‘No, okra leaves, lemon won’t purify blood’

How to purify your blood with okra leaves and lemon,” reads the headline of a Facebook post shared in Nigeria. It explains how to prepare and use the mixture, adding that “treatment” can be renewed every three months “for blood purification”. “Our health depends on the quality of our blood; the dirtier the blood, the […]

How to purify your blood with okra leaves and lemon,” reads the headline of a Facebook post shared in Nigeria.

It explains how to prepare and use the mixture, adding that “treatment” can be renewed every three months “for blood purification”.

“Our health depends on the quality of our blood; the dirtier the blood, the more the risk of general intoxication of our body with all the degenerative diseases that lead to premature ageing and death,” the post claims.

Okra, also known as ladies’ fingers and by the botanical name Abelmoschus esculentus, is a herbaceous hairy annual plant of the mallow family. It is planted and eaten in many parts of Nigeria.

Muheez Durosinmi, a professor of Haematology at the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State in Western Nigeria, told Africa Check that the “treatment” had no scientific basis.

“The body has its mechanism through which it ensures that blood in the body is purified,” he said.

He said drinking plenty of water – up to three litres a day – helps eliminate waste from the body.

Durosinmi recommended eating a balanced diet that included a regular intake of fruits and getting enough rest.

“Also, a general check-up should be done at least once a year, where people can check their blood pressure, sugar level, blood count and general well-being. They shouldn’t wait till they become either hypertensive, suffer a stroke or are diagnosed with diabetes,” the don said.

He advised people who feel unwell to go to a hospital for a proper check-up and appropriate treatment.

A collaboration between Daily Trust and Africa Check to fight health misinformation