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. 2019 Dec 5;19(1):353.
doi: 10.1186/s12906-019-2763-6.

Ethno-pharmacological survey of herbal remedies used in the treatment of paediatric diseases in Buhunga parish, Rukungiri District, Uganda

Patience Tugume  1 , Clement Nyakoojo  2
Affiliations

Ethno-pharmacological survey of herbal remedies used in the treatment of paediatric diseases in Buhunga parish, Rukungiri District, Uganda

Patience Tugume et al. BMC Complement Altern Med. .

Abstract

Background: Plants have been used as a primary source of medicine since ancient times and about 80% of the world's population use herbal medicine to treat different ailments. Plant use knowledge differs in space and time and thus requires documentation to avoid its loss from one generation to another.

Methods: In order to accomplish the survey, semi-structured questionnaires were used. The data collected included names of plant species, parts used, ailments treated, growth habit, methods of preparation and mode of administration of the herbal remedies. Descriptive statistics were used to present the data in form of tables and a graph.

Results: Results showed that 50 plant species belonging to 26 families were utilized in the treatment of paediatric diseases of which Asteraceae and Lamiaceae were the most common. Leaves (80%) were the most commonly used and decoctions were the main method of preparation. Twenty nine health conditions were treated out of which digestive disorders, malaria and respiratory tract infections were predominant. Herbs and shrubs were equally dominant.

Conclusion: Herbal remedies are an important source of treatment for paediatric diseases in Buhunga Parish. However, there is need for collaboration between herbal medicine users and scientific institutions to help in the discovery of new drugs based on indigenous knowledge. Scientists ought to explore suitable methods of preparation and dosage formulations in order to achieve the best benefits from herbal remedies.

Keywords: Buhunga; Children diseases; Digestive disorders; Herbal remedies; Traditional medicine.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The figure illustrates the percentage of medicinal plant species used for making herbal remedies using different methods according to information obtained from respondents. The total number of species for calculation of percentages was 50. In some instances remedies from the same species could be prepared using more than one method. Water was the main ingredient used in preparation of herbal remedies in case decoctions and infusions. Method of preparation varied according to the plant species, parts used and sometimes conditions being treated
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