Book on traditional remedies

National

By SHARLYNE ERI
ACCOUNTANT Intena Numa has put his profession aside to research traditional remedies which he says is what Papua New Guineans ought to use instead of pharmaceutical medicines.
Numa of Salamaua in Morobe described himself as an accountant turned bush doctor.
He set out on a journey around Papua New Guinea in 1989, to find a traditional blood clenching remedy to combat HIV/AIDS and other blood related diseases.
In his search, Numa found out that most of the plants in the forests were useful in curing a lot of sickness.
He came across people who gave him their testimonies of healing that they had received by using certain plants in the bush.
Numa had been collecting information for the last 26 years and has published a book on his findings in both English and Tok Pisin.
He has sold a total of 9500 copies at the cost of K50 so far and the books are still selling out after printing.
He has also produced a traditional remedy called the Nguna Juice that he says has being proven to be effective in people.
“I took this juice all over PNG and the feedback from people was positive, people say that it actually worked because this juice is blood clenching.”
Numa’s book details a variety of traditional plant remedies for certain illnesses based on testimonies of people who had used them.
Seeing people dying at the age of 50 or 60 due to an illness was what prompted Numa to publish the book.
“Our ancestors lived to be over 100 years and even went beyond and it came to a stage where we had to hold a stick and walk so why is it that we are dying at only the age of 40, 50 and 60?”
He said people were dying from preventable illnesses because they were no longer eating garden food.
“My message to everyone is to turn to nature. God has created the world so beautifully and after his creation, he said everything is good. He never said this is good and this is bad.
Martin Solomon of Kavieng and Sepik, who bought a copy of the book said its title, Tumbuna Marasin (Traditional Medicine) was what caught his attention.
He said people have chosen pharmaceutical medicines over the traditional remedies that were used in the past to cure sickness.
He regarded himself as privileged to have the book in his possession saying he was certain that many people would buy the  book.
Solomon was thankful for Numa who went out of his way to produce such a useful book.
Those interested in Numa’s Nguna Juice and book can find him at his stall at the 3-Mile bus stop opposite the Port Moresby General Hospital.

One thought on “Book on traditional remedies

  • Does this herb work for hepatitis b? Has it been tried on patient with hbv and what was the result?

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