Herbs heal. Drugs manage.
My grandmother used to say it.
I didn’t understand then.
Now I do.
Find Any Yoruba Herb
Search by Yoruba name, English name, or botanical name.
Popular Yoruba Herbs
Some of the most commonly known Yoruba herbs include:
Efinrin Nla (Efinrin Igbo)
Efinrin Nla (also called Efinrin Igbo) is a wild variety of scent leaf used mostly by traditional elders...
Rerinkomi (Ewe Imi Esu)
Ewe Rerinkomi is regarded as one of the most spiritually significant herbs in Yoruba...
Efinrin Obuniru
Efinrin Obuniru is not just another variety of Efinrin (Scent Leaf). Just like Efinrin Wewe...
See more of them here.Popular Plant Parts Used in Yoruba Herbs
In traditional practice, different parts of a plant serve different purposes; leaves, bark, roots, seeds, flowers, fruits etc.
Leaves (Ewe)
Leaves are the most common part we use.
They grow back fast and are easy to collect.
Bark (Epo Igi)
The bark (èpo igi) is the skin of the tree.
It is strong and holds power for a long time.
How Yoruba Herbal Medicine Works
My grandmother once said:
“The body heals itself. We only help it.”
Health (aláfíà) is the body’s natural state.
In Yoruba wisdom, we say:
“Ewu ni ń mú ewú jáde ọ̀sán, a kì ri ewú l’ọ̀sán”
It is danger that makes the bush rat (òkété/ewú) come out in the afternoon;
Normally, one does not see it in the daylight.
Something must disturb nature before it behaves abnormally.
When something blocks the body’s balance, sickness appears.
Herbs are used to remove the obstacle.
To cool what is too hot.
To strengthen what is weak.
To cleanse what should not remain.
When the blockage is removed, the body returns to its natural state.
That is the foundation.
