Abstract
Ethnobotanical information and traditional medicines were investigated and documented in Embu and Mbeere districts, Eastern Province of Kenya. Oral interviews were obtained from over 100 herbalists, both men and women aged between 40 and 80 years. All the herbalists interviewed were Christians and had little formal education. Non-Christian herbalists were purported to combine herbal medicines with witchcraft and were not interviewed. Of the 40 commonly used herbal plants 25 were used as multi-purpose medicinal plants (mpmp), while 15 were used to treat one disease type. There was a correlation between the outpatient morbidity data at the local District hospital, and the common incident diseases treated by the herbalists. Generally a decoction or infusion of the herb was recommended for the treatment of internal or external condition of the patients. Malaria and typhoid were treatable with a total of 15 and 12 plants respectively and were among the first two commonest diseases found in the study area. Terminalia brownii was found to be the most used medicinal plant either alone or in combination with other herbs. The second and third most utilized medicinal plants were Ovariodendron anisatum and Wurbugia ugadensis respectively.
Keywords: Herbalists, Herbal medicine, Terminalia, Decoction
Introduction
Herbal medicines have been used for many years dating back as far as 3000 BC (Ayensu, 1978; WWF, 1993). Despite enormous advances in conventional medicines, traditional medicines have been encouraged by the Word Health Organization (WHO, 1978), partly because some conventional drugs have failed to prove effective, have serious side effects, or cannot cure certain new illnesses such as AIDS.
The World Bank has recently put a strong case for herbal healthcare (Mburu Mwangi, 2005), and recognized vital values of medicinal plants. These values are medicinal, ecological, income generation, cultural, social and religious roles. The World Bank report further pointed out that KenyaP's ministry of Health budget for medicines in 2002 provided for only 30% of the population. This left 70% (21 million) of the population who could not access the conventional drugs. The latter population group was therefore left to rely on traditional medicines for their healthcare needs.
In Africa, 90% of the population relies on traditional healers to meet their primary healthcare needs (Miller, 1990). In sub-Saharan Africa, it is estimated that one Western trained physician treats about 40,000 while one traditional healer treats about 400 patients (Hogle, 1990). This implies that there are many traditional healers serving a large portion of the population. There is need, therefore, to not only carry out ethnobotanical research and healing methods, but also encourage propagation and conservation of herbal plants among the local people. In addition, there is a rapid disappearance of genuine traditional herbalists and decline in authentic knowledge in traditional treatment (Lindsay and Hepper, 1978). This is due to the Western influence and death of many aged healers from whom a great deal of information is derived. It is imperative therefore to document the indigenous knowledge regarding traditional medicines before it disappears.
In Kenya comprehensive ethnobotanical information and healing methods among the local communities is not completed. However, indigenous information of medicinal plants is recorded by several authors: (Glover, 1966; Lindsay and Hepper, 1978; Kokwaro, 1993; Kaendi, 1997; and Musila, 2000), among others. Elsewhere, herbal medicines research has been recently reported: (Barakat, E., Abu-Irmailum. Fatma U. Afifi. 2003; Joana Camejo-Rodrigues et al., 2003; and Lucia Viegi et al., 2003).
In this publication, ethnobotanical information and traditional medicines of the Mbere and Embu people of Eastern province, Kenya is reported. The local herbalists complement the conventional local doctors in the treatment of the common diseases in the study area (Table 1). Documentation of the practices of these herbalists in Embu and Mbeere districts of eastern Province, Kenya, is reported for the first time. It is important to note that indigenous knowledge is passed orally and therefore there is need for comprehensive documentation. These herbalists use herbs whose available plant biodiversity transverses from the rainforests of Mt Kenya slopes to the semi-arid Mbeere District, availing a wide biodiversity of plants.
Table 1.
Outpatient morbidity data for Embu District Hospital*
| Year / % | 2000 | % | 2001 | % | 2002 | % |
| Disease type | ||||||
| Malaria | 87898 | 29.1 | 128682 | 31.9 | 139985 | 29.4 |
| Respiritory. system | 68392 | 23 | 93742 | 23.2 | 97500 | 20.5 |
| Intestinal worms | 25385 | 8.4 | 33796 | 8.4 | 36268 | 7.6 |
| Skin infection | 22850 | 6 | 25972 | 6.4 | 29468 | 6.2 |
| Pneumonia | 14771 | 5 | 16515 | 4.1 | 18576 | 4 |
| Diarrhea | 10525 | 3.5 | 12714 | 3.2 | 10913 | 2.3 |
| Rheumatism | 5882 | 2 | 9756 | 2.4 | 10873 | 2.3 |
| Eye infection | 5333 | 2 | 7274 | 2 | 12762 | 2.7 |
| Urinary tract infections | 4513 | 1.5 | 5644 | 1.4 | 6681 | 1.4 |
| Total new cases | 271181 | 371668 | 437781 |
Source: Embu district Health Annual report.
