Ghana is a country full of green landscapes and warm weather, making it a perfect home for lots of plants that provide healing. Long before we had hospitals and pills, Ghanaians used plants to cure illnesses. Even though we have modern medicine now, many in Ghana still trust in the healing power of plants because a lot of our medicines today were actually derived from plant medicine that do not elicit the unpleasant side effects found in modern medicine today.
Here are five special plants from Ghana that are known for their healing powers:
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Mahogany (Khaya senegalensis): Known for being used to make furniture, this tree's bark is also good for stopping fever, stomach aches, and headaches. It can also help with other health problems like skin issues and jaundice.
- Neem (Azadirachta indica): This tree is everywhere in Ghana and is great for shading. Its leaves can help treat malaria, and it's also good for stopping bacteria and cleaning teeth.
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Ginger (Zingiber officinale): We all know ginger for its strong taste, but it's also really good for colds and flu. It can even help keep your heart healthy and stop blood from clotting.
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Coat Buttons (Tridax procumbens): Though it looks like just a weed, this plant can reduce inflammation, fight viruses, and help heal wounds. It's also useful for people with diabetes because it lowers blood sugar.
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Waterleaf (Talinum triangulare): Another plant that's usually seen as a weed, waterleaf is full of vitamins and can help with asthma, fevers, and high blood pressure. It's also used for sore eyes and helps people recover from injuries.
Whilst many of us today resort to pharmacies and medicines that suppress symptoms, Ghana is known for its vast knowledge in natural plant medicine. The people of Ghana have passed down ancient knowledge about the plants that grow on their lands and how they can be used to aid the body in healing itself. At Akuapem nature retreat we introduce you to these natural methods of healing, teaching you to work alongside your body in healing, rather than against it. Our special guide Dunsini Nana Osei, an African spiritual healer, holds that all chronic illnesses in humans are caused by a break from the natural world. On this retreat, Dunsini guides us in rediscovering our connection with nature and how we can embrace the herbal rites and ancient spiritual traditions passed down via the ancestors.
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