medecinal uses of banana

Cultivated banana is botanically known as Musa paradisiaca. The ancient Chinese and Vedic writings include details of healing properties of Banana consumed either as a vegetable or as a fruit.

Medicinal properties of Banana:

•The fruit has a mild laxative property
•It is used as a remedy of constipation in children
•It is believed to be helpful in curing diarrhoea and dysentery
•The fruit is used to heal the intestine lesions
•It forms the part of diets of children suffering from malnutrition
•The core of the stem is believed to be useful in stomach upset and diabetes
•The extract of core of the stem is considered to be useful in dissolving the stones in the kidney and urinary bladder and reducing the weight. The inflorescence mixed with coconut oil and spices is used for flushing the urinary blocks
•The fruit is believed to reduce the worm problems in the kids
Nutritional properties:

•Hundred grams of ripe Banana provides approx. 116 Kcal energy that makes it a supplementary staple food.
•Banana has relatively less proteins compared to cereals, absence of other protein rich foods in the diet can cause protein deficiency in people depending mostly on Banana as staple food
•Cooked or ripe Banana are easily digested
•Banana is a fair source of Vitamin B and Calcium
•Banana contains about 20% sugar.

12 NATURAL WAYS TO GET OVER BAD BREATH

There are few things more unpleasant and uncomfortable in social situations than talking to someone with bad breath. And if you suffer from chronic bad breath (halitosis) yourself, you already know how embarrassing it can be talking to other people who you know can smell it. For many people, grabbing a mint or a piece of gum is their go-to solution, as it quickly masks the problem. But this approach often fails to address the root causes of bad breath, which for many people includes dietary deficiency.

Regularly brushing your teeth and tongue, especially after meals, as well as flossing daily, swishing with hydrogen peroxide and baking soda, and getting periodic teeth cleanings are, of course, the first places to start when addressing bad breath issues. But if the problem persists beyond all this, you may have some kind of nutritional deficiency or underlying health condition that requires other interventions as well. Here are five natural ways to help cure the problem of bad breath at the systemic level through diet:

1) Drink more water. Believe it or not, dehydration is one of the most common causes of bad breath. Many people drink far too little water throughout the day to ward off the bacteria in the mouth that are most responsible for causing bad breath. Tiny microbes in the mouth actually feed on loose food particles throughout the day, releasing odor-causing byproducts that end up stinking up breath. And all-natural saliva, it turns out, is your body's built-in remedy for eliminating these bacteria.

But in order for your body to produce enough bacteria-fighting saliva, you must be drinking plenty of clean, fluoride-free water throughout the day. Since saliva is full of oxygen, bacteria have a much harder time surviving because they require low-oxygen environments in order to thrive. Saliva also contains natural enzymes that help stimulate the production of antibodies that neutralize bacteria, which end up getting eliminated when you swish with water, mouthwash, or other oral hygiene products.

2) Supplement with zinc. Another common cause of halitosis is a deficiency in the mineral zinc, which helps maintain a clean, bacteria-free mouth. Some mouthwash products actually contain zinc as an active ingredient because the mineral is a known antimicrobial, and aids in the neutralization and elimination of harmful germs. But supplementing with oral zinc and eating more zinc-rich foods like pumpkin and gourd seeds, cacao, and organ meats, for instance, might be an even better approach, as it can help address the problem systemically.

"Zinc deficiency is associated with poor healing, immunity and inflammation," writes Heather Caruso in her book, Your Drug-Free Guide to Digestive Health. "Halitosis from oral disease can benefit from zinc supplementation

3) Drink stinging nettle tea daily. Since bad breath can also stem from a buildup of heavy metals, yeast overgrowth, and other toxins inside the body, it is important to regularly flush your system via dietary interventions. And one way you can do this is by taking stinging nettle or drinking stinging nettle tea. A powerful herb that has been shown to purify the blood and eliminate toxins from the body, stinging nettle helps stimulate the lymphatic system, increase the excretion of uric acid through the kidneys, and boost adrenal function, all of which target halitosis at its root.

