scholarly journals Traditional knowledge of invertebrates used for medicine and magical–religious purposes by traditional healers and indigenous populations in the Plateau Department, Republic of Benin

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Estelle Yêyinou Loko ◽  
Sédami Medegan Fagla ◽  
Azize Orobiyi ◽  
Bienvenu Glinma ◽  
Joelle Toffa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traditional Medicine ◽  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
Traditional Knowledge ◽  
Folk Medicine ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Traditional Healers ◽  
Indigenous Populations ◽  
Invertebrate Species ◽  
Republic Of Benin

Abstract Background Since ancient times, invertebrates have played an important role in the traditional medicine in many parts of the world. In south-eastern Benin, more specifically in the Plateau Department, invertebrates are widely used in folk medicine. However, studies on their therapeutic use has been neglected and their magical–religious purposes are poorly understood. The present study aims to document traditional knowledge related to the use of invertebrates for medicinal and magical–religious purposes by traditional healers and indigenous people of Plateau Department. Methods An ethno-sociological survey was conducted with 145 informants (80 traditional healers, 12 merchants of medicinal animals and 53 households) belonging to six ethnic groups, in 20 villages located in Plateau of Benin. Data were collected through the participatory rural appraisal method involving individual interviews and direct observations with semi-structured questionnaires. The collected data regarding various medicinal and magical–religious uses of invertebrates were analysed through informant consensus factor (ICF), use value (UV) and, fidelity level (FL). Results A total of 20 families and 38 species of invertebrates, distributed among 6 taxonomic categories, were found to be used to treat 50 different ailments. Insects occupied 64.7% of the total invertebrates listed. The African earthworm Eudrilus eugeniae K. and African giant snail Achatina achatina L. had the highest use values. The highest ICF value (1.0) was cited for diseases of the blood or blood-forming organs. A principal component analysis (PCA) revealed the influence of ethnic groups in the diseases treated with invertebrates. The highest FL (100%) was recorded for 12 invertebrate species treating various ailments. Most of invertebrate-based remedies were associated with plant species. The mode of administration was mainly oral and topical. Most of the invertebrate drugs were traditionally collected in nature or imported, mainly from Nigeria. In addition, 7 magical–religious practices are documented. Conclusions Our results reveal that several invertebrate species play an important role in healing practices and magical–religious rituals in the Plateau Department. We suggest further studies to confirm the presence of any bioactive compounds on invertebrate species use in traditional medicine. In addition, this study highlights the need for ecological investigations of these species, in order to develop strategies for their conservation and sustainable use.

scholarly journals Updated review on venomous snakebites, therapeutic uses and future prospects of Indian traditional medicine

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nesarajan Joseph ◽  
Sathishkumar Durairaj ◽  
Oviya Gowthaman ◽  
Vinoth Kumar Ganesan
Keyword(s):  
Traditional Medicine ◽  
Folk Medicine ◽  
Herbal Medicines ◽  
Traditional Healers ◽  
Indigenous Populations ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Tropical Condition ◽  
Therapeutic Uses ◽  
The World ◽  
Significant Public Health

Herbal medicines can make therapeutic drugs and are an essential part of the worldwide healthcare system. Plants have always been an essential part of many indigenous peoples' life. Snakebite is a typical tropical condition that goes unnoticed. Snakebite is still a significant public health issue in many parts of the world, particularly in India, where the disease is particularly prevalent. Morbidity and mortality rates among rural and indigenous populations in the country are among the highest in the world. The problem is made worse by people delaying or refusing to seek medical care because they believe in traditional healers. People worldwide use plants to treat poisonous snakebites as folk medicine. Five hundred twenty-three plant species belonging to the 122 families are recognized as a source of drugs/compounds recognized as a possible cure for snakebite. However, this assessment is limited to a small number of essential plants used in snakebite poisoning in India. The most important groups from which various plants are employed include Acanthaceae, Amaranthaceae, Apocynaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Euphorbiaceae, and Fab Lamiaceae and Moraceae. In this investigation, phytocompounds with anti-venom action were discovered in 29 plants belonging to 22 families used as a traditional medicine to treat poisonous snakebites.

