With the worrying rise of non-communicable diseases, some of the conventional treatments used require alternative therapy to combat the side effects that they may bring. Gerald Luzindana, a nutrition consultant and complementary therapist, talked to Sunday Magazine’s Sharon Kantengwa about the need to embrace this approach especially in the developing world.

Tell us a little bit about yourself

I am Rwandan but was born and raised in Uganda. I am 29 years of age. I studied complimentary therapies where I specialised in nutrition, physical therapy and counselling. I was working in a related field for different companies in Uganda before I came to Rwanda in 2011 and started my own business. I am the director of Amazon Nutrition and Complimentary Therapy, a clinic that offers complimentary related services.

What inspired this kind of specialty?

My love for nature motivated me to do this course. My personality drew my friends to confide in me which gave me the passion to do counselling. I studied a couple of other courses but realised later on, that there were actually few nutritionists and complementary therapists in Africa which was different from the West where the same field was highly developed.

I intend to gain more knowledge and go for further studies because it is still a virgin sector and there is a lot of research that needs to be done about herbal medicine, because rarely do people link their physical wellbeing to their health. They perceive health in terms of diseases and yet these physical activities can complement the emotional and physical part of it yet positive emotions can improve your health.

How does this approach compliment modern medicine?

Conventional medicine is a standard medicine which is researched with clinical trials and is really developed.

However, as time goes on, stress, disorders and diseases increase depending on the lifestyle. With urbanisation bringing its own consequences, people were overworked and get little or no time to rest or relax their bodies. This pushed especially the west countries to look at solutions that would complement their health.

All therapies go hand in hand if they are done professionally. As the standard medical procedure continues, people will look into how they can live a better life because the ultimate goal is how we can live in good health.

Many patients use complementary therapies because they like the idea that they seem non toxic and natural. Some complementary therapies can help with specific symptoms or side effects. A number of people have benefited from our services because how you feel plays a part in how you cope.

What challenges are faced in this field?

The major problem is research which is very expensive. Africans have been using this approach for many years with little research and professional knowledge. It wasn’t giving results as people were using herbs, as home remedies yet weren’t researched and tested.

We have variety of good products that can offer a solution, if only we could learn to use our natural remedies safely and effectively. Countries like china, India and U.S.A such as the National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, have invested in researching these areas so that they can at least offer practical solutions.

It is all about the capacity factor because in Africa we haven’t moved to bigger budgets that would fund research but I’m positive that as time goes on, we shall have investors emerging in to support the sector.

How are you coping?

We are using some of the products from the West and China which are researched and developed plus a few that we are manufacturing on our own like herbal teas, intensifiers, fibres, multi vitamins and minerals. The ministry of health and the private sector are however doing a lot by coming up with ideas to see how we can amalgamate and come up with something that can help the government in general.

We are soon putting up more services for physical rehabilitation and physical science where we will evaluate what exercises one has to do, when and where.

Currently we are carrying out a serious nutrition outreach where we have a variety of programmes ranging from pregnant mothers, lactation periods – by giving the necessary advice and follow ups, putting much emphasis on non communicable diseases , preventive measures and nutritional advice, consultation and nutrition.

We want to see a drop in the rise of some of these diseases.