Ofema root

What is Ofema root?

Ofema root is the root of Microdesmis puberula, a shrub that grows in West African forests. In Ghana it carries the Twi name ofema. Healers have used the root mainly for men's sexual complaints and for body pain.

The root is dug up, dried and boiled into a drink. It is also sold as a powder and mixed into herbal tonics. Twigs from the same plant are chewed as cleaning sticks for teeth.

Here is the honest verdict. There are no good human trials of ofema root for any use. Long traditional use is not proof that it works, and it is not proof that it is safe.

How does Ofema root work?

No one has shown how ofema root acts inside the human body.

Roots of Microdesmis plants hold alkaloids, a group of bitter plant compounds. In rat studies, extracts of the close relative Microdesmis keayana improved erection and raised sperm counts. Whether the same thing happens in people has not been tested.

In test tubes, extracts from this plant slow the growth of some bacteria. That may be why the twigs are used to clean teeth. It does not show that a root drink treats any infection.

Some lab work also points to mild pain-calming and swelling-calming effects in animals. These findings are early. They do not tell you what a cup of root decoction will do for you.

What forms does Ofema root come in?

Ofema is sold and used in a few simple forms.

- Dried root pieces, boiled in water to make a drink - Ground root powder, often packed in capsules or sachets - Root soaked in alcohol or palm wine as a tonic or bitters - Part of mixed herbal blends sold for men's health - Stems and twigs cut as chewing sticks for teeth

Labels rarely state how much root is in the product. Blends often list several plants without amounts. That makes it hard to know what you are taking.

Where it comes from:

Ofema root has a long record of use in Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria and Cameroon.

Healers gave the root drink to men for weak erections and low sex drive. It was also given for waist pain, joint pain and general weakness. Some communities used it in blends given after childbirth.

The plant served a second role in daily life. Its stems were cut and chewed to clean the teeth and gums. Market sellers in Ghana still offer bundles of the root under the Twi name ofema.

What does Ofema root help with?

• Erection problems and low sex drive in men: This is the main traditional use of the root across West Africa. The evidence stops at animals. Extracts of the close relative Microdesmis keayana improved erection in rats. No trial has tested ofema root in men. Erection trouble is often an early sign of heart disease or diabetes. Please see a doctor about it rather than treating it yourself.
• Male fertility complaints: Tradition used the root for men who had trouble fathering a child. Rat studies of the related species reported higher sperm counts. That result has never been repeated in people. There is no human evidence that ofema root helps fertility.
• Joint, waist and muscle pain: Root drinks were given for aching joints and lower back pain. Animal tests of plant extracts suggest mild pain-calming and swelling-calming effects. Those tests used lab doses, not market preparations. No human study supports this use.
• Tooth and gum cleaning, as a chewing stick: Stems of the plant have long been chewed to clean teeth. In test tubes, extracts slow some mouth bacteria. Chewing sticks in general do clean teeth through the brushing action. Ofema itself has not been compared with a toothbrush in a trial.
• General tiredness and weakness: The root was added to tonic mixtures taken for low energy. There is no human evidence for this use. Ongoing tiredness has many causes, including anaemia (low iron in the blood) and thyroid problems. It needs a proper check, not a tonic.

What are the side effects of Ofema root?

• Nausea
• Stomach pain or cramps
• Loose stools
• Bitter taste and dry mouth
• Dizziness
• Skin rash or itching, in an allergic reaction

Good to know:

Side effects have never been counted in a proper study, so nobody knows how common they are.

The reports above come from general use of bitter root drinks and from sellers' accounts. Stomach upset is the complaint heard most often. A rash, swelling of the lips or face, or trouble breathing means an allergic reaction and needs urgent care.

Alcohol-based tonics carry the risks of alcohol on top of the plant itself.

How much Ofema root should you take?

• Recommended daily: There is no established dose for ofema root, and this page gives none. No human trial has set a safe or useful amount. Products are not standardised, so two sachets can differ widely in strength. Many blends do not say how much root they hold. If a label states an amount, treat it as the seller's choice, not as tested advice.
• Best time of day: Time of day has not been studied and is unlikely to matter. In tradition the drink was often taken in the morning or evening. Nothing supports one over the other.
• With or without food: There is no evidence either way. The root drink is bitter and may upset an empty stomach. Food may make it easier to keep down.
• Time to effect: No honest time frame can be given. Traditional users expected changes over days to weeks. No trial has measured this. It may do nothing at all.
• How long to take it: No one can say how long it is safe to take, because that has never been studied. Traditional use was usually short, over days or a few weeks. There is no long-term safety data in people. Taking it for months on end has not been shown to be safe.