Theoretical Medicine vs. Practical Medicine

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theresa A. Vaughan
Keyword(s):  
Traditional Medicine ◽  
Middle Ages ◽  
Folk Medicine ◽  
Traditional Healers ◽  
Traditional Healing ◽  
Practical Medicine ◽  
Theoretical Medicine ◽  
Mainstream Medicine ◽  
Medical Traditions ◽  
The Middle Ages

This chapter examines the differences between theoretical medicine, empirical medicine (or medicine as practiced), and folk medicine. A particular focus on midwives and traditional healers will be enhanced by examining folklore, herbals, and other diverse examples where we can find evidence of traditional medicine. Examples of contemporary debates between traditional healing and mainstream medicine may help us sort out the different medical traditions of the Middle Ages.

scholarly journals European Medicinal Leeches—New Roles in Modern Medicine

Biomedicines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 99
Author(s):  
Sarah Lemke ◽  
Andreas Vilcinskas
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resources ◽  
Traditional Medicine ◽  
High Throughput Screening ◽  
Folk Medicine ◽  
Modern Medicine ◽  
Bioactive Molecules ◽  
Indigenous Populations ◽  
Herbal Remedies ◽  
Blood Sucking ◽  
Medicinal Leeches

Before the advent of modern medicine, natural resources were widely used by indigenous populations for the prevention and treatment of diseases. The associated knowledge, collectively described as folk medicine or traditional medicine, was largely based on trial-and-error testing of plant extracts (herbal remedies) and the use of invertebrates, particularly medicinal maggots of the blowfly Lucilia sericata and blood-sucking leeches. The widespread use of traditional medicine in the West declined as scientific advances allowed reproducible testing under controlled conditions and gave rise to the modern fields of biomedical research and pharmacology. However, many drugs are still derived from natural resources, and interest in traditional medicine has been renewed by the ability of researchers to investigate the medical potential of diverse species by high-throughput screening. Likewise, researchers are starting to look again at the benefits of maggot and leech therapy, based on the hypothesis that the use of such animals in traditional medicine is likely to reflect the presence of specific bioactive molecules that can be developed as drug leads. In this review, we consider the modern medical benefits of European medicinal leeches based on the systematic screening of their salivary proteins.

scholarly journals Documentation of Indigenous Knowledge on Folk Medicine in Doddakavalande Doddakavalande Hobli, Nanjangud Taluk of Mysore District, Karnataka

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-47
Author(s):  
M Nagalakshmi ◽  
S Rashmi
Keyword(s):  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Indigenous Knowledge ◽  
Traditional Knowledge ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Folk Medicine ◽  
Traditional Healers ◽  
Drug Formulation ◽  
Ethnobotanical Survey ◽  
Traditional Medicines ◽  
Herbal Formulations

An ethnobotanical survey was conducted to collect information from traditional healers on the use of herbal medicine in Doddakavalande Hobli, Nanjangud taluk of Mysore District. The indigenous knowledge of local healers was documented through questionnaire and personal interviews. In the present study, about 19 respondents of age group between 50 to 89 yrs gave information of traditional medicines used to cure different ailments. Of about 35 plant species belonging to 26 families were used for the treatment of human ailments. In which family Fabaceae and Polygonaceae contained 3 plant species, followed by Acanthaceae, Amaranthaceae, Apocynaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Poaceae contained 2 species each, and the rest of the families Amaryllidaceae, Anacardiaceae, Apiaceae, Aristolochiaceae, Asteraceae, Cleastraceae, Crassulaceae, Lamiaceae, Lecythidaceae,  Meliaceae,  Olaceae, Phylanthaceae, Piperaceae,  Plumbaginaceae, Poaceae, Polygonaceae, Rutaceae,  Smilacaceae, Solanaceae,  Styracaceae and Zingiberaceae. Habit wise analysis of medicinal plant species used indicated that herbs (19 species) were the most preferred life form followed by trees (8 species), shrubs (5 species) and climbers (3 species) for drug formulation. Herbal formulations were administrated either internally or applied externally depending on the type of ailment. Local people in the study area possess traditional knowledge of medicinal plants to treat various human ailments, therefore it is necessary to preserve the indigenous knowledge on traditional medicines by proper documentation, identification of plant species used, and herbal preparation. Keywords: Ethnobotany, Traditional knowledge, Medicinal plants, Mysore district.

scholarly journals Importance of time in traditional medicine: a case of three plants use of Togolese pharmacopoeia

2020 ◽  
Vol 09 (02) ◽  
pp. 96-105
Author(s):  
Eli E. FRANCK ◽  
◽  
Wouyo ATAKPAMA ◽  
Tchadjobo TCHACONDO ◽  
Komlan BATAWILA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traditional Medicine ◽  
Folk Medicine ◽  
Liver Weight ◽  
Traditional Healers ◽  
Alcoholic Extract ◽  
Toxicological Assessment ◽  
Plant Parts ◽  
Consensus Values ◽  
Liver And Kidney ◽  
The Impact

