Medicinal plants for treatment of diarrhoeal diseases among under-five children: experience from traditional healers in North-eastern Tanzania.
Herbal medicines
Medicinal plants
Traditional healers
Under-five children, North-eastern Tanzania
and diarrhoeal diseases
Journal
BMC complementary medicine and therapies
ISSN: 2662-7671
Titre abrégé: BMC Complement Med Ther
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101761232
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
25 Oct 2023
25 Oct 2023
Historique:
received:
17
05
2023
accepted:
13
10
2023
medline:
27
10
2023
pubmed:
26
10
2023
entrez:
26
10
2023
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Right through history, humans have relied heavily on plants for sustenance and the healing of different ailments. One of the long-standing traditions that communities have inherited from earlier generations is the use of herbal medicines for the treatment of paediatric ailments, including diarrhoea. This study showcased medicinal plants used by traditional healers for the treatment of diarrhoeal diseases among under-five children in North-eastern Tanzania. A qualitative research approach and a narrative research design were employed. The research was carried out in the districts of Korogwe and Handeni in North-eastern Tanzania, with 52 in-depth interviews performed with participants (traditional healers). Purposive sampling method was used to select participants, and a thematic analysis framework was used to analyze the data. Study results indicate that traditional healers had enormous insights and were well informed about medicinal plants that were perceived to be efficacious in treating diarrhoeal diseases among under-five children. A total of 54 medicinal plants were reported by the participants to be effective in healing diarrhoeal diseases among under-five children. However, out of 54 medicinal plants, 15 were predominantly disclosed by the majority of participants. Those medicinal plants include Psidium guajava, Rhus natalensis, Ozoroa insignis, Tamarindus indica, Ocimum suave, Combretum molle, Zanha africana, Solanum incanum, and Ximenia americana. Other medicinal plants mentioned by most participants include, Ochna holstii, Elaeodendron schlechterianum, Albizia anthelmintica, Commiphora pteleifolia, Salacia stuhlmanniana, and Zenkerella grotei. All traditional healers seemed to have a clear understanding regarding the medicinal plants that were used to treat diarrhoeal diseases among under-five children. The participants acknowledged to treating under-five children with diarrhoeal diseases using herbal medications on multiple occasions. The findings of this study should inspire more in-depth botanical research to determine whether the medicinal plants reported in this study have anti-diarrhoeal properties.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Right through history, humans have relied heavily on plants for sustenance and the healing of different ailments. One of the long-standing traditions that communities have inherited from earlier generations is the use of herbal medicines for the treatment of paediatric ailments, including diarrhoea. This study showcased medicinal plants used by traditional healers for the treatment of diarrhoeal diseases among under-five children in North-eastern Tanzania.
METHODS AND DESIGN
METHODS
A qualitative research approach and a narrative research design were employed. The research was carried out in the districts of Korogwe and Handeni in North-eastern Tanzania, with 52 in-depth interviews performed with participants (traditional healers). Purposive sampling method was used to select participants, and a thematic analysis framework was used to analyze the data.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Study results indicate that traditional healers had enormous insights and were well informed about medicinal plants that were perceived to be efficacious in treating diarrhoeal diseases among under-five children. A total of 54 medicinal plants were reported by the participants to be effective in healing diarrhoeal diseases among under-five children. However, out of 54 medicinal plants, 15 were predominantly disclosed by the majority of participants. Those medicinal plants include Psidium guajava, Rhus natalensis, Ozoroa insignis, Tamarindus indica, Ocimum suave, Combretum molle, Zanha africana, Solanum incanum, and Ximenia americana. Other medicinal plants mentioned by most participants include, Ochna holstii, Elaeodendron schlechterianum, Albizia anthelmintica, Commiphora pteleifolia, Salacia stuhlmanniana, and Zenkerella grotei.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
All traditional healers seemed to have a clear understanding regarding the medicinal plants that were used to treat diarrhoeal diseases among under-five children. The participants acknowledged to treating under-five children with diarrhoeal diseases using herbal medications on multiple occasions. The findings of this study should inspire more in-depth botanical research to determine whether the medicinal plants reported in this study have anti-diarrhoeal properties.
Identifiants
pubmed: 37880735
doi: 10.1186/s12906-023-04216-0
pii: 10.1186/s12906-023-04216-0
pmc: PMC10601235
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
379Informations de copyright
© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.
Références
BMC Complement Altern Med. 2018 Mar 15;18(1):92
pubmed: 29544493
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Feb 12;17(4):
pubmed: 32059561
Tanzan J Health Res. 2010 Jan;12(1):47-54
pubmed: 20737828
BMC Res Notes. 2012 Oct 24;5:576
pubmed: 23095352
J Ethnopharmacol. 2007 Sep 25;113(3):457-70
pubmed: 17720340
Vaccine. 2018 Nov 12;36(47):7149-7156
pubmed: 29655631
Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2013 Jul;89(1 Suppl):21-28
pubmed: 23629935
J Trop Pediatr. 2004 Apr;50(2):82-9
pubmed: 15088796
Malar J. 2006 Jul 18;5:58
pubmed: 16848889
J Ethnopharmacol. 2015 Sep 15;173:338-51
pubmed: 26232628
Tanzan J Health Res. 2011 Oct;13(4):57-67
pubmed: 26592049
Trop Med Health. 2016 Apr 03;44:7
pubmed: 27433126
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2018 Mar 18;2018:4630371
pubmed: 29743923
Trop Med Health. 2022 Jun 6;50(1):39
pubmed: 35668541
Integr Cancer Ther. 2002 Sep;1(3):287-93; discussion 293
pubmed: 14667286
Lancet Infect Dis. 2018 Nov;18(11):1211-1228
pubmed: 30243583
J Ethnopharmacol. 2012 Nov 21;144(2):395-401
pubmed: 23026304
J Ethnopharmacol. 2016 Apr 22;182:57-66
pubmed: 26883246
PLoS One. 2015 Apr 07;10(4):e0122638
pubmed: 25848762
Health Educ Res. 2020 Oct 1;35(5):460-470
pubmed: 32772103