Nigerian Leaves that Gives Blood: What are the blood tonic leaves in Nigeria?

Nigerian Leaves that gives blood, What are the blood tonic leaves in Nigeria?, natural blood tonic, herbal blood tonic, blood building leaves, blood giving Nigerian foods.

Just like all developing nations, Nigeria has had its fair share of nutritional anemia due to malnutrition. The commonest form of anemia in Africa is nutritional anemia (iron deficiency anaemia)

The NBCI report on anemia in 2019 said:

“In Nigeria, the prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) among preschool children is estimated at 69%. Iron deficiency anaemia is characterized by deficient haemoglobin synthesis, resulting in red blood cells that are abnormally small (microcytic) and contain a decreased amount of haemoglobin (hypochromic).”

Now,i am going to introduce you to some vegetables, herbs, and fruits that will help boost your blood level since they act as blood tonic. The good thing is that you can squeeze the vegetable and drink or use it to cook your normal daily meals.

How do these leaves help give blood?

It is not that complicated. These leaves contain high amounts of iron which is a key component of hemoglobin and red blood cells production. They have been used consistently over the years to boost blood production and packed cell volume. The only drawback is that they don’t work immediately, the blood tonic leaves will increase your blood volume over a period of time say weeks to months. These blood tonic herbs can therefore be used to treat acute anemia or acute blood loss.

Below is a list of popular blood tonic leaves in Nigeria

1. Ugu leaves

Ugwu leaves are a rich source of Iron. Iron us a key component of hemoglobin, the pigment that gives red blood cells its colour. The Ugwu leaves can be used as vegetable in foods or squeezed for the juice before drinking. You can mix the ugu juice with malt or milk to give it taste. Ugwu leaves remain the most popular blood tonic leave in Nigeria.

It is readily available, affordable and cheap. It has no side effects.. Ugwu leaves when eaten eaten religiously will help increase your blood volume in weeks to months. In summary,ugwu gives blood and can be used as a blood tonic – natural blood tonic. When used in foods, ugu must be half cooked to preserve it’s iron content.

2. Zobo

Blood is as red as zobo. Haha.But it is not this simplistic. Zobo is a rich source of Iron and many African countries and families especially in Northern Nigeria used it as a blood tonic. In truth, many researches has attributed blood forming ability to zobo. Zobo drink is used by many sickle cell warriors as blood tonic supplement to boost their packed cell volum, red blood cell production and reduce the rate of recurrent blood transfusion.

3. Unripe Plantain

Unripe Plantain is a rich source of Iron and a ready blood booster. You can eat it roasted, fried or cooked. Always ensure you and your children get enough quantity of unripe plantain in your meal plan. It helps reduce the occurrence of iron deficiency anaemia.

4. Sweet potato leaves

A natural blood tonic. Potato leaves have high amount of iron and recent research at the University of Benin. The researchers in their assessment of sweet potatoes as a food supplement and medicinal additives found out that it contains chemical substances(iron) that can boost blood production. Sweet Potato leaves can therefore be used to treat anemia.

5. Goat weed (Ageratum conyzoides)

A research conducted in the University of Benin invents 2007 by a group of Hematologists and Medical Laboratory Scientists revealed that goat weed is a blood booster.

The mechanism of action is not known but a scientist propounded that “it is possible that Ageratum conyzoides components stimulate the kidney directly to cause formation and secretion of erythropoietin to stimulate haematopoiesis.” Goat weed is therefore a natural blood tonic or a herbal blood tonic.

6. Blood of Jesus leaf (J.Carnea)

The herb contains, among other things, active components such as iron, folic acid and vitamin B12 that have been reported to restore blood components. It helps to treat both iron deficiency anaemia and megaloblastic anemia according to a Nigerian research.

7. Hospital Too Far (Chaya)

One of the popular Nigerian leaves that gives blood. Researchers have discovered that “hospital too far” helps to treat anaemia in both children and adults. It is also a good blood blood booster in pregnancy.

8. Dandelion herbs

The root of dandelion is rich in iron and irin is the most important building block of hemoglobin…iron stimulate the bone marrow to produce more blood.

In Summary:

It has been scientifically proven that ugu and other leaves boost blood production and can be used to treat iron deficiency anemia but this will take weeks to months.

This does not mean that you will now be insisting on drinking ugu juice when your clearly need urgent blood transfusion. There are other leaves that gives blood and natural blood tonics that are still being research.

©NIMEDHEALTH