A while again, a relative got here to me with what she thought was outrageous information; her aged uncle had simply handed away in a small village in Jalingo. The previous man in his seventies had simply married a brand new bride and entered her room at evening. Barely an hour later, the younger lady got here out in hysterical- the previous man had handed out. A couple of minutes later he was confirmed lifeless and by morning he was buried six toes underneath the bottom. Instantly, rumours began flying round that the brand new bride was cursed with evil spirits, whereas one other model spiced it up by alleging that it was her previous boyfriend who solid a spell on the previous man. His different wives have been additionally not omitted as they have been accused of utilizing ‘Juju’ to complete off the previous man as revenge for taking a brand new bride.
As she was narrating the story to me, I used to be overcome by a match of laughter. It was undoubtedly not the response she was searching for how may I be laughing when she simply gave me information of demise? Her eyes widened as I instructed her that the person had most likely died ‘in energetic service’ after consuming a neighborhood concoction of ‘maganin qara kuzari’ or ‘horse energy’ because it’s fondly known as. How may I be so certain? She argued. I used to be not, however I used to be prepared to wager my subsequent paycheck that that’s what occurred.
It’s no secret that Nigerians overtly devour numerous herbs disguised as aphrodisiacs. Certainly, the consumption of “Kayan Mata” and “maganin maza” in Northern Nigeria, significantly, is a apply that’s as previous as time itself. Folks of the North West are, particularly identified for this apply because it is a crucial a part of their tradition. Brides are given numerous concoctions to drink and apply earlier than they marry; after which they are going to proceed to make use of via their marital lives. Husbands purchase it for his or her spouses and it’s not unusual to listen to it being marketed by males via blaring microphones in markets and mosques. Ladies who worry shedding their husbands, need to chase away the second spouse, or enrich time spent between the sheets, are secretly taking their possibilities with untested ‘aphrodisiacs’ in northern Nigeria.
Recently, on this digital age, these aphrodisiacs are being bought on-line by Chinese language firms and on Instagram by ladies who’ve attained fame and fortune promoting their merchandise to gullible individuals.
I bear in mind a narrative a colleague instructed me a few girl admitted in a hospital for meals poisoning. After being interrogated by the physician, she admitted to taking a powder packaged in a small carton with a overseas inscription on it. A lady had bought it to her for twenty thousand Naira and claimed it might do wonders. When produced, the pack had an image of a person and a girl, sparsely clothed and mendacity on an attractive rug and beneath the image was writing in a overseas language. Because it was being handed round, a physician who had educated in Turkey acknowledged the language and instantly translated it for us. Pricey Nigerians, have you learnt what it was? Carpet cleaner! The naive girl had foolishly ingested a chemical meant for cleansing carpets and had landed in a hospital severely dehydrated from vomiting, diarrhea and stomach ache. She was fortunate she survived.
Once we have been kids, we frequently heard tales of males dying “of their sleep” however now, as a physician I understand that almost all of these tales have been unfaithful. It’s appalling actually, the lengths to which individuals go to realize sexual fulfilment. And though the Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) and NAFDAC has decided that every one these non-medicinal approaches are ineffective, individuals nonetheless comply with their coronary heart’s want in the hunt for the proper catalyst for love.
Whereas I’m not in opposition to using aphrodisiacs, the query that we have to ask ourselves is: What precisely are we consuming?
What’s in these so-called medicines is commonly troublesome to inform. A research performed on the College of Kano’s division of Nursing Sciences and Utilized Well being Sciences confirmed that almost half the research individuals used native medication and aphrodisiacs. It additionally confirmed that there was no regulation of the so-called medicines and little or no information of what was truly inside them. It urged medical doctors, nurses and different medical employees to ask their sufferers about their use of conventional medication in addition to the necessity for additional research on the components and their results on the physique.
Whereas there are lots of merchandise that purport to extend sexual want and pleasure, the effectiveness of aphrodisiacs has not but been firmly established. Analysis has usually failed to indicate the effectiveness of some substances and, in some circumstances, has even proven that some substances might have antagonistic unwanted side effects. For instance, the Nationwide Centre for Complementary and Integrative Well being stories that Yohimbe, a compound derived from the bark of the African yohimbe tree that has been used as an aphrodisiac, has been linked to coronary heart assaults, seizures, hypertension, and abdomen issues.
The Major Well being Establishment Administration Company (PHIMA) of Kano state lately instituted a ban on the commercial of aphrodisiacs and different substances at public gatherings. These males usually go about screaming on the high of their lungs obscenities in mosques and markets within the identify of commercial. Generally I cringe in my automobile after I hear the best way they market their merchandise.
Some time again, some non-public pharmacies have been closed when it was found that they have been administering testosterone hormone by injection to aged males with erectile dysfunction. Are you able to think about the chance? Among the males who have been injected have been examined and located to have excessive ranges of Prostatic particular antigen (PSA) which is indicative of prostate most cancers. Pray tell- what’s fallacious with us?
The important thing to using aphrodisiacs is to know precisely what you might be consuming. These conventional herbalists have now gotten smarter as they now lace their powder with the blue pill-Viagra- at excessive doses, crushed and blended with corn powder to provide it a extra ‘conventional’ look. The issue arises when the person who makes use of it has an underlying coronary heart situation or power sickness that he’s not conscious of. Many males with uncontrolled hypertension have suffered a stroke throughout sexual exercise as a result of they consumed concoctions in doses that have been an excessive amount of for his or her hearts to deal with.
A satisfying connection within the ‘different room’ is commonly cited as an necessary a part of a wholesome and pleased relationship, so it’s no surprise there may be such an amazing quantity of curiosity to find merchandise that may make sexual exercise extra satisfying. Nevertheless, it shouldn’t come at the price of one’s well being and funds.
Pricey ladies, save that cash you have been going to make use of to purchase ‘Kayan Mata’ from one Hajiya Dellu and purchase your self sense. Males, go to the hospital and get evaluated earlier than consuming any tablets or concoctions.
A phrase is sufficient for the clever. Kar garin neman gira a rasa ido.
First printed 12 June 2021