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In Yoruba traditional medicine, breathing is not only about the lungs — it is the very flow of life. The Yoruba say “Eemi ni iwalaaye” (to breathe is to live), and for this reason any illness that interrupts the flow of breath is treated with the utmost seriousness. One of the most common of such illnesses is Ikofere, also called Iko Semi-Semi or Iko Gbofun-gbofun.
Our elders observed that this condition weakens the chest, causes breathlessness, and often returns repeatedly if not properly managed. They believed it was not simply a cough but a chronic disturbance of the body’s balance, which required careful handling with herbs, roots, and discipline.
Disclaimer
Yoruba Library and its Team will not be held liable for improper usage or any loss arising from improper use, wrong application, inability to find needed materials, or misinterpretation of this article. This article is provided strictly for guidance and educational purposes.
Symptoms Yoruba People Traditionally Linked to Ikofere
Yorùbá healers identify breathing disorders by careful observation of how a person breathes, how they speak and sleep, and how the body behaves under stress. The following signs and patterns are what experienced elders look for when they suspect Ikofere:
Core breathing signs
• Wheezing or a high whistling sound when breathing
— especially on exhale, often first noticed by family members at night.
• Shortness of breath with little exertion
— the patient tires quickly when walking or climbing and needs to pause for air.
• Chest tightness
— the chest feels pressed or heavy, as though air cannot enter freely.
• Repeated, stubborn coughing episodes
— often worse at dawn or in the late night.
• Cough following cold exposure
— after sleeping near an open window or being caught in cold wind.
• Dry cough that may later produce sticky phlegm
— mucus is scanty, thick, and hard to bring up.
Elders used these patterns — not one sign alone — to identify Ikofere and Iko Awupo-eje and to judge how urgent and what kind of intervention was required.
How Our Forefathers Treated Ikofere in the Past
When battling with tuberculosis, asthma and cough generally, Yoruba elders applied structured remedies and rituals, below are some of the herbs with record-breaking potency used in treating this ailment.
1) Ewe Taba
2) Ewe Ewuro
3) Ewe Olodu
4) Ewe Gbaguda
5) Egbo Igi Iyeye
6) Egbo Ogede Agbagba
7) Ewe Ogede Odo
7) Oje Igi Ogege (Sap of Ogege Tree)
Have you heard of our Herb Dictionary? This contains names of Yoruba Leaf, Roots, Barks and more. Characteristics & Uses included with HD Pictures. Order below or download sample here
GET A-Z YORUBA HERBS PDF #3KAdvantages of Using Traditional Healing
Yoruba traditional healing has always been in balance — between the individual, nature, and spiritual alignment. The advantages our elders recognized in applying their methods for Ikofere include Accessibility of needed materials, tested for potency, cultural trust and cost friendly.
The Healing Process in Traditional Practice
When preparing remedies for Asthma or Tuberculosis, Yoruba elders followed careful steps to ensure both physical potency and spiritual alignment:
1. Collecting herbs, roots, or barks at times believed to enhance their efficacy.
2. Purifying and grinding materials into powders, decoctions, or tonics.
3. Reciting prayers or chants to spiritually “activate” the medicine.
4. Administering initial doses cautiously to monitor the patient’s response.
5. Combining treatment with dietary guidance to maximize blood pressure regulation.
Differences Between Yoruba and Modern Asthma/Tuberculosis Treatment
Although both Yoruba and modern medical systems aim at relief, they differ in method and worldview:
• Focus of healing
Yoruba practice looks at both spiritual and physical balance, while modern medicine focuses mainly on biological causes.
• Materials used
Yoruba healing depends on natural plants and roots; modern treatment uses synthetic drugs, chemicals and inhalers.
• Approach to recurrence
Yoruba elders emphasize preventing triggers and strengthening the chest long-term, while modern systems often manage attacks with quick relievers.
It is important to note that in every medicinal approach, patience is required — Remedies may need repeated usage and lifestyle adjustment rather than instant results.
Safety First: Important Contraindications and Considerations
• Pregnancy and Lactation –
Some potent herbs are unsafe for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Elders insisted these must never be used during this time.
• Underlying Conditions –
Individuals with kidney, liver, or chronic health challenges should not take strong decoctions without special guidance.
• Source Quality –
Plants grown with chemicals, pesticides, or harvested from polluted areas carry harm instead of healing. The source must be trusted.
Needed Materials (Leaves, Roots, Bark, etc.)
The medicinal approach for this requires careful selection of natural materials traditionally known to our elders. These are combined to ensure potency.
The instruction you will receive is the original account of our forefathers, preserved and tested over time. Many people have used them with testimonies of relief. Just ensure you follow the correct guidelines. Click Unlock Secret below
Application Process
The strength of Yoruba medicine depends on how materials are handled. Proper pounding, boiling, or steeping — done in the right way and at the right time — ensures the remedy remains potent. Click Unlock Secret below
Uses
The prepared remedy must be applied in the correct manner — whether for drinking, steaming, bathing, or chest rubbing — and taken in the right dosage for it to remain effective.
1) Some leaf required special utterances/chants before they can be effective. Where applicable, this will be stated in the PDF
2) The methods of getting the needed items like leaf, bark, roots by yourself is covered in the PDF
3) Saa bi Ologun ti wi, ki o le baa je... (Follow instructions for it to remain potent). You're getting a Real and Original account of our fore fathers.
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