Misleading! No proof wonderful kola, honey works as contraceptives

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Lilian Adaora Udodi

Claim: A Facebook user claimed in a post that drinking a mixture of grounded wonderful kola and honey works as a form of contraceptive. 

Verdict: The claim is misleading. Although wonderful kola and honey have been proven to have contraceptive properties, they have only been tested on adult rats, not human beings. Therefore, there is no proof that the combination works as contraception in humans.

Full Text 

Contraception is defined as birth control in the form of medicine, surgery or implant devices to prevent pregnancy. There is usually an array of contraceptives made available to those who opt for them.  The World Health Organization (WHO) lists in its fact sheet that the most appropriate method of contraceptives depends on the individual’s age, health, frequency of sexual activity and desired number of children. Going by WHO fact sheet, contraception methods may include oral contraceptive pills, injectables, patches, vaginal rings, intrauterine devices, skin implant withdrawal, fertility awareness-based methods, and female and male sterilisation, to mention a few.   

A Facebook user recently shared a post claiming that consuming a mixture of ground wonderful kola and honey can prevent pregnancy. The recipe, which she said had been working for her, “is good for men as well.”

“I tried taking contraception pills, and it was terrible on me. Then they said I should try the implant, and that one was worse for me. I tried different herbs, and my body also rejected them until I started using wonderful kola, and so far, it has been amazing. 

“First,  peel and cut the kola into small pieces, blend it till it is pastelike and then sieve it; put the chaff of the kola and the water from sieving the kola into a bottle, then add two tablespoons of honey to the blended kola and shake properly. Proceed to close the bottle and leave till the next day.

“The good thing is that not just women can use this natural family planning, but men as well. Sometimes, my husband drinks it, but most of the time, I drink it. Make sure you keep it at room temperature. Take one tablespoon before lovemaking and another one tablespoon after lovemaking. The mixture is not bitter but peppery.”

As of July 27, 2024, the post had gained 11,000 likes, 1,000,000 plays, and 1,600 comments. None of the comments were directed at the video. Instead, the commenters asked for weight loss videos. DUBAWA sought to verify the claim, considering the likely consequences of adhering to this mixture as a form of contraception. 

Verification 

A recent research study by seven physiologists from the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Osun State University, examined how wonderful kola could be toxic to male rat’s reproductive physiology. Results revealed that when administered to adult male rats, Buchholzia Coriacea (wonderful kola) possesses antifertility activities. The study also demonstrated antifertility effects by decreasing sperm count motility and altering sperm morphology in these adult male rats. 

Another research by Olawale Obembe from the Department of Physiology, Osun State University, titled “Buchholzia coriacea (wonderful kola) seeds induce male reproductive toxicity by suppressing the pituitary-gonadal axis in Wistar rats,” showed that there was a reduction in sperm motility, sperm count and a significant increase in the number of sperm cells with deformed structure. 

Findings also showed that there was a substantial decline in the levels of testosterone as a result of the administration of wonderful kola extract in the tested adult male rats. This made them incapable of producing a considerable amount of sperm.

However, it is essential to note that these available studies were carried out on adult male rats, not humans.

Honey is considered to have many health benefits, but there is minimal research into its use as a contraceptive. A 2023 non-research article on birth control methods claims honey can potentially change the pH of the reproductive tract and immobilise sperm by blocking it from entering the uterus and the cervix.  

Experts’ opinion

When interviewed, Kingsley Azugo, a senior doctor at Maitama Hospital Abuja, stated that no clinical trials have shown the effectiveness of wonderful kola as a contraceptive in humans, and those who try it should be careful of its likely consequences. 

He said, “Wonder kola is well-known in Nigeria and this sub-region. It is used in traditional remedies for so many purposes. Although some of the claims may have some merit, many are just anecdotal beliefs. As for its use in contraception, many people believe it works, but there have been no clinical trials that I am aware of to show its effectiveness in humans for that purpose. It would be misleading to recommend it to people as a proven method of contraception because the consequences of that may be very bad.”

Likewise, Johnson Udodi, a senior doctor at the National Hospital in Abuja, believes the claim to be misleading and advises adults who desire contraception to visit a family planning clinic to make well-informed choices. He also advised potential users not to rely on research that has not yet been tested on humans.

“The claim is misleading. Animal research that suggests the toxicity of wonderful kola to reproductive processes does not amount to direct transposition to human beings. Anecdotal beliefs of effectiveness also do not amount to scientific facts. It is recommended that those desirous of achieving contraception should visit a family planning clinic where they would be properly educated about the available options to make a well-informed choice.”

Conclusion

Wonderful kola mixed with honey has not been proven to serve as a contraception in human beings. Doctors advise adults desiring to get contraception to visit a family planning clinic where they would be adequately educated about available reliable options to make an informed decision.

The researcher produced this fact-check per the DUBAWA 2024 Kwame Karikari Fellowship, in partnership with Premium Times / UNILAG, to facilitate the ethos of “truth” in journalism and enhance media literacy in the country.