kola (Garcinia) has little or no side effect on human health.
The experts in Lagos said that bitter kola was a potent antibiotic,
which could be effective in the treatment of many ailments and
infections.
Dr Bartholomew Brai, Nutritional Biochemist at the Nigerian Institute
of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, said that bitter kola was used in
the preparation of herbal drugs either as nourishment, supplement or
herbal remedy.
Brai said, "If a patient on medication chews bitter kola, it will make
the drugs ineffective. Aside this, I do not think bitter kola has any
other side effect.
"Bitter kola has lots of health benefits, like the treatment of cough,
sneezing, cold, diarrhoeas, tuberculosis, bacterial infection and
fever.
"It improves lungs function by expanding the alveolar ducts and sac in
the lungs thereby improving and strengthening the fibres in the lung
tissue."
He said that there was no recorded side effect to the regular intake
of bitter kola, adding that it was all round medicinal.
Also speaking, Dr Emeka Amaechi, a general physician, said that bitter
kola had chemical compounds that could help the breakdown of glycogen
in the liver.
"Bitter kola has antioxidant properties used as tonic for the liver
and the gall bladder, which helps detoxifies the body system.
"It clears the voice by stimulating the production of mucus along the
lining of the vocal tube which softens the dry throat," Amaechi said.
He also said that bitter kola was anti-poison.
According to him, when food is suspected to be contaminated by
bacteria, chewing of bitter kola will prevent the development of any
infection or poison.
"It also reduces eye pressure and relieves arthritis by reducing
swelling, pain and increase joint movement," the doctor said.
Amaechi, however, said that the likely side effect of eating bitter
kola could be incurred by any patient on drugs or medication.
The on line publication, "The amazing powers of bitter kola" said,
"One general remark is that bitter kola is an anti-biotic.
"It can be eaten at any time and again no side effects under normal
condition. It is one of those medicines that have no over dose."
The bitter kola is another type of kola found in parts of Nigeria. Its
biological name is "Garcinia kola" and it belongs to the family of
"Guittiferal".
It is a wonderful agricultural product with a wide range of
applications in natural and orthodox medicine. (NAN)
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