title: Ethnopharmacological use of plants by Sisala traditional healers in northwest Ghana.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Sisala traditional healers of northwest Ghana have a rich ethnomedical tradition. The purpose of this study was to collect and analyse data on medicinal plants commonly used by Sisala traditional healers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 30 traditional healers were interviewed using a mixture of open- and closed-ended questionnaires after obtaining prior-informed consent. Plant materials of each species of medicinal plant mentioned being used were collected and processed as voucher specimens following standard ethnobotanical methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority (65%) of traditional healers were males, age ≥ 38, and their knowledge about medicinal plants was acquired orally largely from their parents (81.3%). A total of 35 species of plants were reported used to treat 24 diseases. Most (55%) of the plant materials were harvested from the bush and about half (54.8%) of the healers collected plant materials in the morning. Leaf (20%) and root (17.5%) plant materials were most commonly used in the preparation of 27 herbal remedies for treatments. The modes of administration of the herbal remedies were both through internal and external routes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study show that Sisala traditional healers possess rich traditional knowledge about medicinal plants and new therapeutic use claims for 34 medicinal plants used in Ghana and widely within Africa are documented for the first time.
authors.affiliation: St John Bosco's College, Navorongo, Ghana.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wodah
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Asase
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D020834:Ethnopharmacology / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000191:economics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018515:Plant Leaves; D018517:Plant Roots; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts