Uses Of Nzu In Igboland And It’s Effect

Nzu Known as ”Calabash chalk” in English is a natural material popularly consumed in west Africa especially Igboland it can also be identified as ”Calabar stone”.

Nzu is a natural composition of fossilized seashells that forms in places like mining pits or made artificially by mixing clay, sand, wood ash, and salt. The finished look is either coloured white or ash, in powder form or molded in a round shape or block.

Nigeria has the largest users of Nzu, especially within the Igbo tribe. In the past, it was used for certain traditional practices. To signify that a guest is welcomed in a home, he is given the white chalk to touch and rub on his wrist to depict a sign of ‘good heart’ from the host.

The Igbos also believe Nzu denotes wisdom. It was used to draw lines called ‘Oguama’ on the floor to signify “Purity and Holiness”. A man can only prove his holiness by observing Oguama. Also, whenever the elders met, each draws eight lines with the white chalk to signify sinlessness.

As time passed, people found other uses for Nzu besides traditional rites and began to eat them. A lot of people who consume Nzu often blame it on addiction because asides for the pleasure of it, they actually don’t know why they do. The practice is prevalent among tribally oriented people.

In This Article, I Will Share With You Uses Of Nzu In Igboland Both The Advantages And Disadvantages

1. Treatment of morning sickness

Nzu or calabash chalk can definitely reduce morning sickness, especially in pregnant women. The taste of the chalk stops nausea.

However, note this. Normal morning sickness causes no harm to a pregnant woman or her baby. Although, Nzu can relieve you of morning sickness, they are other ways to treat morning sickness during pregnancy.

2. It supplies some nutrients to the body.

Medical research has suggested that when you crave for calabash chalk, it may mean that you are lacking iron and calcium in your body. Most women usually lack those nutrients during pregnancy. Hence, Nzu health benefits could be to provide such nutrients to the body.

Now, pay attention to this, iron or calcium deficiency is not a medical emergency. It could be bad for health in the long run, but they are many other ways to get calcium and iron if you are deficient. Scientific studies have shown that calabash chalk, on the whole, is not a significant source of mineral nutrients.

3. It detoxifies the body

Studies may suggest that Nzu may help in detoxifying the body of harmful toxins. It is claimed that they prevent toxins from being absorbed by the body. Hollywood actress, Shailene Woodley backed up those claims, by saying that she learnt about eating clay from an African taxi driver and that it has helped her health.

Dr. David L. Katz, a nutritionist, and founder of the Prevention Research Center at Yale University, also stated in an interview with ABC News that clay has detoxifying properties. He said that it is possible that the binding effect of clay would cause it to absorb toxins.

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Effect of Nzu In The body

1. It harms the digestive system

When geophagic materials like calabash chalk are consumed and enter the digestive system, they can cause harmful effects to the individual.

2. Effect on the Blood

Numerous reports regarding the health risks of consuming calabash also claim that it affects the blood.
It alters the normal concentration of hemoglobin, red blood cell counts, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in the body.

3. Addiction

South African health journal, Health-e spoke to several women who ate clay about their habit. They found out that, for many, the desire to eat soil can be a form of stressful addiction.

Many women reported that they started eating soil as teenagers, others started during pregnancy. Some women are so much addicted to eating clay that they are not able to stop because they feel their food is not complete without clay in it. Thus, the addiction could be a bad habit and result in the dangers of eating Nzu which was mentioned above.