From Management to Curative Therapies for Chronic Diseases: Promise of Grain Amaranth and Traditional Healthcare Systems

Many people are dying younger due to Non-communicable Diseases-NCDs, often in their most productive years. The rising epidemic of NCDs in urban areas is partly linked to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) found in foods,... [ view full abstract ]

Many people are dying younger due to Non-communicable Diseases-NCDs, often in their most productive years. The rising epidemic of NCDs in urban areas is partly linked to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) found in foods, indoor/outdoor environments and a wide range of consumer products, (WHO, UNEP, 2013.). Yet, in most poor countries, there exists no healthcare system for chronic diseases such as NCDs, but a diseases management system, dependent on expensive drugs and invasive surgeries, unaffordable to most poor people. However, interest in traditional systems of medicine and, in particular, herbal medicines, has increased substantially in both developed and developing countries over the past two decades, (WHO, 2003), which has provided hope for curative therapies for chronic diseases.
Indeed, this paper will demonstrate how Strategic Poverty Alleviation Systems-SPAS has been using traditional healthcare systems and organic grain amaranth- a non-grass cereal and a nutritional powerhouse which is also medicinal to control NCDs and which have proved very promising. Small-scale farmers grow grain amaranth for food/nutrition and incomes and surplus bought by SPAS to make grain amaranth-based nutraceuticals for community members with chronic diseases.
People with cardiovascular diseases-CVDs, Diabetics and hypertensives have previously benefited and so are people who suffer from terminal cancer that is not responding to conventional treatment options. Within seven days, diabetics and hypertensives, for instance, taking these nutraceuticals are off all medications. Indeed, the model can be used to improve current health and nutrition models, policies and practices and provide a framework for the long term needs of poor people at risk of chronic diseases.
Indeed, a critical window of opportunity now beckons to move healthcare systems for chronic diseases off the current path of disease management and embark on a trajectory towards curative therapies for these illnesses based on grain amaranth, organic agriculture and traditional healthcare systems.