Parts of Plants Used in Yoruba Herbs (Agbo)

In Yoruba herbs (agbo), we do not just cut any part of a plant and call it medicine.

Our fathers taught us something important:

A tree is like a human body.
The head does not do the work of the leg.

Every part of a plant has its own work.

The leaf does not behave like the root.
The bark is different from the seed.

If you use the wrong part, the herb may:

• Not work well
• Work too slowly
• Or be too weak

That is why herbal knowledge is not guesswork.

Let us now look at the main parts of plants used in Yoruba herbs.

1. Leaves (Ewe)

Leaves (ewé) are the most common part we use.

They grow back fast and are easy to collect.

Sometimes the young leaf (ọ̀mùnú ewé) is required for a specific herb.
Young leaves can be softer and milder. Example of that is omunu ewe gedu

How we use leaves:

• Boil them to drink (Agbo)
• Use them for bathing
• Squeeze fresh leaves to get the juice

2. Bark (Epo Igi)

The bark (èpo igi) is the skin of the tree.

It is strong and holds power for a long time.

How we use it:

• Soak in water
• Soak in local gin
• Boil for strong Agbo

Warning:
Never remove bark round the whole tree.
If you do, the tree will die.
Always take small piece from one side.

3. Roots (Egbo/Gbongbo)

Roots (egbò) stay inside the ground.

They drink directly from the earth.

Because of this, roots are often used for:

• Deep sickness
• Long sickness
• Stubborn problems

Be careful:
Removing roots can kill the plant.
Only take when necessary.

4. Flowers (Òdòdó)

Many people forget flowers.
But flowers are also used.

Example:

• The flower of Asunwon Oyìnbo (Ringworm Bush/Candle Bush) is used in some herbs.

Flowers may be used for:

• Skin remedies
• Special herbal mixtures
• Spiritual preparations

5. Fruits (Eso)

Fruit (èso) is the part that grows after the flower.

It carries the seed inside.

Some fruits are used fresh.
Some are dried before use.

How we use fruits:

• Eat directly for health
• Boil in herbal drink (agbo)
• Pound and mix with other herbs
• Use the juice

Some fruits help digestion.
Some help the blood.
Some help the skin.

6. Seeds (Koro)

Seed (kóró) is the life inside the fruit.

Seeds are often stronger than the fruit.

Many seeds contain oil.

How we use seeds:

• Grind into powder or
• Extract oil

Because seeds are powerful,
they must be used carefully.

7. Stem (Eka Igi)

The stem (ẹ̀ka) is the main body/branch of the plant.

It connects:

• The root
• The leaves
• The flowers
• The fruits

It carries food and water inside the plant.

How Stem Is Used

Some herbs use:

• Young stems
• Small branches
• Soft stems (especially in small plants)

Stems may be:

• Boiled
• Soaked
• Pounded

In small plants like bálẹ̀rẹ́ (ground herbs), the whole plant may be used, including the stem.

8. Oje (White Plant Milk/Sap/Latex)

When you cut some plants, white milk comes out.

This is called Oje.

It flows quickly like milk.

Examples:

• Ọrọ́ Adẹ́tẹ̀ (Euphorbia unispina)
• Ìbẹ́pẹ́ (Pawpaw)

How we use it:

• For skin problems
• For cuts
• For pain

Warning:
Some saps (oje) can burn the skin or harm the eyes.
Be very careful.

9. Ikun (Resin)

Some trees do not bring out white milk.

Instead, they bring out sticky gum-like substance.

That is called Ikun or Ikunmu.

It:

• Comes out slowly
• Is sticky
• Becomes hard after some time
• May have strong smell

Example:

• Ikun Òjìà

Simple way to know:

• If it runs like milk → Oje
• If it sticks like gum and later becomes hard → Ikun

Ikun (resin) is different from Oje (sap/latex).

Why Plant Parts Matter

The same plant can behave differently depending on:

• Which part you use
• How you prepare it
• How much you take

That is why traditional herbal knowledge is not random as many distant people think.

It follows method.

How Plant Parts are Prepared in Yoruba Herbs (Agbo)

Knowing the right plant part is important.

But knowing how to prepare it is just as important.

