‘Coconut is good for health’

To many, the coconut tree is an ordinary plant because they do not see anything special in it. 

To natural health practitioners, the coconut plant is a blessing, a gift of nature.

Known by different names, Cocos Nucifera is called coconut in English, Kwakwar in Hausa, Ivi-obio in Bini, Aki-bekee or aku-Oyibo in Igbo, Agbon in Yoruba and Uvien in Esan. It contains glycerioles of capprylic, capric, lauric, myristic, palmitic, stearic, oleic and linoleic acids. Practitioners believe every part of this plant is medicinal.

According to the Director, Pax Herbal Clinic and Research Laboratories, Fr. Anselm Adodo, if the bark of the plant is dried and burnt into ashes, it is an effective remedy for skin ailments such as rashes, black spots, scabies and measles.

He said: “Simply, mix two-dessert spoons of the powder with half a glass of palm kernel oil. Apply to the affected part.

“Also, it can be used for the treatment of toothache by mixing two tablespoonfuls of the ashes with one shot of dry gin. Stir well and use as a mouth wash. For dysentery, simply follow the prescription for fibroid as stated below. The water in the coconut is an excellent cleanser. It is among the best natural antibiotics known.

“Coconut water strengthens the immune system and helps it to resist illnesses. If you are given some chemical antibiotics, such as chloraphenicol or amoxil in the hospital, you will or should be instructed not to drink coconut water because it will neutralise the effect of the drug. If a child or an adult takes an overdose of a dangerous drug, administer coconut water to neutralise the side effects.”

Father Adodo continued: “The white pulp of the immature coconut is very useful for the memory. People suffering from loss of memory, forgetfulness and any form of memory defect should make friends with coconut. Remove the whitish pulp inside the immature coconut and mix with a little honey. Take as much as you wish. A trial will convince you.”

And for some very serious health conditions, such as fibroid, hepatitis, bronchitis, Father Adodo said Mother Nature has some answers readily available in coconut.

“Four years ago, I met a lady who was diagnosed to be suffering from cancer of the breast. It was very bad then, and was considered too late for an operation. I advised her to mix four litres of coconut water with one litre of honey and take half a glass twice daily. So, she did. Up till today the woman is still alive and going about her normal duty, even though the cancer symptoms are still very much apparent. The coconut water has clearly been exercising a moderating effect on the cancer cells. I am very sure if an operation had been performed on the breast, the poor woman would have been dead long ago.

“For fibroid, cut the root into tiny pieces. Measure out 15 handfuls of the pieces into 10 bottles of water. Add five handfuls of xylopia aethiopica, called uda in Igbo, Erunje in Yoruba, Unien in Esan. Boil. Allow it to distill for 24 hours. Half of a glass should be taken thrice daily.

“To treat bronchitis, chop an equal amount of pawpaw roots and coconut roots into pieces. Measure 10 handfuls of each into 10 litres of water. Add five bulbs of garlic and boil. Allow it to cool and mix with one bottle of honey. Drink half a glass thrice daily.

“And to treat hepatitis, grind the dried coconut root into powder and follow this formula: get these ingredients: eight dessert spoons of coconut root, eight dessert spoons of powdered bitter kola, two table spoons of powdered bird’s pepper. Mix all together and add to one bottle of honey. Take two dessertspoons thrice daily.This is a very effective remedy for hepatitis and jaundice.”