A new book has identified and prescribed food as medicine and herbal cures for chronic health conditions, using scientifically validated remedies derived from local foods to bridge the knowledge gap in preventive medicine.
  
Authored by Chukwuma Muanya, the book titled, ‘Herbal Spices: Local Foods As Medicines’ unveiled evidence-based approaches to treating prevalent ailments in Nigeria using natural remedies.
  
In a foreword to the book, a pharmacognosist at the Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, and an advocate of herbal medicine, Prof Olukemi Odukoya, highlighted the increasing recognition among health professionals regarding the central role of food in maintaining global health.
  
She emphasised the need to study local foods and traditional diets, describing the book as “a song without end” that contributes to achieving radiant health and longevity at an affordable cost. 
 
 According to her, readers would greatly benefit from the primary advantages of consuming local foods.  Muanya, who is also a conventional herbalist, pharmacognosist, researcher and science and health writer, explained that the book provides insights into the prevention and treatment of various diseases, including malaria, typhoid fever, hepatitis, toothache, staphylococcus aureus infections, premature ejaculation, low libido, erectile dysfunction, fibroids, prostate enlargement, ulcers, HIV/AIDS, cancers, hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease, diarrhea, infertility, tuberculosis, and other ailments. According to him, the treatments are based on herbal medicine and natural remedies.
  
Muanya, who holds a BSc in Botany and an MSc in Pharmacognosy from the University of Lagos, has conducted extensive research on herbal cures for over 25 years. The 178-page book, published by EPH Business Network Limited, carries the ISBN 9789787744239.
  
According to the author, the book underscores the impact of poor diet on health, stating that unhealthy eating habits contribute to more deaths than alcohol and drug abuse, stressing that food is not merely for sustenance but also plays a crucial role in heritage, culture, and overall well-being.
  
The book also explores how traditional cultures integrated food and medicine, highlighting how specific foods were valued for their disease-preventing and healing properties. It discusses how diet plays a role in regulating cardiovascular health, balancing blood sugar, controlling inflammation, and aiding digestion.
  
According to the book, lifestyle changes, particularly in diet, have contributed to the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, stroke and kidney damage. It argues that conventional medicines are becoming less effective due to drug resistance, rising cases of adverse drug reactions, treatment failures, and counterfeit medications.

The book is divided into ten chapters, each focusing on different aspects of herbal medicine. Chapter One examines why more people are falling ill, citing ignorance as a major factor. Chapter Two discusses common diseases in Nigeria and their natural treatments, while Chapter Three highlights the healing properties of local spices and herbs. 
  
Other chapters address topics such as herbal blood tonics for sickle cell anemia, herbal antibiotics for viral infections, natural cures for diabetes, remedies for hemorrhoids, and herbal solutions for reproductive health and hypertension. The final chapter explores herbal treatments for cancer, fibroids, and prostate enlargement. The book has received endorsements from various prominent figures.