Treatment of malaria in Ethiopian folk medicine.
Key informant interviews of herbalists were conducted to document the traditional management of malaria in Ethiopia. The perceptions of the cause and symptoms of malaria, the use of plants, their preparation and administration were recorded. Interviews were performed in rural Butajira and Addis Ababa (the main city). The result showed that 33 (75%) of the interviewed healers treat malaria using herbal drugs. Sixteen plants were reported to have been used of which eight were used as a single remedy and the rest as composite remedies with other plants. The ethnopharmacological data generated in this study on antimalarial plants is useful for further evaluations of the traditional claims of antimalarial plants in Ethiopia.
Gedif
Teferi
T
Institute of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, School of Pharmacy, Martin-Luther University, Halle(Saale), Germany. gedif66@yahoo.com
Hahn
Heinz-Jürgen
HJ
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005002:Ethiopia; D020834:Ethnopharmacology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D021261:Parasitic Sensitivity Tests; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000502:physiology; D012423:Rural Health; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires