Agbo Is Not As Safe As You Think - Aproko Doctor

 When you say "natural," what do you mean? That it doesn't contain "chemicals" is not true. Everything you see is made up of chemicals. Including the water you drink, the food you eat is chemical. You are made up of chemicals. Some chemicals are more toxic than others. But let's lay a foundation that everything is made up of chemicals. Good?

Are herbal concoctions completely safe? No. Why? Those concoctions are also drugs as they exert some effect and anyone who tells you that their agbo has no side effect is either lying to you or hasn't done enough research on the medication they're selling to you, which is worse. Because they're drugs, and your body has to deal with it one way or the other. What's the dose needed for that drug to be effective? One cup? How many milligrams of the active drug is in that cup? Does the practitioner know? In most cases no. Let's go to impurities, the person mixing the concoctions for you in many cases, especially the ones I see around do not take impurities into consideration. So your body has to deal with the toxins and the active ingredients at the same time, because your kidneys process a lot of blood. It has to deal with these impurities which lead to damage over time. Let's also get this straight, a lot of the modern drugs you see today, came from plants, purified to the best of human abilities and yet they still have side effects. Because numerous studies have been conducted and are still ongoing regarding the efficacy of these drugs. Another danger is the lack of regulation in the agbo space. We have people adding modern medications into these concoctions and putting your kidneys and liver at risk of extremely high doses because they want it to work faster. Don't take my word for it. Do your own research.

Are there experts now in the traditional medicine space in Nigeria?

Yes! And they're doing good work in research, but they'll agree with me that there's a lot more to be done when it comes to the research and even safety measures at the level we are in in Nigeria. Especially when it comes to toxicology. There's a lot of work to be done. We also, as a country, need to see how this research can be fast-tracked to ensure development. Let's also not forget that some people take these traditional concoctions at the same time as orthodox drugs, which can lead to interactions that can be detrimental to the body. Agbo should be treated as a drug, and rightfully so; don't assume that natural means safe. It is safe when it has been declared safe through rigorous testing. Don't just take the word of the practitioner at face value; your kidneys, heart, and even brain are at risk. Pregnant women should be cautious around these drinks, especially when validation hasn't occurred. We need transparency in that industry; if you're going to give humans, we should see exactly what goes in. Just go into the hospitals, ask for the kidney or renal section, and ask how agbo contributes to kidney failure, and see for yourself. The results will shock you. That said, you are responsible for your health, so always do what's best for you.