To qualify for recruitment into the study, the child must have attended the pediatric hematology clinic for at least 6 months prior to recruitment. In addition, the child must be in steady state (no painful episode, anemic crisis, or infection on the day of recruitment) and he/she was not on any other alternative medicine commonly used by some patients with SCA in Nigeria such as Aloe vera gel, Moringa oleifera, Solamine syrup, and Ciklavit (Cajanus cajal) suspension.7 Those taking hydroxyurea, Discriovite suspension and or Nicosan (Niprisan) capsule and those whose parent or caregiver did not give consent were also excluded from the study