Indigenous knowledge on medicinal plants used in and around Robe Town, Bale Zone, Oromia Region, Southeast Ethiopia

The indigenous knowledge of the Basotho makes it simple for this speech community to name their traditional medicinal plants in such a way that they are meaningful; this could also be viewed as an empowerment technique, especially in the economic sphere. Their medicinal plants names seem to be idiomatic and to express certain philosophies of the Basotho society. Creativity is observable in this kind of naming, and many names allude to the kind of remedy that is associated with the medicinal plant. It is therefore the interest of this paper to consider the names of medical plants among the Basotho whose names allude to the remedy they provide. The names of Sesotho medicinal plants and the reasoning of the Basotho in general behind the name and the use of each medicinal plant will be discussed in this article. This paper will further preserve and promote the use of Basotho traditional medicines for the future generation.

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Contemporary Art Practice and Indigenous Knowledge

Zeitschrift für Anglistik und Amerikanistik ◽

10.1515/zaa-2020-0014 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 68 (2) ◽

pp. 111-128

Author(s):

Gerald McMaster

Keyword(s):

Medicinal Plants ◽

Indigenous Knowledge ◽

Traditional Knowledge ◽

Contemporary Art ◽

Art World ◽

Art Practice ◽

Knowledge Practices ◽

Communal Sharing ◽

Cultural Hero ◽

The Way

AbstractIndigenous artists are introducing traditional knowledge practices to the contemporary art world. This article discusses the work of selected Indigenous artists and relays their contribution towards changing art discourses and understandings of Indigenous knowledge. Anishinaabe artist Norval Morrisseau led the way by introducing ancient mythos; the gifted Carl Beam enlarged his oeuvre with ancient building practices; Peter Clair connected traditional Mi'kmaq craft and colonial influence in contemporary basketry; and Edward Poitras brought to life the cultural hero Coyote. More recently, Beau Dick has surprised international art audiences with his masks; Christi Belcourt’s studies of medicinal plants take on new meaning in paintings; Bonnie Devine creates stories around canoes and baskets; Adrian Stimson performs the trickster/ruse myth in the guise of a two-spirited character; and Lisa Myers’s work with the communal sharing of food typifies a younger generation of artists re-engaging with traditional knowledge.

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Indigenous Knowledge and Consumer’s Perspectives of Stinging Nettle (Urtica Simensis) in the Central and Southeastern Highlands of Oromia Regional States of Ethiopia

10.21203/rs.3.rs-809967/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Tigist Tadesse Shonte ◽

Kebede W/Tsadik

Keyword(s):

Indigenous Knowledge ◽

Dietary Diversity ◽

Local People ◽

Herbal Remedies ◽

Wild Plants ◽

Stinging Nettle ◽

Nutritional Security ◽

Arsi Zone ◽

Food And Nutritional Security ◽

Bale Zone

Abstract Background: Wild plants are essential for increased dietary diversity; for food and nutritional security and as herbal remedies. Stinging nettle, Urtica species, is one of the 20 widely consumed wild plants with cultural importance index ranging from 0.5-1.26 CI in different countries. As in previously conducted wild plants ethnobotanical studies in Ethiopia, the present study reported for the first time the indigenous knowledge and consumer’s perspectives of stinging nettle (Urtica simensis) in the central and southeastern highlands of Oromia regional states of Ethiopia.Methods: Data was collected through informed consent semi-structured interviews, questionnaires, key informant discussions, focus group discussions and tour-guided field observation in 13 districts of three zones (Arsi, Bale and North Shewa) of Oromia regional state, Ethiopia. Results: The local people gather, where women carries 69.2% of the responsibilities for collecting and cooking, stinging nettle in winter and spring season almost from everywhere with higher preference for road sides followed by homestead boundaries, waste land, field boundaries and agroforestry in order of importance. The factors limiting harvesting, consumption and marketing of stinging nettles could be ranked as cultural barriers (63.1%) > lack of knowledge (26.9%) > stinginess (10%). According to key informants, the local people who gather and cook stinging nettle are commonly referred as the poor and they call stinging nettle crop as a poor man crop. Interestingly, covering hands with cloths and wearing plastic bags were traditional manipulations practiced by the local community to protect themselves from stinging hairs thereby avoiding stinging sensation and collect the young and tender shoots from the plant. The highest use-value indices of stinging nettle plant was in North Shewa zone (UVc = 0.93), followed by Arsi zone (UVc = 0.9), and Bale zone (UVc = 0.63). Its central role in North Shewa (FL = 51.7%) and Arsi zone (FL = 50 %) is as a source of both food and fodder, where as in Bale zone (FL = 33.3%) is as a source of food only. In the study areas stinging nettle sauce is prepared by boiling young nettle leaves and roasted barley powder and then cooled sauce is served with injera. Conclusions: There exists biological security to livelihood of the people in the study areas by consuming stinging nettle to cope up times of food shortage. This result shed light on further research and a needs to popularize, awareness creation, the potential for domestication, value addition and processing for food and nutritional security and wellbeing of consumers.

