RP-Department of Plant and Microbial Sciences

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Ethnobotanical survey and documentation of medicinal plants used by abagusii traditional healers in the treatment of diarrhoea and other common ailments in Kenya
(International Journal of Applied Research, 2020) Nyamwamu, Nyarang’o Charles; Nyamwamu, Lydia Bonareri
Medicinal plants form the backbone of herbal medicine and their value is not only limited to their direct use as therapeutic agents but also as primary resources for the manufacture of drugs. It is significant to systematically document the traditional medicinal knowledge of plants with therapeutic value since it can disappear with time due to the naturally occurring mortality and over-exploitation by humans. An ethnobotanical survey of plants used by Abagusii Traditional Healers of South Western Kenya in the treatment of diarrhoea and other common ailments was carried out. A total of 48 plants belonging to different families and genera were botanically identified. Their vernacular names, the disease conditions that they treated and method of preparation were recorded. The results showed that Abagusii traditional healers have an extensive knowledge of their flora. Further, the results also indicated that the healers used some plants in the treatment of diarrhoea and other common ailments or disease conditions. Therefore, there is need for the recognition and restoration of indigenous knowledge on traditional remedies and medicinal plants in order to enhance sustainable use of natural resources.