Herbs as Food and Medicine in the Old Testament: Implications among the Igbo of South Eastern Nigeria
Herbs (‘eseb’ in Hebrew) simply mean vegetables, seeds, nuts, fruits, green grasses and all plant parts. In the Old Testament/ancient Israel, herbs were used mostly as normal foods and occasionally as medicine and therefore they enjoyed and still enjoy optimum health. In fact, Israel is described as the world healthiest nation. In South Eastern Igbo land, herbs are conceived as a typology of indigenous medicine and this is a fact but that they can be used as normal foods that can provide good nourishment and health is not generally understood. It is this problem of misconception resulting in the under- utilization of herbal foods for improved health that this research attempts to proffer solution for. Secondary sources for data collection were used and the data was historically analysed. Results of analysis are as follows: herbal food was divinely endowed to man for his optimal wellbeing; herbal food served as foods and traditional medicine in the Old Testament times; herbs are used to treat diverse ailments but many are doubtful of its safety because of the complexities associated with it. Herbs should be understood as normal food that is also therapeutic. It is recommended in this study that the contemporary Igbo people of the South East embrace the use of herbs for Primary Health- care and total well- being.
Keywords: eastern, food, herbs, igbo, implications, medicine, nigeria, south, testament