KEY POINTS

• Nigerians are increasingly turning to traditional herbal remedies amid post-pandemic disillusionment and rising drug prices.

• From Oron to Ogbomosho, practitioners report a surge in demand, while state governments and researchers explore formalizing and modernizing the practice.

• Social media and economic hardship are accelerating the revival, especially among younger Nigerians seeking accessible and culturally rooted healing options.

In towns like Oron in Akwa Ibom State and Ogbomosho in Oyo State, a growing number of Nigerians are returning to herbal medicine—an age-old practice once relegated to the fringes of modern healthcare.

As the dust of the COVID-19 pandemic settles across Nigeria, a quiet transformation is taking place far from the fluorescent lights of pharmacies and private hospitals.

In the early days of the pandemic, many people turned to mainstream medicine, placing trust in imported drugs, vaccines, and Western health advice. But for some, especially in rural and semi-urban communities, the aftermath of COVID-19 has spurred a deeper reevaluation of health systems and healing methods.

“During COVID, we were told to isolate, take pills, and wait. But my grandmother boiled leaves, and none of us got seriously sick,” said 27-year-old Imabong Udom, a schoolteacher from Oron. “Now, I trust what I can grow and see.”

Rising costs, vanishing trust, and a return to roots

One of the driving forces behind this renewed interest in herbal healing is economic pressure. Nigeria’s inflation has made pharmaceutical products increasingly unaffordable for millions.

As a result, herbalists, once seen as relics of the past, are witnessing a quiet renaissance. In Ogbomosho, known for its history of traditional medicine, local practitioners say patient numbers have doubled in the last two years.

“People come not just because they believe, but because they cannot afford hospitals,” said Ifalola Adebayo, a third-generation herbal healer. “They come for malaria, ulcers, fertility issues—even post-COVID symptoms.”

The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) has taken notice. In 2024, it launched a study into the efficacy of locally sourced herbs in treating respiratory and post-viral conditions. Preliminary findings show promising outcomes in patients using extracts from bitter leaf, neem, and guava leaf—longtime staples of Yoruba and Efik healing traditions.

Despite the resurgence, the sector remains largely informal and unregulated. Critics point to the lack of standardized dosages and potential for exploitation. However, some practitioners are pushing for reforms.

“We need to bring structure to this revival,” said Dr. Olumide Bakare, a pharmacognosist and advisor to the Nigerian Traditional Medicine Board. “Herbal healing must not be driven underground. Let us modernize it, research it, and integrate it with primary healthcare.”

In response, a few state governments, including those in Cross River and Oyo, have begun offering licenses to verified herbal practitioners, while training initiatives now teach young healers how to document and refine their practices.

Moreover, younger Nigerians—once skeptical of their grandparents’ ways—are increasingly curious. Social media is playing a pivotal role, with content creators sharing herbal recipes and success stories on TikTok and Instagram. The #HerbalHealingNaija tag has amassed over 800,000 views as of May 2025.

In the markets of Oron, stalls that once sold clothes and shoes are giving way to shelves lined with bottles of herbal tonics and sachets of powdered roots. Likewise, in Ogbomosho, university students now flock to weekend herbal workshops.

For many, this shift is not just about medicine, but identity. “It’s about reclaiming what we almost lost,” said Ifalola. “We are healing ourselves with what our land gave us.”