Skip to content
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Menu
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Menu
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
Herbal medicine use in the districts of Nakapiripirit, Pallisa, Kanungu, and Mukono in Uganda
Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, Volume 8, Article 35, Year 2012
Notification
URL copied to clipboard!
Description
Background: Traditional medicine (TM) occupies a special place in the management of diseases in Uganda. Not with standing the many people relying on TM, indigenous knowledge (IK) related to TM is getting steadily eroded. To slow down this loss it is necessary to document and conserve as much of the knowledge as possible. This study was conducted to document the IK relevant to traditional medicine in the districts of Mukono, Nakapiripirit, Kanungu and Pallisa, in Uganda.Methods: An ethnobotanical survey was conducted between October 2008 and February 2009 using techniques of key informant interviews and household interviews.Results: The common diseases and conditions in the four districts include malaria, cough, headache, diarrhea, abdominal pain, flu, backache and eye diseases. Respondents stated that when they fall sick they self medicate using plant medicines or consult western-trained medicine practitioners. Self medication using herbal medicines was reported mostly by respondents of Nakapiripirit and Mukono. Respondents have knowledge to treat 78 ailments using herbal medicines. 44 species, mentioned by three or more respondents have been prioritized. The most frequently used part in herbal medicines is the leaf, followed by the stem and root. People sometime use animal parts, soil, salt and water from a grass roof, in traditional medicines. Herbal medicines are stored for short periods of time in bottles. The knowledge to treat ailments is acquired from parents and grandparents. Respondents' age and tribe appears to have a significant influence on knowledge of herbal medicine, while gender does not.Conclusion: This survey has indicated that IK associated with TM stills exists and that TM is still important in Uganda because many people use it as a first line of health care when they fall sick. Age and tribe influence the level of IK associated with herbal medicine, but gender does not. © 2012 Tabuti et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
Available Materials
https://efashare.b-cdn.net/share/pmc/articles/PMC3484030/bin/1746-4269-8-35-S1.xls
Authors & Co-Authors
Tabuti, John Robert Stephen
Uganda, Kampala
Makerere University
Kukunda-Byobona, Collins
Uganda, Kampala
Makerere University
Kaweesi, Daniel
Uganda, Kampala
Ministry of Education and Sports
Kasilo, Ossy Muganga Julius
Switzerland, Geneva
Organisation Mondiale de la Santé
Statistics
Citations: 88
Authors: 4
Affiliations: 3
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1186/1746-4269-8-35
e-ISSN:
17464269
Research Areas
Environmental
Health System And Policy
Infectious Diseases
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Quantitative
Study Locations
Uganda