Wrapped round like a donut-head-pad for carrying heavy loads on the head, Aju Mbaise, is increasingly finding its way into pots of soups.
Before now, you will think it is just something you boil for 10 minutes, scoop the water and drink.
It is beyond that. In fact, preparing a soup with this amazing Aju makes it bring its delicious prowess to its health benefits’ offerings.
If you see Aju Mbaise in a market, the very first time, you will think it is something for load carrying.
People who work at a building site or in the market often use that kind of head pad for load carrying.
They place it on their heads and it helps reduce the impact of the weight of the item on their head.
This is where Aju Mbaise, derived its name.
However, beyond that amazing name, this Aju gives a range of reassurances to those who use it.
You may have heard it works for weight loss, but it is not just a weight loss herbal remedy.
Everything in the Aju Mbaise combo, brings its own unique traditional medicine value to the table.
Major Items In Aju Mbaise
A basic Aju Mbaise contains, different medicinal leaves, bark of a medicinal tree in Mbaise, ginger roots, uda, uziza, Uhiokirihio (leaf and seed) ehuru seeds and others.
We have been able to find out why the combination helps people lose weight.
While that is a major, we will also share few other things that this herbal combination could do.
Finally we will examine few side effects.
Aju Mbaise For Weight Loss
Uhiokirihio Benefits
The botanical name for this plant is Tetrapleura tetraptera.
In 2014, a group of researchers at the Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria, sought the health benefits of uhio, as it is popularly called.
According to the researchers, methanolic extract of uhio leaves possesses a potent capacity for treatment of hyperlipidaemia (1).
This hyperlipidaemia treatment benefit talks about uhio’s effectiveness in burning fat.
Hyperlipidaemia simply means that your blood has too many lipids (or fats), such as cholesterol and triglycerides.Now, that is for someone having this condition.
Uda Benefits
Uda, Negro pepper, is commonly called Erunje or Erinje in Yoruba, Uda in Igbo, Kimba in Hausa, Hwentia in Akan-Asante and Evafé in Abure and Kaani in Mandinka.
This seed often brings its own taste and aroma to any soup. In fact, you can tell it is just there once you perceive the aroma.
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Most times, people who use it often take out the seed before using the pulp. It makes the soup have bitter taste.
That said, this seed brings its amazing benefit to Aju Mbiase combination.
Women in some states in Nigeria use it for cleansing after child birth to lose belly fat.
Indeed, the seed works because it contains mineral constituents.
Some of them are potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, sodium, copper, manganese and phosphate (2).
Also, uda contains oxalate, phytate, saponins and tannins, as anti-nutrients.
Furthermore, adding it to the mix, helps reduce your stomach fat by aiding the fat elimination process from your body.
Ehuru Seeds Benefit
Monodora myristica, African nutmeg, is also another medicinal spice that is in Aju Mbaise combination.
It is another spice that works amazingly well in lowering weight, but beyond that it does more.
According to an animal study, Ehuru lowers bad cholesterol level.
The study says elevations in serum aminotransferases activities and lipid peroxidation level were reversed and a significant amelioration was noticed in enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants status in the liver and heart of hypercholesterolemic rats (3).
In fact, almost all the items in the combination has antioxidants that help lower the chances of fat particles finding their way into your arteries.
The fibre content in the combination binds to fat in the stomach and helps ensure you pass it out with your poo.
Uziza Leaf Benefit
Also, in the combination is uziza leaf. basically, it is a popular leaf in the eastern part of Nigeria.
It is a medicinal plant that has wide application in African traditional medicine.
Also, in this modern age, people add it to soups to boost the nutrient and aroma.
The Yoruba people in Nigeria call it ‘Iyere’ while the Efik and Ibibio call it ‘Etinkene’. Edo people refer to it as Ebe-ahinhi akpoke’.
‘Uziza soup’, is common in the eastern part of Nigeria. Preparation is often with palm nuts (banga).
In Aju Mbaise, uziza also offers a range of amazing benefits.
A 2019 study says extracts of uziza could lower lipid peroxidation. This then prevents inflammation and oxidative damage (4).
It also lowers cholesterol level and helps reduce the chances of fat sneaking into your blood.
As you take Aju Mbaise, you give your body enough nutrients and antioxidants that will help reduce fat build-up in your body.
Above all, the combination fights off antibodies.
Other Benefits Of Aju Mbaise
However, apart from weight loss which is the only thing you may know about this herbal Aju, there is more.
We often go further to identify the compounds in every spice and herb that makes them work.
Most importantly, the compounds in Aju Mbaise also help address some health issues, including chronic ones.
Aju Mbaise For Fertility
This combination is amazing for the treatment of fertility impairment. Uda and uziza in Aju Mbaise helps prepare a woman’s body for conception.
However, taking them at the right time is essential to get the right result.
For instance, uda flushes the system, getting rid of every oxidative stress that could be affecting conception.
On the other hand, uziza has the ability to stimulate sexual behaviour (5).
Aju Mbaise For Ulcer
Also, uziza in the combination is able to lower ulcer risk.
It contains myrcene which is a great anti-inflammatory agent.
Really, if you have eaten uziza soup before you will notice that it gives this calm feeling in the stomach and even nerves.
Also, uziza contains some sesquiterpene lactones protect the gastric lining from ulcer development.
Aju Mbaise For Heart Health
Your heart is one thing that build up of cholesterol level in the blood affects.
When plaque clogs the arteries, blood flow becomes difficult and that affects the heart.
However, compounds in Aju Mbaise are able to lower bad cholesterol level or build-up in your blood.
Aju Mbaise For Diabetes
Furthermore, we know that excess weight is one of the reasons most people come down with diabetes.
According to a study, methanolic extract of uhio leaves possesses a potent capacity for treatment of diabetes and the accompanying complications, including oxidative stress and hyperlipidemia (6).
The study further recommends that the plant extract may be a cheap and readily available source of compounds possessing active principles in the management of diabetes mellitus.
Side Effects To have In Mind
While you use Aju Mbaise, care must be taken to ensure that you know your pregnancy status.
Uda in the combination is not friendly with pregnancy.
While it helps prepare a woman’s body for conception by flushing out toxins, it could also flush forming foetus.
See More Abut Why You Should Avoid Uda If You Are Trying To Conceive.
Take it before ovulation window and avoid drinking it again once ovulation begins.
This is particularly important to ladies who are trying to conceive.
Excessive consumption could cause diarrhea or headache.
How To Use Aju Mbaise
You an boil the entire Aju the way it is without unwrapping it.
Boil for between 12 to 18 minutes.
If you intend to prepare a soup with it, remove the Aju from the pot after 12 minutes and then add other ingredients.
Remember that you need to reduce the amount of uhio that you add. Please, do not use the whole uhio in the wrap.
Use your knife to slide out few parts of it and add in the soup. Too much of it will mess up the taste of your soup.