"Bad breath is often indicative of toxemia or defective elimination via liver," explains Bartram's Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine: The Definitive Guide. This helpful manual goes on to suggest not only nettle, but also alfalfa sprouts, parsley, peppermint, dill, fennel, sage, licorice, dandelion goldenseal, echinacea, wild yam, myrrh, lemon, and chlorophyll tablets as viable treatment options for bad breat

4) Take probiotics. Along these same lines, poor gut health is another common cause of bad breath. If your digestive tract is overloaded with built-up toxins, for instance, or if routine antibiotic use and poor dietary habits have left your digestive system in shambles, bad breath could merely be a side effect of another underlying problem. And supplementing with probiotic flora or eating more probiotic-rich foods like yogurt, fermented sauerkraut and kombucha tea just might be the remedy.

A study published in the journal Current Opinion in Gastroenterology back in 2011 found that probiotic supplements actually help replace odor-causing oral microbes with beneficial varieties, effectively nipping bad breath in the bud. Other studies have identified specific probiotic strains such as Lactobacillus salivarius that directly target harmful bacterial strains in the mouth, and reduce or eliminate the volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) responsible for causing bad breath

5) Eat more carrots, celery, and apples. Crunchy fruits and vegetables that are rich in fiber are also beneficial in the fight against bad breath. Eating more carrots, celery, and apples, for instance, can help scrape out the plaque buildups that are responsible for causing more mild or infrequent forms of bad breath, as well as add an extra dose of immune-boosting nutrients to your diet. These foods also help trigger an increased production of bacteria-fighting saliva inside the mouth.

6. Peppermint

A large majority of toothpastes contain peppermint flavoring, and this isn’t by accident. Peppermint has the ability to give the mouth a fresh, clean feeling. Essential oils from peppermint (real peppermint, not flavoring) does much more than create a fresh feeling. One study showed that peppermint oils actually help reduce bad breath more effectively than a lab-produced chemical rinse. ^[1]

7. Tea Tree

Tea tree oil has been long known among natural health practitioners for its toxicity to harmful, bad breath causing organisms. With these powerful properties, researchers have examined the effectiveness of tea tree oil extract in mouth rinses. One such study found tea tree oil eliminated a wider range of microorganisms than the chemical chlorhexidine. ^[2] Another study found that Solobacterium moorei, a bacteria associated with halitosis, was highly susceptible to the effects of tea tree oil.  Included in a rinse, it offers a complete cleansing effect in the battle against bad breath. Tea tree oil has also been found successful in addressing Candida, which can cause bad breath. 

8. Sage

Sage has been known since ancient times as a healing herb. Modern research has only validated its effectiveness against harmful organisms and its powerful halitosis fighting abilities. Sage has been shown to be effective against bad breath causing organisms such as Candida albicans, Streptoccocus mutans, and Porphyromonas gingivalis. 

9. Myrrh

Myrrh has been used for thousands of years in a myriad of ways. For those looking to battle bad breath – whatever the cause – myrrh is a potent natural remedy because it helps cleanse the mouth of germs and also addresses conditions that may encourage future growth. 

10. Clove

In Chinese medicine, bad breath is considered a result of Qi stagnation. According to the Chinese, clove encourages Qi flow and clove has a long history in Chinese medicine for remedying bad breath. Modern studies have found clove to be an effective component of mouth rinses. In one study, participants preferred it to a chemical based mouth rinse in terms of taste, after-taste and ease of use.  The authors of this study also noted that mouth rinses using herbs like cloves also presented viable alternatives for individuals who could not use chemical rinses.
It shouldn’t surprise anyone that a natural product swirled around in the mouth would taste and feel better than something out of the lab.

