A Glimpse on how Traditional Herbal Enhancement Substances (Kayan Mata) are obtained in North-Western Nigeria from Islamic Viewpoint

Traditional herbal enhancement substances known locally as kayan mata are widely used across North-Western Nigeria as aphrodisiacs and sexual enhancers, deeply embedded in cultural norms around marriage, intimacy, and female sexual health. Despite their popularity, there is limited systematic documentation on how these substances are sourced, produced, and distributed within the region. Understanding these supply pathways is critical given concerns over quality, safety, and health implications associated with unregulated herbal products. The primary aim of this study is to analyse the mechanisms and channels through which kayan mata are obtained in NorthWestern Nigeria, identifying key actors involved in their production and distribution, and exploring how local cultural, economic, and informal trade networks shape access to these substances. A qualitative mixed-method design was employed, combining literature review with ethnographic fieldwork. Secondary data were sourced from published sociological and health studies, newspaper investigations, and public health reports. Additionally, semistructured interviews were conducted with local herbalists, market vendors, female consumers, and traditional healers across selected urban and rural centres in the North-West (including Sokoto, Zamfara, and Katsina). Data were analysed thematically to map sourcing pathways and practices. Analysis reveals a pluralistic and largely informal supply network of kayan mata in North-Western Nigeria. Primary sources include traditional herbalists and healers, who prepare and personalise herbal enhancers based on generational knowledge and locally available plant materials; market vendors and roadside sellers, who retail both pre-packaged and loose ingredient forms in open markets; and peer and community networks, where products are shared, recommended, or purchased through social ties. Many kayan mata products are prepared in home-based settings without formal regulation, labelling, or safety standards, bypassing formal herbal medicine oversight such as registration with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). Digital platforms and social media have also emerged as informal distribution channels, allowing vendors to reach wider audiences beyond local markets. The predominance of informal and unregulated channels in obtaining kayan mata reflects broader trends in traditional medicine practices in West Africa. While cultural trust in ancestral herbal wisdom drives demand, the absence of quality control and formal oversight introduces public health risks, including contamination and inconsistent dosages. This is exacerbated by the introduction of improvised ingredients and marketing strategies that often lack transparency.