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TRADITIONAL PHYTOTHERAPY USED BY BHUTIA COMMUNITY OF UTTARKASHI DISTRICT OF UTTARAKHAND FOR DERMATOLOGICAL DISORDERS

10.36106/ijar/7820999 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 77-82

Author(s):

Arun K. Agrawal ◽

Usha Devi ◽

S.K. Kuriyal

Keyword(s):

Medicinal Plants ◽

Indigenous Knowledge ◽

Plant Species ◽

Primary Healthcare ◽

Skin Diseases ◽

Practical Knowledge ◽

Traditional Healers ◽

Tribal Community ◽

Tribal People ◽

Dermatological Disorders

Ethno-medicinal survey was undertaken from traditional healers of Bhutia tribal community of Urrarkashi district for the use of medicinal plants in the treatment of different skin diseases such as dog and insect bite, burns, eczema, abscesses, scabies, ringworm, cuts and wounds, boils, leprosy, blisters, allergy, itching, pimples, leucoderma, prickly heat, warts, septic ulcers, and other skin diseases during different season of March 2016 to May 2017. The indigenous knowledge of tribal traditional healers having practical knowledge of plants in medicine were interviewed in ve villages of Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand and plants used for medicinal purposes were collected through questionnaire and personal interviews during eldtrips. A total of 60 plant species of 43 families are documented in this study. The medicinal plants used in the treatment of skin diseases by tribal's are listed with botanical name (in binomial form), family, local names, habit, availability, parts used, and mode of preparation. This study showed that Bhutia tribal people in the studied parts of Uttarkashi district continue to depend on the medicinal plants at least for the treatment of primary healthcare.

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The Role of Medicinal Plants in Traditional Medicine in Adwa District, Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

Asian Plant Research Journal ◽

10.9734/aprj/2019/v3i3-430067 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Temesgen Assefa ◽

Netsanet Nigussie ◽

Destaw Mullualem ◽

Gebiru Sinshaw ◽

Yeshaneh Adimasu

Keyword(s):

Medicinal Plants ◽

Traditional Medicine ◽

Indigenous Knowledge ◽

Group Discussion ◽

Structured Interview ◽

Northern Ethiopia ◽

Ethnobotanical Survey ◽

Plant Parts ◽

And Gender

In Ethiopia, medicinal plants had been used since ancient time and became an important source of health care. Though majority of the people in the study area depend on ethnomedicine to manage different ailments, the indigenous knowledge largely is not documented. As a result, an ethnobotanical survey was conducted with the objective of assessing the role of medicinal plants in traditional medicine. Data was collected by using semi-structured interview and group discussion. Twenty informants were purposefully selected based on indigenous knowledge and gender. Ethnobotanical data was analyzed with descriptive statistics and expressed in tables and flow charts. A total of 25 medicinal plants (22 families) recorded to treat human and livestock ailments. Medicinal plant habit analysis indicates that shrubs occupy the highest proportion (36%), followed by trees and herbs (28% for each) and climbers (8%). The most commonly used plant parts in the study area were leaves and roots. Although medicinal plants play a great role in the society, their sustainability is declining through time in the study area due to the increasing number of users, improper uses of the plants and poor conservation. Therefore, the conservation of these medicinal plants would be important.

