title: Herbs and herbal combinations used to treat suspected malaria in Bo, Sierra Leone.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Most adults in West Africa treat acute febrile illnesses with local herbs, but the patterns of herbs used for malaria have not been recently described in Sierra Leone.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a population-based cross-sectional approach to interview 810 randomly-sampled rural and urban adult residents of Bo, Sierra Leone, in December 2013 and January 2014 about their use of herbal remedies when they suspect they have malaria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 55% of the participants reported taking one or more of seven herbs to treat symptoms of malaria. Among herb users, the most commonly used anti-malarial herbs were Moringa oleifera (moringa, 52%) and Sarcocephalus latifolius (yumbuyambay, 50%). The other herbs used included Senna siamea (shekutoure, 18%), Cassia sieberiana (gbangba, 18%), Uvaria afzelii (gone-botai, 14%), Morinda chrysorhiza (njasui, 14%), and Craterispermum laurinum (nyelleh, 7%). Combination herbal therapy was common, with 37% of herb users taking two or more herbs together when ill with suspected malaria.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Indigenous medical knowledge about herbal remedies and combinations of local herbs remains an integral part of malaria case management in Sierra Leone.
authors: George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030 USA. Electronic address: sranasi3@gmu.edu.
authors: Shamika
authors: S
authors: Ranasinghe
authors: Mercy Hospital Research Laboratory, Kulanda Town, Bo, Sierra Leone; Njala University, Bo, Sierra Leone. Electronic address: rashidansumana@gmail.com.
authors: Rashid
authors: R
authors: Ansumana
authors: Mercy Hospital Research Laboratory, Kulanda Town, Bo, Sierra Leone. Electronic address: jm_lamin@yahoo.com.
authors: Joseph M
authors: JM
authors: Lamin
authors: Mercy Hospital Research Laboratory, Kulanda Town, Bo, Sierra Leone. Electronic address: asbock2@yahoo.com.
authors: Alfred S
authors: AS
authors: Bockarie
authors: Mercy Hospital Research Laboratory, Kulanda Town, Bo, Sierra Leone. Electronic address: umarbans@yahoo.co.uk.
authors: Umaru
authors: U
authors: Bangura
authors: Mercy Hospital Research Laboratory, Kulanda Town, Bo, Sierra Leone. Electronic address: jagbuanie@gmail.com.
authors: Jacob A G
authors: JA
authors: Buanie
authors: U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20375 USA. Electronic address: david.stenger@nrl.navy.mil.
authors: David A
authors: DA
authors: Stenger
authors: George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030 USA. Electronic address: kjacobse@gmu.edu.
authors: Kathryn H
authors: KH
authors: Jacobsen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D020834:Ethnopharmacology / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D012424:Rural Population; D012807:Sierra Leone; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials
keywords: African traditional medicine; Cross-sectional study; Herbal medicine; Malaria; Moringa oleifera; West Africa