Diasporans shocked by influx of herbal medicine in Zim
ZIMBABWEANS are turning from orthodox medicine to herbal medicine. However, this has affected many patients and thousands have lost their live during an active process of searching for life.
The use of herbal medicinal products and supplements has increased tremendously over the past three decades with not less than 80 percent of people in Zimbabwe relying on them for some part of primary healthcare.
Because of the vicious adverts of herbal medicine and the support it gets from churches and no action of ministry many people in Zimbabwe rely on herbal medicines as a primary source of healthcare and traditional medical practice which involves the use of herbs as an integral part of the culture in those communities.
In Zimbabwe the most important among many other reasons for seeking herbal therapy is the belief that it will promote healthier living. Herbal medicines are, therefore, often viewed as a balanced and moderate approach to healing and individuals who use them as home remedies and over-thecounter drugs spend huge amount of money on herbal products.
This explains in part the reason sales of herbal medicines are booming and represents a substantial proportion of the global drug market
The recent resurgence of public interest in herbal remedies in Zimbabwe has been attributed to several factors some of which include various claims on the efficacy or effectiveness of plant medicines. This has ripped off the sick as they seek anything which can easy their pain.
The sick, are vulnerable and will follow any lead which promises good health. There are vultures who are mercilessly evil as they will prune any penny from the sick. They pretend to be cheap and always point at the high cost and side effects of most modern drugs. The unsuspecting patients lose their money together with their lives.
The unfortunate relative in diaspora is then asked to fund the health scam packaged as an effective treatment.
Herbal medicines may produce negative effects that can range from mild to severe, including allergic reactions, rashes. asthma, headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea.
Across different cultures, some people believe cancer to be incurable. Because of this belief, a cancer diagnosis can sometimes lead people to try alternative treatments, such as herbs and dietary supplements, instead of standard medical treatments.
Some herbs and supplements may provide a false promise of a longer life or even a cure, and some people believe them to be safer, more natural options for those with cancer. This misconception is further reinforced by often well-meaning loved ones and other people with cancer who encourage the use of these herbs and supplements to treat the cancer. The media and the internet also play a crucial role in spreading problematic beliefs, myths, conspiracy theories, and other potentially dangerous misinformation around alternative treatments and cancer.
Some people with cancer may be drawn to try herbs and supplements because they can get them without a doctor’s prescription. But are they actually safe and effective for people with cancer? Are herbs and supplements safe for people with cancer?
The efficacy and safety of many of these “natural” remedies like herbs and dietary supplements remain unproven in well-designed clinical trials with humans.
Many marketing claims are mostly based on unfounded user testimonials and personal anecdotes. Because of this, unproven herbs and supplements can have significant health risks, especially in people with cancer.
Herbs and dietary supplements are also regulated differently from conventional cancer drugs. While drugs must be tested to make sure they are effective and safe before entering the market, dietary supplements are regulated as food products and are considered safe until proven otherwise. This lack of scientific evidence and safety regulations can put many people with cancer in harm’s way.
Herbs and supplements can give false hope to people with cancer, leading them to delay or abandon conventional cancer treatments.
This reduces their chance of cure or remission and may ultimately shorten how long they live. Research has shown that people with cancer who were exclusively treated with alternative medicine were 2.5 times more likely to die compared to those who received conventional cancer treatments.
In addition, many herb and supplement regimens can be quite costly. It is not uncommon for people to have already wasted a lot of precious time and money on unproven regimens before eventually deciding to receive conventional treatment, and sometimes the cancer has advanced while conventional treatment was delayed.
It is important to remember that herbs and dietary supplements can have unwanted effects, as well, particularly when they are used incorrectly or when the product is mislabelled, contaminated, or substituted with another substance.
These products can interact with other medications and lead to increased toxicity.
Many people have lost their lives because they believed that taking any herbs or supplements will heal them. But natural” does not necessarily mean safe.
Many herbalists in Zimbabwe have become scams. Many people who are sick have no time to scrutinise healthy herbs. Because of pain they fail to avoid health fraud scams,
The herbalist have become so vicious in advertising their untested herbs. They use convincing phrases like all natural,” “miracle cure,” “quick and painless cure,” or “1 product does it all.” Some scammers might use quasi-scientific jargon that does not really mean anything, such as “detoxifying” your body or “balancing” its chemistry.
The use of herbs and supplements by people with cancer is common across the world. This has not spared the Zimbabweans as they make bee lines towards the herbs. there are lots of local media and social media pages that feature sponsored ads and questionable testimonials for dietary supplements claiming to cure a wide array of diseases, including cancer.
The popularity of multi-level marketing or “networking” involving dietary supplements further adds to the problem. Many churches have joined in supporting these herbalists who are fleecing patients.
Many cancer patients had used herbal and dietary supplements at some point. Some churches have actually created departments which specialise in herbal medicine. Alarmingly, approximately most of these patients had delayed seeking standard cancer treatment, and almost 50% had combined dietary supplements with conventional cancer medications, which most patients didn’t tell their oncologists about.
Zimbabwe needs a daily mission within the cancer community to combat cancer-related medical misinformation and help people with cancer avoid unnecessary expenses and, more importantly, worsening disease. It is crucial for people with cancer, who are often targeted by false advertising and misinformation, to be guided on how to identify fake news and avoid health fraud scams, both online and offline.
Despite the many challenges and complexities surrounding cancer treatment, remember that scientific evidence is better than anecdotal claims.
Adverse events arising from consumption of herbal medicines are attributable to several factors among which include the use of the wrong species of plant by mistake, adulteration of herbal products with other, undeclared medicines, contamination with toxic or hazardous substances, over-dosage, misuse of herbal medicines.
Unless the government takes action against untested herbal medicines many more Zimbabweans will be dying in search of life.