11. Pine Needle

Pine resins and oils have been used historically for a range of medicinal therapies. Pine naturally contains terpene alcohols which are potent cleansing agents and toxic to harmful organisms. Researchers have also determined pine oils offer powerful antioxidant properties. As a component of a mouth rinse, pine needle supports overall mouth health!

12. Eucalyptus

For reducing bad breath, eucalyptus has demonstrated remarkable effectiveness. In a 2010 study, eucalyptus was found to eliminate mouth malodor by significantly reducing volatile sulfur compounds (the ones that make your breath wretched). The success of eucalyptus in this study demonstrated that its cleansing effects worked both in the lab, as well as in practice.

HOW TO CURE TYPHOID FEVER WITH HERBS

Typhoid fever — also known simply as typhoid[1] — is a common worldwide bacterial disease transmitted by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person, which contain the bacterium Salmonella enterica enterica, serovar Typhi.[2] The disease has received various names, such as gastric fever, abdominal typhus, infantile remittant fever, slow fever, nervous fever and pythogenic fever. The name typhoid means "resembling typhus" and comes from the neuropsychiatric symptoms common to typhoid and typhus.[3] Despite this similarity of their names, typhoid fever and typhus are distinct diseases and are caused by different species of bacteria.[4] INGREDIENTS: Get unripe pawpaw,unripe pineapple,ginger,lime orange,sugar cane,and Lipton tea.

cut everything into pieces, boil with fermented corn water for one hour. take one glass cup 3 times daily for one week. if symptom persist visit your doctor. PREVENTION:Sanitation and hygiene are the critical measures that can be taken to prevent typhoid. Typhoid does not affect animals, and therefore, transmission is only from human to human. Typhoid can only spread in environments where human feces or urine are able to come into contact with food or drinking water. Careful food preparation and washing of hands are crucial to prevent typhoid.

