Moringa snuff and its health implications

The main reason for using moringa snuff is health. Thus, moringa snuff is used to prevent, cure and relieve diseases. According to several respondents, moringa snuff has already been used by the forefathers for health. The reasons given by respondents in the survey for use are odontological problems, headaches, migraines, high blood pressure, constipation, diarrhoea, blocked nostrils, nosebleeds, heart problems, malaria, fever, haemorrhoids, flu, abdominal pain, mumps, throat disorders and symptoms of Catarrh such as difficulty breathing, colds and coughs. Yet moringa snuff does not appear to work for some of these symptoms and even poses health risks, according to Professor Adjeso. Still, there are certain perceptions about the health of moringa snuff, both positive and negative. 

Table. 1.1 Health reasons for the use of moringa snuff

According to Professor Adjeso, head of the section for Ear Nose and Throat (E.N.T.) at the Tamale Teaching Hospital and Associate Professor at the University for Development Studies Medical School in Tamale,  moringa snuff causes several health risks. One of these risks is nasal cancer, which causes ruptures in the nose and bleeding from the nostrils. Other types of cancer are also common due to the use of moringa snuff, such as throat cancer and ear cancer. When moringa snuff is used nasally, some of it goes to the lungs, but most of it remains in the mucous membrane of the nose, where it is collected and deposited. This has the likely effect of drying the mucous membrane, bleeding from the nose, perforation of the septum and, in the long run, increases the risk of throat cancer. Symptoms of a perforation in the septum of the nose may include crusting, nosebleeds, and with small perforations, there may be a whistling sound while breathing. A perforation in the septum of the nose can also cause headaches and pain in the nose itself. It can cause a blocked feeling in the nose (source on perforation of nasal septum). Of the eighteen respondents, one person reported using moringa snuff for nasal congestion and two respondents said it was generally used for nasal congestion. Another respondent said the following: “Some people have bleedings from the nose or nasal-bleeding due to migraine or some other illness. So, some of those who use it through the nose say it prevents that bleeding and helps with the migraine.” There can be several reasons for nosebleeds but it is notable that the causes arising from a perforation in the septum of the nose are similar to the reasons moringa snuff is used.

Another health risk of moringa snuff are infections of the neck and teeth. According to Professor Adjeso, people come to the hospital relatively late when they have health problems because of moringa snuff use. Health problems in several cases are first tried to be solved with local medication or unorthodox remedies that may cause more problems or worsen the situation. Of the eighteen respondents, one respondent indicated that odontalgia was a reason for their own use of moringa snuff. Twelve respondents indicated that odontalgia in general was a reason for using moringa snuff. 

I realised there are people who are more addicted than I am.

The likelihood of these health risks is increased by the overuse of moringa snuff. Because of the stigma on addiction, people are elusive when they go to the hospital for symptoms, Professor Adjeso argued. This causes people who overuse moringa snuff to be secretive or not be clear that they are taking snuff. However, studies always show deposits in the nose that have a reasonable correlation with moringa snuff use or abuse. Of the 18 respondents, nine talked about addiction to moringa snuff. Of these nine respondents, seven talked about the use of others. One of these nine respondents indicated the following: “To tell the truth, I used to think and feel stressed or worried whenever I use it as I felt I was abusing it more than anyone else because of the number of times I take it. But when I started encountering people, especially some of those who sit around my shop playing games, I realised there are people who are more addicted than I am.” The other respondent spoke of a negative perception from society toward people with addiction and the negative consequences this perception has and spoke of “we,” suggesting that this respondent falls into this group. 

There are certain perceptions about the use of moringa snuff in the context of health. For example, one respondent indicated that the use of moringa snuff would cause problems with people’s hearing or that people lose their teeth by using moringa snuff. Also, diseases would be transmitted through the air because people have to sneeze from moringa snuff. Another idea about moringa is that moringa snuff is harmful because it gradually weakens and kills cells or organ systems around the nose and mouth. Furthermore, moringa snuff is said to cause a deeper voice. Finally, moringa snuff increases libido or sexual ecstasy. This is also something that is advertised according to respondents. 

The use of moringa snuff of today is compared to the use of moringa snuff of the forefathers. Moringa snuff would be used by the forefathers for health and they are seen as healthy. The forefathers would use moringa snuff to fight disease and improve their immunity to disease. The diet of people today would have changed compared to the diet of the forefathers causing people today to get sick faster. The food would contain more unnatural elements while the forefathers ate natural and healthy food from the environment. This is mentioned as an argument by three respondents for the use of moringa snuff among young people. Also, more stimulants would be added to moringa snuff these days making it less healthy, according to several respondents. The manufacturer of moringa snuff would add more stimulants, but people would also add more stimulants themselves which makes moringa snuff itself less healthy. Nowadays, according to a number of respondents, it would not be clear what constituents moringa snuff consists of, but that does not stop people from using moringa snuff.