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Indigenous Knowledge and Practices on Medicinal Plants Used by Local Communities of Gambella Region, South West Ethiopia

International Journal of TROPICAL DISEASE & Health ◽

10.9734/ijtdh/2019/v39i230203 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 1-14

Author(s):

Jemberu Alemu Megenase ◽

Ketema Tilahun Gelaye ◽

Prem Kumar Dara

Keyword(s):

Medicinal Plants ◽

Indigenous Knowledge ◽

Group Discussion ◽

Local Communities ◽

Chemical Extraction ◽

Traditional Use ◽

Traditional Medicines ◽

South West ◽

Informants Consensus Factor ◽

South West Ethiopia

Indigenous knowledge and practices on medicinal plants used by local communities of Gambella region, south west Ethiopia was conducted to investigate those potential and popular medicinal plants used for the treatment of various diseases in Gambella region. A total of 100 purposively selected inhabitants were employed in the study of which 84 were male and 16 were females. A traditional use of plants information was obtained by semi structured oral interviews from experienced rural elders, Focus group discussion and through questionnaire administered to traditional herbal medicine practitioners of the study area. 81 medicinal plants were identified for the traditional treatment of both human (25) and animal (16) disease. The highest numbers of medicinal plants for traditional uses utilized by this community were belonging to shrubs 30(37.03%) followed by trees (32.10%). The result reviled that 15.2% of the remedies are prepared from root part and squeezing accounts 17(20.99%) followed by chewing 14(17.28%). The major routs of administration of traditional medicines were reported oral 50(61.73%). Urine, placental retention and milk let down accounts higher informants’ consensus factor value (0.96). The findings showed that sheferaw and leele have higher fidelity level which is 100 and 92 respectively. Various factors were recorded as the main threats of medicinal plants in the study area. In conclusion, the community carries a vast knowledge of medicinal plants but this knowledge is also rapidly disappearing in this community. Such type of ethno-botanical studies will help in systematic documentation of ethno-botanical knowledge and availing to the scientific world plant therapies used as antivenin by the Gambella community and further research on plant species identification and chemical extraction is recommended.

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Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants Used for Human Health Care in Yem Culture, South Ethiopia

10.21203/rs.3.rs-325128/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Gideon Woldemariam ◽

Sebsebe Demissew ◽

Zemede Asfaw

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Medicinal Plants ◽

Indigenous Knowledge ◽

Human Health ◽

Traditional Knowledge ◽

Low Income ◽

Health Care Systems ◽

Low Income Countries ◽

Ethnobotanical Study ◽

Care Systems

Abstract BackgroundIndigenous or traditional herbal medicine has been widely regarded as a resource for strengthening the health care systems among communities of low income countries including Ethiopia. The Yem people in Ethiopia have deep-rooted and ancient traditional knowledge of managing human ailments and health conditions using medicinal plants (mps). On the other hand, mps and the associated indigenous knowledge are under erosion due to human-induced and natural factors. Therefore, documenting the plant biodiversity along with the associated indigenous knowledge is of urgent task for conservation. MethodsThis study was conducted in April, 2013, October, 2016 and July, 2016 with the objective of documenting traditional mps in different land uses that are used for treating human ailments. Ethnobotanical data were collected from 69 informants that were selected by stratified random sampling and purposive sampling. Vegetation data were obtained from 30, 30x30 m quadrats. Ethnobotanical data were analysed using paired ranking, Informant consensus factor and Fidelity Level index. ResultsAbout 213 medicinal plant species that are used for treating 117 human ailments were recorded. ICF calculated depicted a highest ICF value of 0.82 for Gastrointestinal & Visceral organs ailments. Haplocarpha rueppellii, Carduus schimperi and Inula confortiflora each 100%, Maesa lanceolata 80% and Rumex abyssinicus 75%. Vegetation analysis showed three plant communities.ConclusionThe Yem people have rich traditional knowledge of utilising plants side by side with the mainstream biomedical system for maintaining human health care.

