Don claims discovery of herbal treatment for mental disease, epilepsy

Following intensive research at the Kaduna State University (KASU) on the use of herbal medicine, it is now possible to treat epilepsy and schizophrenia (madness), using a herbal drug discovered by a Nigerian scholar of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Prof Ben Chindo.

The breakthrough in research and development of the herbal drug was made known during the 2nd Professorial Inaugural Lecture of KASU, delivered by Chindo, at the university, yesterday.

Besides, Chindo, who is the Dean of Pharmaceutical Studies of the institution, speaking on ‘Herbal Medicine: Panacea or Agents of Mass Destruction,’ said: “We have studied a considerable number of medicinal plants that revealed Central Nervous Systems (CNS) activities, including Ficus platyphylla, Newboldia leavis, Hibiscus sabdariffa.

Other medicinal plants he had studied were Pavetta crassipes, Neorautanenia mitis, Nauclea laltifolia, Balanites aegyptiaca and Randia nilotica.

He said of much interest to him was a herbal plant that had been used in the management of Central Nervous Systems disorders traditionally in some parts of northern Nigeria for ages- Gamji, whose botanical name is Ficus platyphylla.