MEDICINAL USES OF MORINGA

The Moringa Tree with its edible leaves, flowers, and pods are one of most power packed, nutritious trees in the world, but it is also one of the most healing trees in the world. All of the tree is either used for food, medicine, or cooking. It has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for hundreds of years to both prevent and treat almost 300 diseases. The information in this article is not based on double blind research but on the historical and current usage of Moringa leaves, flowers, and pods in Nigeria, and many other countries. This is how the people have used it in the past and how they use it now. Much of this information was observed and documented in the different health projects by physicians in their treatment of AIDS, malnutrition, and disease. In Nigeria, Ayurvedic physicians use it in their standard treatment protocols. How can Moringa leaves have an impact on so many problems? Many health problems are due to poor nutrition, malnutrition and imbalanced disease states, which result in immune system breakdown and disease. When you correct those imbalances and nutritional deficiencies with super packed nutritious food, it is bound to improve health and disease states. The ability for Moringa leaves, flowers, bark, and pods to have such diverse healing effects is due to the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and healing elements the tree contains. A review of Moringa's power packed nutrition: Here is a nutritional breakdown of Fresh Moringa Leaves: 7 times the Vitamin C of Oranges; 4 times the Calcium of Milk; 3 times the Potassium of Bananas; 2 times the Protein of Yogurt; 4 times the Vitamin A of Carrots; and ¾ the iron of Spinach. Moringa leaves when dried become a even greater, powerhouse of nutrition containing: ½ the Vitamin C of Oranges; 17 times the Calcium of Milk; 15 times the Potassium of Bananas; 9 times the Protein of Yogurt; 25 times the Vitamin A of Carrots; and 20 times the Iron in Spinach. All elements except the Vitamin C is increased when you dry the leaves in the shade. Drying the leaves in direct sunlight decreases its nutritional values. How Moringa and Artemisia Annua Leaves benefit AIDS Patients: There are health projects going on in Tanzania, Musoma, and other areas. There is a real AIDS crisis in these areas. In these AIDS cases, the doctors have found that the combination of two herbs, Moringa and Artemisia Annua, improved the energy, stamina, and CD4 counts of the AIDS patients. Some of their patients came in so weak, they were not able to walk or care for themselves. They improved so dramatically that many were able to go back to work and many stayed to help the incoming patients. These dramatic improvements were documented over and over again by the doctors in these health projects. How the herbs were used in the treatment protocols: The physicians combined dried Moringa Leaves with Artemisia Annua and then added one heaping teaspoonful of the powder to make a tea. A liter of tea using 5 grams of the powder was given 3 times a day to the patient while the symptoms were acute. Later when the patients improved, it was reduced to a cup a day. When you consider the super nutrition in Moringa leaves, it is easy to understand how the Aids patients would improve. The power packed nutrition would bolster their immune function, strength, stamina and ability to live a more normal active life. Moringa does NOT cure AIDS but helps the AIDS patient live longer and improves their quality of life and health. Often the AIDS patient does not die from AIDS, but from one of the opportunist infections that prey on their compromised immune system. Moringa Leaves and its effects on blood pressure, blood sugar, breast milk production, and anemia: In India, the leaves are used to normalize blood pressure and to treat anxiety. In 1994, a team of researchers identified a new nitride and mustard oil glycoside that demonstrated its ability to lower blood pressure. An infusion of the leaf is used to reduce sugar levels though not as effectively as the standard hypoglycemia medicine. Moringa leaves mixed with honey then followed with coconut milk drunk 2 to 3 times a day is used for diarrhea, dysentery and colitis. Moringa leaves have been observed and documented by doctors in the health projects to increase breast milk production and the health of nursing mothers. This is due to the nutrition in the leaves especially the protein, calcium, and iron content. Given to failure to thrive infants, it encourages weight gain and improved health due to the super packed nutritional content of the leaves. Moringa leaves are given to improve anemia in infants, children and adults because of its high iron content. Iron tablets cause stomach distress, constipation, and are difficult to digest. Iron tablets are not easy to obtain in these poor communities. Given their compromised digestive systems due to malnutrition, the iron tablets would most likely not even be utilized by the body. Researchers have not identified all the various elements in the plant that affect these health problems. It may be that in the overall improvement of the patient's nutritional status that these imbalances are corrected. Improved nutrition supports the patient's own body mechanisms to heal and correct these conditions.

MEDICINAL USES OF SHEA BUTTER

Shea butter is used as a base for medicinal ointments and has been claimed to have anti-inflammatory properties. It has been claimed internationally to be an effective treatment for the following conditions: 1. Fading scars, eczema, burns, rashes, acne, severely dry skin, blemishes, dark spots, skin discolorations, chapped lips, stretch marks, wrinkles, and in lessening the irritation of psoriasis. It is also being used as a sun blocking lotion; although the level of protection against the sun's ultraviolet radiation is extremely variable, ranging from nothing to approximately SPF 6. In Nigeria, Shea butter is used for the management of sinusitis and relief of nasal congestion. This is due to its hydrating properties which help in relaxing the tension in the face skin thus easing respiration. The anti-aging benefits of Shea butter have been recognized internationally and there is a mind-boggling range of Shea butter products available these days. Industrial The main industrial use of Shea butter outside Africa is in cosmetics, such as moisturizer creams and emulsion and hair conditioners for dry and brittle hair. It is also used by soap makers, typically in small amounts (5-7% of the oils in the recipe), because of its property of leaving a small amount of oil in the soap. The Vitamins A and E found in Shea butter help in keeping the skin supple and healthy. It also prevents premature wrinkles and facial lines. Vitamin F works as a rejuvenator. (Vitamin F from our local Food) Rough and chapped skin is soothed and healed. Shea butter penetrates the skin easily and does not clog the pores. Dry skin and dry scalp relief • Heals blemishes and keeps wrinkles at bay • Excellent skin moisturizer • Reduces itchiness caused due to excessive dryness of the skin • Cures minor burns and tough skin on feet • Evens out skin tone • Offers sun and wind protection • Restores elasticity to the skin • Restores lost hair lustre • Eliminates scalp irritation caused due to chemical processing

