There has been an urgent call for health authorities and regulators in Sierra Leone to conduct a proper medical check on the contents of some new herbal mixtures namely Coco Samba, Olekoko, Jekonmo and Oga Abeg E Don Do, amongst others, believed to be imported into Sierra Leone from neighbouring countries.
A female Gynaecologist and Senior Medical Doctor in Freetown, Dr. Susan Mariama Simbo described some of these mixtures as “poisonous and harmful for consumption”, especially when its contents are not authenticated.
Dr. Simbo said: “Herbal medicines can have dangerous side effects, research reveals. They can cause kidney or liver damage, and are sometimes adulterated with steroids, pesticides, antibiotics or harmful metals.
“Herbal medicines can cause kidney failure and liver damage in some consumers because they contain toxic chemicals or heavy metals, or react harmfully with other drugs, a study has found.
“There should be an independent testing of herbal medicines before placing them on the market, and legal action should be considered when products did not comply with regulations. The products should also be closely monitored once on the market.
“Toxic side effects of herbal medicines used in traditional societies have typically not been reported, and this is often cited in favour of their safety. However, the lack of systematic observation has meant that even serious adverse reactions, such as the kidney failure and liver damage caused by some plant species, have gone unrecognised until recently.”
The doctor went on that many of the pills marketed as safe herbal alternatives to prescription sex medications pose a hidden danger and could lead to a stroke, or even death.
She said “all-natural” products with names like Coco Samba, Olekoko, Jekonmo and Oga Abeg E Don Do promise an apothecary’s delight of rare Asian ingredients, but many work because they contain unregulated versions of the very pharmaceuticals they are supposed to replace.
She said dirty secret represents a special danger for the millions of men who take nitrates, drugs prescribed to lower blood pressure and regulate heart disease. Concluding: “When mixed, nitrates and impotency pharmaceuticals can slow blood flow catastrophically, leading to a heart attack or stroke”.
Dr. Simbo expressed concern at the rate at which Sierra Leoneans, especially the youth, are consuming Coco Samba, Olekoko, Jekonmo and Oga Abeg E Don Do in Sierra Leone, particularly among young people, older men and women.
Notably, these mixtures are non-alcoholic, which has made their consumption more acceptable among Muslims, Christians, traditional believers and Rastafarians.
While some individuals claim that these herbal mixtures are effective against Malaria, Typhoid and other ailments, it is crucial to question the medical evidence behind these assertions.
Therefore, it is important that the Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone, and the Sierra Leone Standards Bureau provide education on the proper usage of these herbal mixtures and shed light on their potential benefits and drawbacks if any.
It is disheartening that no such comprehensive analysis or public guidance has been provided thus far. Perhaps action will only be taken when the harm caused by these mixtures becomes evident.
There has been a call for the Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone and Sierra Leone Standards Bureau to conduct a thorough examination of these traditional herbal mixtures.
