A West Croydon man who is using his grandmother's recipe as a basis for a herbal treatment for asthma, hayfever and sinusitis, says demand has reached 1,000 bottles per month.

Former Royal Mail worker Jerry Yamoa, 52, claims a high success rate among sufferers who have used the powdered bark of the African gum tree.

The powder, which contains no chemicals or additives, is named after Mr Yamoa and has received research support from Harley Street doctor Nyjon Eccles.

Dr Eccles said the product works by desensitising the immune system to irritants and subsequent allergic reactions.

Father-of-seven Mr Yamoa, from Limes Road, began the project four years ago when he first approached his herbalist grandmother in Ghana for samples.

He was prompted after noticing how many Royal Mail colleagues were taking time off with respiratory complaints.

He told the Croydon Guardian: "I went to see my grandmother and she gave me some samples, which the workers were happy to try and a lot of them said it helped them.

"Over a period of two years I tried it out on 200 people and built up a database."

Mr Yamoa's venture, now registered as NHC Ltd, was initially supported by a small vitamin manufacturer in Walton-on-Thames and he now operates independently.

A spokesman for the National Asthma Campaign could not comment on Yamoa in particular but advised anyone thinking of taking complementary medicine to consult their doctor and to continue taking their treatment unless their doctor advises them to stop.

The spokesman added: "Although these herbs have been suggested as worth further investigation, their effects are not fully understood and cannot not be recommended without caution."

October 2, 2002 10:00