In Yoruba herbs, there are different ways to prepare plants.

Some herbs are:

• Drunk as herbal liquid (agbo)
• Added to pap or food
• Taken as powder
• Used for bathing
• Applied on the skin

The way a herb is prepared often depends on:

• The type of sickness
• Where the problem is in the body
• How strong the herb is

For example:

• Skin problems may require bathing or external application.
• Internal sickness may require drinking or powder.

So preparation is not random.

It depends on the condition being treated.

Below are the common ways plant parts are prepared in Yoruba herbs.

1. Boiling (Sísè)

This is the most common method.

Plant parts are put inside water, corn fermented water (omi ogi) or water got from another herb and boiled.

This is how we make herbal drink (agbo).

Boiling helps to:

• Bring out the useful parts inside the plant
• Soften hard materials like bark and roots
• Mix different herbs together

Leaves, bark, roots, and seeds can all be boiled depending on the instruction.

2. Soaking (Rírẹ)

In this method, the plant part is not boiled.

It is soaked in:

• Clean water
• Warm water
• Honey (for some herbs)
• Vinegar (especially for external use)

It may stay for many hours or days.

Soaking is often used for:

• Bark
• Roots
• Strong herbs

This method slowly brings out the plant’s strength.

3. Burning (Jíjó)

Burning is sometimes used for special herbs.

Not all herbs can be eaten raw.

Some may:

• Cause vomiting
• Taste too harsh
• Be too strong
• Cause reaction when fresh

So they are burned carefully.

Burning can:

• Reduce their sharpness
• Reduce their strength
• Make them easier to consume

After burning, the herb may be:

• Turned into black powder
• Mixed with pap (ogi)
• Added into other mixtures

This must be done carefully.
Not every herb should be burned.

4. Grinding (Lílọ̀)

Grinding means crushing the herb into small pieces or powder.

Some herbs are not easy to take directly.

So they are ground to:

• Make them easier to prepare
• Help extract their medicinal content
• Allow the body absorb them better

In some cases, the ground herb is packed like a tea bag.

Hot water is poured on it to draw out what is inside.

This method is common for:

• Hairy ground plants (Bálẹ̀rẹ́ Onírun)

Grinding helps release what is hidden inside the plant.

Understanding How Different Plant Parts Work

In Yoruba traditional medicine, there is an important teaching.

Our fathers say:

• Root is stronger than bark.
• Bark is stronger than leaves.

But when we talk about how fast it works in the body:

• Leaves work faster than bark.
• Bark works faster than root.

So we have two things:

• Strength
• Speed

They are not the same.

Why Root Is Considered Stronger

Roots grow inside the ground.

They:

• Hold the plant firmly
• Drink deep from the soil
• Store strong substances

Because of this, roots are believed to:

• Work deeply inside the body
• Handle stubborn or long sickness

But roots are used carefully.
Usually in small quantity.

Why Bark Is In Between

Bark is the skin of the tree.

It protects the tree and carries strength between root and leaf.

Traditional belief says:

• Stronger than leaf
• Not as strong as root

Bark is often used for:

• Long-standing sickness
• Strengthening mixtures

Why Leaves Act Faster

Leaves are softer.

They release their contents quickly when:

• Boiled
• Squeezed
• Soaked

Because of this, leaves are believed to:

• Act faster in the body
• Give quicker response

But they may not go as deep as roots.

Simple Traditional Understanding

Plant Part	Strength	Speed
Leaves	Light	Fast
Bark	Medium	Medium
Root	Strong	Slow

So:

• If quick relief is needed → leaves may be used.
• If deep or stubborn issue → root may be used.
• If something is in between → bark may be used.

Important Note

This teaching comes from traditional experience. Though, different plants behave differently.

Preparation method also matters.

Modern science studies plants in another way, but many traditional observations are still being studied today.

What Next?

Knowing the parts of a plant is one step.

The next step is knowing:

• Which herb is which
• What each one is called in English
• And what they are used for

I have arranged them in one place.

👉 See the complete list here:
Yoruba Herbs and Their English Names

And if you want to understand how Yoruba traditionally group and classify plants, you can also read:
👉 Yoruba Plant Classification System