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Medicinal Plants Used for Treating Human and Livestock Ailments in Tiyo District, Arsi Zone of Oromia, Ethiopia

10.21203/rs.3.rs-20640/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Misbahu Aman ◽

Zemede Asfaw ◽

Gemedo Dalle

Keyword(s):

Medicinal Plants ◽

Indigenous Knowledge ◽

Cultural Values ◽

Group Discussion ◽

Structured Interview ◽

Traditional Healers ◽

Local Communities ◽

Herbal Remedies ◽

Preference Ranking ◽

Healthcare Needs

Abstract Background Systematic documentation and promotion of indigenous knowledge associated with medicinal plants are limited. The aim of this study was to undertake ethnobotanical investigation on medicinal plants used for the treatment of human and livestock ailments and document indigenous knowledge of local communities on the preparation and administration of herbal remedies in the study area. Methods The study involved 153 informants from nine kebeles, comprising traditional healers, knowledgeable elders and local user communities. Various ethnobotanical techniques were used to collect and analyze data: semi- structured interview, guided field walk, group discussion, preference ranking, and fidelity level index. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistical analysis. Results Local communities had rich and diverse indigenous knowledge on medicinal plants, types of ailments, methods of remedy preparations and routes of applications. There were differences in this indigenous knowledge across age and sex. A total of 83 medicinal plants were documented during this study. Fifty two (62.65%) plants were used for treating human ailments, 20 species (24.10%) for treating health problems of livestock and the remaining 11 (13.25%) for treating both human and livestock ailments. The highest informant consensus was documented for the plants Allium sativum , Asparagus africanus and Azadirachta indica. Leaves were the most commonly used parts of medicinal plants accounting for 51.81% of the total followed by roots (20.48%) and barks (2.41%). Oral administration of the herbal medicine was the dominant route 66.3%, followed by dermal (22.7%) which included washing, holding on, rubbing and brushing. Smoking (8.5%) was also important. It was documented that 27 species (32.5%) were used in fresh, 13 species (15.7%) dried and 43 species (51.8%) either in dry or fresh state. Conclusion Owing to their access, curing ability, manageable charges, existence of deep indigenous knowledge and other associated cultural values, medicinal plants continued to play a significant role in meeting healthcare needs of the community in the study area. Conservation and sustainable use of the diverse medicinal plants need to be promoted. Systemic documentation and protection of the rich knowledge of local communities and further research on selected potential species was recommended as a result of this study.

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Evaluation of Measles Surveillance Systems in Ginnir District, Bale Zone, Southeast Ethiopia: A Concurrent Embedded Mixed Quantitative/Qualitative Study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-115297/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Falaho Sani ◽

Mohammed Hasen ◽

Mohammed Seid ◽

Nuriya Umer

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Surveillance System ◽

Public Health Surveillance ◽

Health Surveillance ◽

Health Facilities ◽

Surveillance Data ◽

Surveillance Systems ◽

Southeast Ethiopia ◽

Bale Zone

Abstract Background: Public health surveillance systems should be evaluated periodically to ensure that the problems of public health importance are being monitored efficiently and effectively. Despite the widespread measles outbreak in Ginnir district of Bale zone in 2019, evaluation of measles surveillance system has not been conducted. Therefore, we evaluated the performance of measles surveillance system and its key attributes in Ginnir district, Southeast Ethiopia.Methods: We conducted a concurrent embedded mixed quantitative/qualitative study in August 2019 among 15 health facilities/study units in Ginnir district. Health facilities are selected using lottery method. The qualitative study involved purposively selected 15 key informants. Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaire adapted from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for evaluating public health surveillance systems through face-to-face interview and record review. The quantitative findings were analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2016 and summarized by frequency and proportion. The qualitative findings were narrated and summarized based on thematic areas to supplement the quantitative findings.Results: The structure of surveillance data flow was from the community to the respective upper level. Emergency preparedness and response plan was available only at the district level. Completeness of weekly report was 95%, while timeliness was 87%. No regular analysis and interpretations of surveillance data, and the supportive supervision and feedback system was weak. The participation and willingness of surveillance stakeholders in implementation of the system was good. The surveillance system was found to be useful, easy to implement, representative and can accommodate and adapt to changing conditions. Report documentation and quality of data was poor at lower level health facilities. Stability of the system has been challenged by shortage of budget and logistics, staff turnover and lack of update trainings.Conclusions: The surveillance system was acceptable, useful, simple, flexible and representative. Data quality, timeliness and stability of the system were attributes that require improvement. The overall performance of measles surveillance system in the district was poor. Hence, regular analysis of data, preparation and dissemination of epidemiological bulletin, capacity building and regular supervision and feedback are recommended to enhance performance of the system.

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