Two co-wives residing in the Dakwa community, Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), were hospitalised after consuming a locally prepared herbal mixture, commonly known as kayan mata, in a desperate attempt to enhance their husband’s sexual interest following his marriage to a third wife.
The herbal concoction, believed by many to boost female appeal and stimulate male libido, is traditionally used in some Nigerian communities.
According to Daily Trust, the two women, whose names have been withheld, ingested the herbal substance just three days after their husband, Musa Muhammad, married a third wife from Gusau, the capital of Zamfara State.
Muhammad confirmed the incident, noting that the herbal mixture had seriously harmed his wives’ health and forced him to seek emergency medical help.
Muhammad said he received a call from his main residence informing him that his two wives had fallen ill, shortly after he had spent the night at the home of his newly married third wife.
“I was called from my main house that my two wives were not feeling fine because I passed the night at a different house where my new bride is residing,”; Muhammad said.
“I rushed back and found them rolling on the ground in pain, complaining of stomach issues.”;
After a local nurse’s treatment failed to alleviate their symptoms, Muhammad took the women to a private clinic in Madalla, Niger State, where they were diagnosed with internal organ damage allegedly caused by the herbal mixture.
They underwent surgery and were discharged on Monday after nearly a week of treatment.
The herbal mixture, which the women regularly sourced from a female herbalist, is typically supplied in liquid form to be mixed with milk.
The herbalist, however, reportedly gave them a powdered variant, which may have contributed to the adverse reaction.
Efforts are now underway to trace the herbalist for questioning
Maryam Muhammad, a nurse at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano, has raised concerns about the harmful effects of kayan mata in an interview with Daily Post on Thursday.
She explained that the herbal aphrodisiacs can disrupt the body’s hormonal balance, potentially leading to either overactivity or underactivity of certain hormones.
“It’s dangerous because it also increases the risk of developing various types of cancer,”; she warned.
Maryam added that consistent use of such products can be harmful.
“To be honest, only a few of the producers actually know the ingredients they use. Some of the components aren’t even natural,”; she said.
She advised women to consider safer alternatives.
“It’s better to go for natural fruits and foods that offer similar benefits. They’re much safer and healthier in the long run.”;