Introduction. The effectiveness of folk medicine has been demonstrated by several studies. However, the chrono-toxicological aspect is barely addressed. Objective. The present study, conducted in the region of Kara in Togo, assessed the importance of the factor "time" in the use of 3 plants commonly used in traditional pharmacopoeia: Sarcocephalus latifolius, Jatropha multifida, and Blighia sapida. Material and methods. The methodology was based on ethnobotanical surveys, semi-structured individual interviews of 36 traditional healers using the three plants. Analysis of these data was based on consensus values (CV), and use values (UV). A chrono-toxicological assessment of their hydro-alcoholic extracts permitted to determine the impact of administration time on liver and kidney of Swiss albinos mice male. Results. The most used organs by traditional healers were roots (UV=0.62) for S. latifolius, bark (UV=0.53) for B. sapida, and leaves (0.66) for J. multifida. Malaria was the most treated disease with S. latifolius (CV=0.44), and J. multifida (CV=0.5). Haemorrhoid was cured with B. sapida (CV=0.28). Plant parts were harvested mainly in the morning (VC≥ 0.55). The most recommended dosing period was morning - evening for S. latifolius (VC=0.70), and B. sapida (VC=0.70), and only in the morning for J. multifida (VC=0.50). The hydro-alcoholic extracts administration of S. latifolius at 12H increased significantly mice liver weight. There was also a significant increase in liver weight in mice treated morning and evening by a hydro-alcoholic extract of J. multifida. Conclusion. Checking account of harvest time, and/or administration of phytomedicines will contribute to improve significantly the effectiveness of traditional medicine.

scholarly journals Use of traditional medicine for dental care by different ethnic groups in New Zealand

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Guo ◽  
Karson Low ◽  
Li Mei ◽  
JiaHui Li ◽  
Wenwen Qu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Traditional Medicine ◽  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
Traditional Healers ◽  
Cultural Backgrounds ◽  
Supportive Environment ◽  
Family Tradition ◽  
Dental Practitioners ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

Abstract Objective: To explore the views, use of and access to traditional medicine (TM) among different ethnicities living in New Zealand. Methods: Qualitative study and in-depth interviews were used. An individual semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analysed using an inductive approach to identify the main themes. Results: Three main themes were extracted from interviews with 14 participants from diverse cultural backgrounds: (1) the perspectives of TM varied among different ethnic groups and included the involvement of spirituality, the environment, knowledge and usage of TM. (2) The TM that was used by different ethnic groups included plants, herbs, massage, and other forms of healing. Reasons for choosing traditional or western medicines generally included family tradition, access to TM, and finding a competent traditional healer. (3) The barriers in accessing TM included the paucity of traditional healers, difficulty accessing plants and cost, therefore most would look for a substitution or alternative treatment. Conclusion: Even though the access to these TM in New Zealand was a challenge for the majority of the participants, they are still considered the first-line treatment for the majority. This study provided dental practitioners an insight into the different sort of TM used by the population. By understanding and acknowledging the use of TM, dental practitioners could create a supportive environment for patients to disclose their use of TM and allow them to educate patients on the use of TM.

scholarly journals Traditional Knowledge of Medicinal Plants Used in the Northeastern Part of Morocco

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Mohammed Reda Kachmar ◽  
Hanae Naceiri Mrabti ◽  
Meryem Bellahmar ◽  
Abdelilah Ouahbi ◽  
Zoubida Haloui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Traditional Medicine ◽  
Folk Medicine ◽  
Traditional Healers ◽  
Bioactive Molecules ◽  
Mentha Pulegium ◽  
Ethnobotanical Survey ◽  
Origanum Compactum ◽  
Pharmacological Screening ◽  
Rosmarinus Officinalis L

The knowledge of the plants that are used may provide insight on their properties for further exploration. This study aimed to identify and collect data about medicinal plants used in traditional medicine by the population of the provincial region of Taza, Morocco. An ethnobotanical survey was carried out among 200 informants, competent villagers, herbalists, and traditional healers from the provincial region of Taza city through direct interviews using a structured questionnaire. The survey reported 55 plant species belonging to 28 families used in the folk medicine. Informants’ results showed that the most frequently used plants were Origanum compactum, Mentha pulegium, Rosmarinus officinalis L., Aloysia citrodora, Calamintha officinalis Moench, and Artemisia herba-alba Asso., with a relative frequency of citation of 76%, 72%, 60%, 42%, 40%, and 30%, respectively. Moreover, in this study, the Lamiaceae family was the most commonly reported plant family, and the leaves were the most frequently used parts of the plants; otherwise, decoction and infusion were the most used modes in the preparation of remedies from medicinal plants in the traditional medicine. The sociodemographic characteristics showed that women use medicinal plants slightly more than men, the illiterate people use the medicinal plant the most, and old people have more information about the medicinal plants than the new generations. The region of Taza of Morocco has an important floristic biodiversity of medicinal plants which are used in traditional medicine practice. This result provides a good database for pharmacological screening in the search for new plants that can contain new bioactive molecules that can be used as a bioactive ingredient of medicament or as a biological alternative in pharmacology.

