**P****rofessor of plant taxonomy, anatomy and biosystematics, Prof. Uduak Essiett, has urged the federal government to include herbal medicine in primary healthcare.**
Essiett, a professor in the Department of Botany and Ecological Studies, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, stated this at the weekend in Uyo as the 110th inaugural lecturer.
While delivering her inaugural lecture titled “Plant Identifier: Taxonomic Studies, Applications and Challenges”, Essiett said the inclusion of herbal medicine in primary healthcare of our country would encourage patients to consult a taxonomist for proper identification of plants and local products.
SPONSOR AD
She explained that there was a need for medical advice on the use of natural products to avoid overdose and misidentification, and prevent drug-to-drug interactions.
“The lecture advocates the incorporation of herbal medicine (Phytomedicine) in primary healthcare of our country.
“It encourages patients to consult a taxonomist for proper identification of plants and local products that are not having prescription guidelines of regime to avoid intoxication.
“Natural products may not all be naturally safe due to overdose and misidentification; hence medical advice is sometimes very necessary to avoid drug-drug interactions.
“Local herbs are identified as safer, affordable, easily available and acceptable medicine to the common man,” she stated.
The professor called for the organisation of regular seminars and workshops to enlighten the public on the benefits of wild and cultivated plants in the environment, saying fibres from some vegetables such as waterleaf are useful in digestion and help in diabetic conditions.
She advocated for adequate funding of field trips of students interested in learning about plants as part of environmental awareness, saying exploration of unknown floristic regions is necessary for their study in botany.
“The federal government should, through the universities, polytechnics and schools provide adequate funding for students on field trips who are interested in learning about plants as part of a greater environmental awareness, and exploration of several unknown floristic regions are highly essential for their studies in botany,” Essien said.