The Director General of the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency, Professor Martins Emeje, said that traditional medicine should not be used for serious medical emergencies. He explained that it works better for preventing illness and supporting overall health.
He said traditional medicine has many natural benefits, but it is not meant for quick treatment in life-threatening situations.
According to him, people who are very sick or in critical condition should go to a hospital, not visit traditional healers.
Speaking to Reporters, the professor, who is an expert in drug delivery and nanomedicine, said the agency is working to improve traditional remedies so they can work better and faster.
He said it’s important to understand the limits of traditional medicine so that people do not take dangerous risks with their health.
“We need to understand that traditional medicine is for overall wellness and preventing sickness,” he said. “It’s not for emergencies or for treating someone who is unconscious. Every type of medicine has its good and bad sides.”
He explained that traditional medicine gets its strength from natural plants and animals. It works best when used regularly to stay healthy, not just when someone is already very sick.
He said many people wrongly believe that traditional medicine can help in emergencies, but this belief is risky and can delay proper treatment.
Professor Emeje admitted that modern medicine, also called allopathic medicine, is faster and more accurate in treating serious conditions. This is because it often uses man-made chemicals that act quickly on the body.
“One reason modern medicine works fast is because it uses synthetic compounds,” he said. “With traditional medicine, which is made from food, herbs, and animal parts, the body needs time to digest it before it works.”
He explained that traditional medicine takes time to work because the body has to absorb it slowly. That’s why it’s not the best choice during emergencies like accidents, strokes, or heart attacks.
He said the real power of traditional medicine is in its ability to improve immunity and prevent long-term health problems when taken regularly over time.
He added that Nigeria’s natural environment and cultural practices provide a strong base for creating good natural medicines. But to be useful, these must also be backed by science, made safer, and taught to people properly.
“Research helps to make traditional medicine stronger and faster,” he said. “But we don’t recommend taking someone who is dying to a traditional healer instead of a hospital. That’s why we need training and research.”
The agency’s main job is to help add traditional medicine into Nigeria’s health system in a safe and scientific way, he explained.
He said that to build trust in traditional medicine, practitioners must be trained, rules must be followed, and remedies must be tested carefully.
“In countries where traditional medicine is successful, it’s because the people are trained, rules are clear, and processes are in place,” he said. “We need to do the same in Nigeria.”
He also urged Nigerians not to see traditional and modern medicine as enemies. Instead, he said both should work together, especially in everyday health care and prevention.
“Our job at the agency is to improve traditional medicine,” he said. “And we’re doing that with the support of the National Assembly.”
The Director General said that while traditional medicine is helpful in many situations, people must understand when it should and should not be used to keep everyone safe.
He said the agency will keep working with health experts, raise public awareness, and partner with schools and research centers to improve traditional medicine.
Finally, he advised Nigerians to use traditional medicine for preventing illness, but also to trust hospitals and emergency services when there is a serious health crisis.