scholarly journals Use of traditional medicine for dental care by different ethnic groups in New Zealand

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Guo ◽  
Karson Low ◽  
Li Mei ◽  
JiaHui Li ◽  
Wenwen Qu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Traditional Medicine ◽  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
Traditional Healers ◽  
Cultural Backgrounds ◽  
Supportive Environment ◽  
Family Tradition ◽  
Dental Practitioners ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

Abstract Objective: To explore the views, use of and access to traditional medicine (TM) among different ethnicities living in New Zealand. Methods: Qualitative study and in depth interviews were used. An individual semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analysed using an inductive approach to identify the main themes. Results: Three main themes were extracted from interviews with 14 participants from diverse cultural backgrounds: (1) the perspectives of TM varied among different ethnic groups, and included the involvement of spirituality, the environment, knowledge and usage of TM. (2) The TM that was used by different ethnic groups included plants, herbs, massage, and other forms of healing. Reasons for choosing traditional or western medicines generally included family tradition, access to TM, and finding a competent traditional healer. (3) The barriers in accessing TM included the paucity of traditional healers, difficulty accessing plants and cost, therefore most would look for substitution or alternative treatment. Conclusion: Even though the access to these TM in New Zealand was a challenge for the majority of the participants, they are still considered the first-line treatment for the majority. This study provided dental practitioners an insight into the different sort of TM used by the population. By understanding and acknowledging the use of TM, dental practitioners could create a supportive environment for patients to disclose their use of TM and allow them to educate patients on the use of TM.

scholarly journals PENGARSIPAN OBAT TRADISIONAL SUKU BATAK KARO DI SUMATERA UTARA

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-91
Author(s):  
Christy Lavenia ◽  
Nafa Febrianti Mutia Dewi
Keyword(s):  
Traditional Medicine ◽  
Ethnic Group ◽  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
Traditional Knowledge ◽  
Traditional Medicines ◽  
Community Archives ◽  
Karo Batak

Traditional medicine in Indonesia has been used for thousands of years, biodiversity is an opportunity for the development of traditional medicine. One of the ethnic groups that still use and develop traditional medicine is the Batak Karo. Some traditional medicines of the Batak Karo ethnic group such as parem, tawar, and massage oil. The medicines are inherited from generation to generation so that the archive of traditional medicine is still very lacking, even its use in public is difficult. Community Archives (AK) can be empowered to do archiving with protection and preservation of traditional medicine. Documentation of traditional medicine using AK is evidence that these traditional medicines belong to the Karo Batak. In addition, well-managed traditional medicine can facilitate its publication through archival networks and traditional medicine is disseminated as traditional knowledge. Publication of traditional medicine is expected to be able to maintain the existence of traditional knowledge, especially traditional medicine from generation to generation.

scholarly journals Use of traditional medicine for dental care by different ethnic groups in New Zealand

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Guo ◽  
Karson Low ◽  
Li Mei ◽  
JiaHui Li ◽  
Wenwen Qu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Traditional Medicine ◽  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
Traditional Healers ◽  
Cultural Backgrounds ◽  
Supportive Environment ◽  
Family Tradition ◽  
Dental Practitioners ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

Abstract Objective To explore the views, use of and access to traditional medicine (TM) among different ethnicities living in New Zealand. Methods Qualitative study and in depth interviews were used. An individual semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analysed using an inductive approach to identify the main themes. Results Three main themes were extracted from interviews with 14 participants from diverse cultural backgrounds: (1) the perspectives of TM varied among different ethnic groups, and included the involvement of spirituality, the environment, knowledge and usage of TM. (2) The TM that was used by different ethnic groups included plants, herbs, massage, and other forms of healing. Reasons for choosing traditional or western medicines generally included family tradition, access to TM, and finding a competent traditional healer. (3) The barriers in accessing TM included the paucity of traditional healers, difficulty accessing plants and cost, therefore most would look for substitution or alternative treatment. Conclusion Even though the access to these TM in New Zealand was a challenge for the majority of the participants, they are still considered the first-line treatment for the majority. This study provided dental practitioners an insight into the different sort of TM used by the population. By understanding and acknowledging the use of TM, dental practitioners could create a supportive environment for patients to disclose their use of TM and allow them to educate patients on the use of TM.

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