Medicinal uses of Pepper fruits(Dennettia tripeta)(igbere)

Nigeria researchers have shown that eating pepper fruits could decrease the risk of blindness caused by glaucoma. THE season is here again! Pepper fruit is in town. It comes with the rains. It is spicy and peppery. The young leaves are chewed on account of their pungent spicy taste. The fruits, green at first then turning red, ripen in April and May have a peppery spicy taste and are chewed for this property. The fruit is held to be a good source of vitamin. Botanically called Dennettia tripetala, pepper fruit belongs to the plant family Annonaceae. It is called ako in Edo, nkarika in Ibibio, mmimi in Igbo, and ata igbere in Yoruba. But Nigerian researchers have demonstrated how a meal rich in pepper fruit reduces the risk of glaucoma by stabilizing the Intra Ocular Pressure (IOP) of the eye. The study titled Effect of Dennettia tripetela Seed Intake on the Intra Ocular Pressure (IOP) of normtensive Emmetropic Nigerian Igbos, was authored by researchers at the Department of Optometry Abia State University, Uturu. IOP is the pressure within the eyeball as a result of the constant formation and drainage of the aqueous humour. It is the internal pressure of which allows the eye to hold on to its shape and function properly. Intraocular pressure is controlled primarily by the rate of secretion or rate of drainage of the aqueous humour. These will be building up pressure leading to increased risk of optic nerve damage, a pathological condition called glaucoma. Glaucoma is rated as the second leading cause of vision loss worldwide. It is also estimated that 66.8 million people are affected by glaucoma worldwide and 6.7 million are bilaterally blind because of the disease. It was said to affect individuals of all age groups but is more prevalent after the fourth decade of life. Black subjects, in comparison with Caucasian subjects are known to have increased risk of optic nerve damage caused by glaucoma. IOP is essential in visual health because it sustains the metabolism of the cornea and lens. Generally, the normal range of IOP value is between 13mmHg to 21mmHg. IOP above these values are considered to be pathological resulting in glaucoma. According to the Abia State University study, results obtained showed that consumption of 0.75g of seed gradually reduced the mean IOP from 15.6mmHg to 11.20mmHg, (25.64 per cent reduction) after 60 minutes; and gradually reversed towards baseline value at 120mins-post ingestion. The mean induced change in IOP at 60 minutes was 4.00mmHg. The effect was found to be statistically significant. The researchers wrote: “Result obtained from this study showed that ingestion of 0.75g of reduced the Intra Ocular Pressure (IOP) of normotensive emmetropes though not sustained. At 30 minutes post consumption of pepper fruit, the IOP was reduced by 17.30 per cent (12.90mmHg) from the mean baseline of 15.60mmHg. This decrease in IOP was consistent at 60 minutes (a 25.64 per cent reduction 11.20mmHg) and then started reverting towards baseline. This decrease was therefore not found to be sustained after 60minutes post consumption of the seeds. The IOP returned almost to baseline after 120 minutes (a mean of 15.40mmHg) post ingestion of 0.75g. There was a statistically significant reduction of IOP after 30 minutes and 60 minutes. This reduction in IOP recorded was probably due to the ascorbic acid, magnesium, flavonoid, melatonin, thiamin, vitamin B, lipoid acid content of Ascorbic acid had been established to support the osmotic influx of water following osmolarity elevation of blood artificially leading to the fall in IOP. “The effect of flavonoid in IOP reduction is thought to be as a result of the reduction in excessive permeability of blood aqueous membrane within the eye. The presence of lipoic acid (fatty acid) probably helped in the reduction of IOP by increasing glutathione in red blood cells and lacrimal fluid of glaucomatous patients thereby reducing the IOP. “Finally, the presence of melatonin, thiamine (vitamin B) and vitamin B perhaps also contributed to the reduction in IOP. This is due to the fact that melatonin levels have been found to decrease in glaucomatous patient and normal diurnal rhythms of IOP fluctuation reflect melatoninrhythms. Since glaucoma has been found to be one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide the need for cheaper and acceptable adjuvant remedy becomes necessary Therefore ingestion should be encouraged as an adjuvant in the treatment of glaucoma.” According to a study published in African Journal of Food Science by researchers at the Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, pepper fruit is a well-known Nigerian spicy medicinal plant normally used in folk medicine to cure fever, cough, toothache, as well as a stimulant and in the preparation of some special dishes for pregnant and postpartum women. The study is titled “Changes in the total phenol content and antioxidant properties of pepper fruit (Dennettia tripetala) with ripening.” The researchers concluded: “The present study shows that unripe pepper fruit has higher antioxidant activities than the ripe pepper fruit, despite its lower total phenol content. Therefore, the physiological changes that accompanies ripening of pepper fruits that brings about changes in pigment would increase the total phenol, but decreases the antioxidant properties of pepper fruit.” . An epidemiological association between those who have a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetable and a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease and certain forms of cancer has been recorded. Some communities in parts of Southern Nigeria also utilized the leaves and roots, in addition to the fruits for medicinal purpose. D. tripetala is used as masticators, which when chewed produces unique peppery effect. The peppery spicy taste of mature D. tripetala fruits usually serves as a mild stimulant to the consumer. The fruits are sometimes taken with kolanut, garden egg and palm wine in parts of Nigeria, especially in Southern part of Nigeria where it serves also for cultural entertainment of guests, particularly during coronation, new yam festivals, weddings and marriage festivals. D. tripetala fruit has also been reported to be used as spice in flavouring food, and as seasoning, which are added to prepared food such as meat, sausages, soups and vegetable. The peppery fruits of D. tripetala are applied to the food meant for pregnant women and are important in the diets of postpartum women, during which time it is claimed that spices and herbs aid uterine contraction. D. tripetala fruits contain important nutritive substances such as vitamins, minerals and fibre.

