No traditional medicine can cure cerebral palsy, doctors tell parents
July 26, 2026 2:00 am
Medical doctors have said that traditional medicine or herbal concoctions cannot cure cerebral palsy, warning parents against abandoning proper medical care in search of unproven treatments.
The child and rehabilitation specialists explained that cerebral palsy is a permanent neurological condition caused by damage to the developing brain, which affects children’s movement, posture, and muscle coordination.
They noted that while there is currently no cure, early diagnosis and appropriate interventions, such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and medications, can significantly improve the quality of life of children living with the condition.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, cerebral palsy is a group of neurologic conditions that happens when the baby’s brain doesn’t develop as expected or gets injured before, during, or soon after birth.
“CP affects movement, posture, and coordination. It may cause permanent disabilities. While the brain injury doesn’t worsen over time, symptoms and physical challenges may change as your child grows,” it added.
In Nigeria, misconceptions about CP still influence how some affected children are treated. Instead of seeking medical care, some families turn to traditional medicine or unconventional methods in their bid to “cure” the condition.
In fact, some children with CP have been half-buried in the ground due to mistaken beliefs by parents or traditional medicine practitioners that such would help children living with the condition to stand or improve their posture.
However, in an exclusive interview with PUNCH Healthwise, senior medical doctors stressed that CP cannot be cured through traditional medicine, while urging families to reject harmful myths and seek evidence-based treatment early.
A Paediatric Neurologist at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano State, Dr Umar Sabo, explained that CP occurs in about five children per 1,000 in Nigeria.
“Worldwide, it’s estimated to be about two per 1,000. But in Nigeria, we have about five per 1,000,” he said.
According to him, CP affects children younger than five years or younger than three years, and causes problems with posture or movement.
He explained that CP is caused by many things, including things that happen when the baby is still in the womb.
“For example, when there is a problem with brain formation, or when there is a problem with brain development, or when the child had a stroke, or when the child was unable to establish breathing immediately after birth, or when the child had a severe infection like meningitis, or a severe head injury, or when the child had severe neonatal jaundice that was not managed on time,” he said.
The paediatric neurologist listed the disabilities caused by the condition to include difficulty or delayed achievement of multiple developmental milestones, including sitting, holding the head/neck, and walking.
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