A mixture of mango bark, onions and water will cure “rheumatism”, claims a message posted on Facebook in Nigeria.
“How to treat rheumatism?” it asks. “Cure this now with this natural solution.”
The post includes a photo of a person’s hands, with abnormal swelling around the joints of the fingers.
It seems to be referring to rheumatoid arthritis, which the UK National Health Service describes as a “long-term condition that causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints” that “usually affects the hands, feet and wrists”.
The message gives a recipe for the “cure” for “rheumatism”.
“Crush 1 kilo of mango bark and 4 onions. Boil in three and a half litres of water for 20min and take 1 glass morning and 1 glass night until healing. And also grate an onion and apply all painful areas on your body. try it and thank me later,” it reads.
“Cure this now with this natural solution.”
But will this paste really cure rheumatoid arthritis?
“There is no truth in the claim,” Rufus Adedoyin, a professor of physiotherapy at Obafemi Awolowo University, told Africa Check. “People battling with rheumatism should visit a doctor who would then refer them to a specialist.
“We specialists have drugs we use to treat rheumatism. There is no need to do trial and error with herbal treatment.”
Ganiyu Sokunbi, a professor of physiotherapy at Bayero University Kano, said that though some food combinations may slow down rheumatism, “such a combination should be prescribed by a nutritionist or a dietician”. – Motunrayo Joel
“How to treat rheumatism?” it asks. “Cure this now with this natural solution.”
The post includes a photo of a person’s hands, with abnormal swelling around the joints of the fingers.
It seems to be referring to rheumatoid arthritis, which the UK National Health Service describes as a “long-term condition that causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints” that “usually affects the hands, feet and wrists”.
The message gives a recipe for the “cure” for “rheumatism”.
“Crush 1 kilo of mango bark and 4 onions. Boil in three and a half litres of water for 20min and take 1 glass morning and 1 glass night until healing. And also grate an onion and apply all painful areas on your body. try it and thank me later,” it reads.
“Cure this now with this natural solution.”
But will this paste really cure rheumatoid arthritis?
‘Visit a specialist’
“There is no truth in the claim,” Rufus Adedoyin, a professor of physiotherapy at Obafemi Awolowo University, told Africa Check. “People battling with rheumatism should visit a doctor who would then refer them to a specialist.
“We specialists have drugs we use to treat rheumatism. There is no need to do trial and error with herbal treatment.”
Ganiyu Sokunbi, a professor of physiotherapy at Bayero University Kano, said that though some food combinations may slow down rheumatism, “such a combination should be prescribed by a nutritionist or a dietician”. – Motunrayo Joel
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