MEDICINAL USES OF ALLIGATOR PEPPER

Alligator pepper means different things to different people. It is served along with Kola-nuts to guests for entertainment, as communion and used for religious rites by diviners for invoking spirits. It is a common ingredient in pepper soup, a spicy delight in most parts of West Africa. But since antiquity, alligator pepper has been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of many diseases. The alligator pepper plant has both medicinal and nutritive values and the extracts of its seeds has been used as an antidote to dysentery and diarrhoea. What is more, it is an effective herb for the treatment of snake bite. But alligator pepper, which is called names such as grains of paradise, Atare (in Yoruba), chitta (Hausa), or Guinea pepper, is one seed individuals with diabetes might find very good in ensuring the regulation of their blood sugar, thus protecting them from complications of the disease such as blindness and limb amputation. Surprised that alligator pepper has multipurpose? The medicinal uses of alligator pepper dates back into ages and recently scientists in a new study corroborate its usefulness in lowering blood sugar under laboratory conditions. Researchers in ascertaining the blood-sugar lowering effect of alligator pepper had 25 albino rats that were randomly divided into five groups of five rats each. Two control groups: non-diabetic (positive) and diabetic (negative) were administered tap water as vehicle solvent, throughout the duration of the experiment. The remaining three groups received 100 mg/kg of metformin, 200 and 400 mg/kg orally and aqueous(water) seed extract of alligator pepper respectively and simultaneously.

