be drunk to prolong their menstruation, to keep menopause temporarily away.

    “But most times, we encourage women to eat nutritional foods such as ugwu, oha leaf and okra to normalise their hormones,” she said.