Prof. Gilbert Ezengige
Jatropha tanjorensis (“Hospital too far”, Ugu-Oyibo, Iyana-Ipaja) is an under utilised medicinal plant
This vegetable is planted and consumed by indigenes of Southern Nigeria. The volume of consumption of this plant is, by my own estimation (I stand to be corrected), more in the west and mid-western states of Nigeria than in other parts of the country.
The importance of this vegetable to human nutrition and wellness is still not fully harnessed and given its due place. It is still one of nature’s underutilized herbs in this part of the world.
However, the simple fact that many know it as “hospital too far” in pidgin English alone is quite disclosing and is at the same time also an indicator of the importance of its healing potentials which are known to few healers in our community.
Big things and big results always lie in “small” things. When we start paying attention to these “small” things in our immediate environment we start achieving BIG results.
Achieving basic good health is still within the scope, grasp and understanding of an average lay person and has not gone nuclear and digital yet. It’s all about implementing what I coined as “BELT”, that is what you BELIEVE in, what you EAT, how you LIVE and how you THINK.
Jatropha tanjorensis addresses several disorders and pathological conditions in the body. Enumerating them one after the other would almost create the impression that this vegetable is a cure-all.
Nevertheless, I won’t shy away from mentioning just 7 health benefits of consuming “hospital too far” just to buttress my point regarding its medicinal values.
In this article, we are implying the utilization of its leaves for Medicine.
1. As a SUPER ANTIOXIDANT herb, Jatropha tanjorensis is good at preventing the onset of degenerative diseases; it is excellent in knocking off free radicals and stemming the harm on vital organs resulting from oxidative stress.
2. It is beneficial in the treatment of DIABETES MELLITUS and this is due to its confirmed Hypoglycemic (sugar lowering) action.
3. This vegetable is useful in the treatment of MALARIA.
4. Many patients have benefited in using this plant to manage their HYPERTENSION health challenges.
5. Jatropha tanjorensis is an excellent BLOOD BUILDING herb and as such can be recommended to treat ANEMIA in young and old.
6. It supports SPERMATOGENESIS (formation of sperm cells in the testes).
7. This plant supports cardiovascular health by additionally lowering high cholesterol level: it has HYPERLIPIDEMIC action.
Please note that herbal medicines are best prescribed by trained and licensed naturopaths or medical herbalists,