The researchers, who evaluated the fasting blood glucose in these rats daily, found that oral administration of aqueous extract of alligator pepper to diabetic rats lowered blood glucose to normal level within six days of administration, while metformin took 14 days. There was no significant difference in the duration of lowering the blood glucose by the two doses of extract administered, meaning that the effect was not dose dependent. The December 2010 study was published in the Sierra Leone Journal of Biomedical Research and entitled “Evaluation of Hypoglycaemic Efficacy of Aqueous Seed Extract of Aframomum melegueta in Alloxan-induced Diabetic Rats. It was carried out by Adesokan Ayoade A, Akanji Musbau A and Adewara Gabriel S, all from the Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin. They wrote: “This study, scientifically confirmed the locally acclaimed glucose lowering effect of aqueous seed extract of Aframomum melegueta by traditional medicine practitioners. The extract possesses a more potent hypoglycaemic property than metformin. It took 14 days to attain normoglycaemia in the group that received metformin and only six days in the two groups that received extract of A. melegueta.” The researchers, who stating that the fact that insulin is completely absent in alloxan-induced diabetes perhaps explain the reason the extract of A. melegueta was more efficient than metformin, declared that they were going to carry out further work to ascertain the precise mechanism of the action of the plant in reducing blood sugar level. According to them, “it would also be worthwhile to isolate the acclaimed active ingredients responsible for the pharmacologic activity in subsequent research.” Meanwhile, for diabetes that patronises alligator pepper, they would also be protected against common infectious diseases. The extracts of its seeds has been used for years in the treatment of infectious diseases as well as in the treating wounds and prevention of infections. In a study, researchers also tried to ascertain the potency of its extract in the prevention of many common disease-causing germs which include Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherictaia coli, Salmonella typhi and klebsiella pneumonia. These includes germs that causes food poisoning, pneumonia, blood infections and other deadly diseases The study was carried out by Doherty, V. Funmilayo in collaboration with Olaniran, O.Oluwakemi both form the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos was entitled “Antimicrobial Activities of Aframomum Melegueta (Alligator Pepper)”and published in the July, 2010 issue of the International Journal of Biology. The study found that the seed extract of alligator pepper inhibited the growth of all the bacteria tested, suggested that the plant extract has broad spectrum in activity (acts against a wide range of disease-causing bacteria). Higher antimicrobial activity of the extracts was observed on E.coli, Klebsiella spp and Salmonella spp at high concentration. That alligator pepper was able to halt multiplication of the virus in the laboratory is of great implication as it portends the possibility of giving the human body a chance to fight off disease-causing germs. Alligator pepper is reputedly aphrodisiacs, worm expellant, stimulants and diuretics as well as useful in the treatment of measles, leprosy, low breast milk production and excessive bleeding after child birth. Studies carried out on laboratory rats support the idea that they increase the libido (in rats) and that they can reduce pain and inflammation so may be good to treat arthritis. However, they are yet to be tested on humans. An ethnobotanical survey on plants used as male contraceptive used in the South-western part of Nigeria named alligator pepper as an herbal male contraceptives. The inventory was published in the African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. Meanwhile, many medicinal plants have been confirmed to have blood-sugar lowering (hypoglycaemic) properties. Some of them include garlic, neem, unripe pawpaw fruit, ginger lily, Trigonella foerum (Fenugreek), Ocimum santum (Basil), and Aloe vera. Ginger lily (bush-cane), is called kakii-zuwaa in Hausa, mbiritem in Ibibio, okpoto in Ibo, andura and atare tete-egun in Yoruba. Researchers at the University of Reading, United Kingdom and Kogi State University, Anyigba validated the use of Costus afer as a hypoglycaemic (reduces blood glucose/sugar) plant in native medicine. According to the study published in British Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, the plant extract did not reduce blood glucose in fed rats, but significantly reduced blood glucose when administered in combination with a conventional anti-diabetes drug, glibenclamide. In the study entitled “Evaluation of the Phytochemical Composition and Hypoglycaemic Activity of Methanolic Leaves Extract of Costus afer in Albino Rats”, they “Oral administration of the methanolic leaf extract of Costus afer showed a dose dependent hypoglycemic effect as revealed.”