Materials and Method
The main objective of this research was to document indigenous knowledge of the Mbeere and Embu peoples of the Eastern Province, Kenya. This involved documentation of the medicinal plants traditionally used in healthcare, the herbal drugs preparations, the diseases treated, and collection of plant specimens. Preliminary visits were done to identify and select the herbalists to who took part in this study. The Provincial Director, Ministry of Gender, Sports, Culture, and Social Services provided a list of authentic herbalist groups. These groups were selected to cover most of the area under our study. The initial selection was based on the willingness of herbalists to give voluntary information and interaction with researchers during consultative meetings. These meetings were participatory in nature, with researchers as facilitators. The common agenda was to produce a pharmacopoeia of herbal drugs for use by the herbalists in the study area.
Ethnobotanical data was collected during a 12-month period from 110 herbalists practicing in the study area. They were both men and women aged 40 to 80 years. All the herbalists interviewed were Christians. Non-Christian herbalists were said to combine herbal medicines with witchcraft and were therefore avoided.
The indigenous knowledge was collected using Participatory Rapid Appraisal method (PRA). This involved driving around to the identified herbalists. An expert in PRA from the National Museums of Kenya participated in this research. Formal interviews through questionnaires were avoided as it was found to be intimidating to the herbalists, majority of whom were semi- illiterate. A record of responses from individual and groups of herbalists were documented immediately during consultative meetings.
Plant materials were authenticated by comparison with herbarium specimens. Each plant specimen collected was given a herbarium specimen number and the voucher samples kept in the East African Herbarium, and in the Faculty of Science (Botany Department), Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (J.K.U.A.T.).
Results
The results are provided in Tables 1 – 3.
Table 3.
Medicinal plant species ranking.
| Species Name | Ranking | No of Times Used | Diseases Treated |
| Terminalia brownii | 1 | 6 | Allergy, Abortion, Eye problems |
| Family planning, Kidney, Worms | |||
| Ovariodendron anisatum | 2 | 5 | Cancer, Calf rejection, Diabetes, |
| Erectile Dysfunction | |||
| Warburgia ugandensis | 3 | 4 | Asthma, Erectile Dysfunction, Soup, |
| Worms. | |||
| Acacia ataxacantha | 3 | 4 | Back-ache, Gout, Gonorrhea, |
| Pneumonia. | |||
| Harrisonia abyssinica | 3 | 4 | Back-ache, Joints, Bleeding, |
| Diarrhea, Malaria. | |||
| Olea europaea | 4 | 3 | Bone-setting, Stomach pains. |
| Emilia discifolia | 4 | 3 | Allergy, Fungal infection, |
| Ulcers. | |||
| Leonotis mollissona | 4 | 3 | Malaria, Stomach pains, Worms. |
| Acacia mellifera | 5 | 2 | Backache, Pneumonia. |
| Fagaropsis angolensis | 5 | 2 | Backache, Malaria. |
| Dalbergia melanoxylon | 5 | 2 | Backache, Pneumonia. |
| Ocimum gratissimum | 5 | 2 | Bronchitis, Malaria. |
| Clerodendrum myricoides | 5 | 2 | Cold and Flu, Typhoid. |
| Prunus africana | 5 | 2 | Cancer, Typhoid |
| Schkuhria pinnata | 5 | 2 | Diabetes, Malaria |
| Flueggea virosa | 5 | 2 | Cancer, Kidney problems |
| Trichilia emetica | 5 | 2 | Kidney problems, Skin rashes. |
| Senna singueana | 5 | 2 | Anthrax, Elephantiasis |
| Tithonia diversifolius | 5 | 2 | Stomach pains, Typhoid |
| Vitex doniana | 5 | 2 | Cancer, Vitamins suppliment |
| Mangifera indica | 5 | 2 | Diabetes, Skin burns |
| Ageratum conyzoides | 5 | 2 | Bronchitis, Bleeding |
| Xerophyta spekei | 5 | 2 | Dog bite, Diabetes |
| Erythrina abyssinica | 5 | 2 | Allergy, Malaria |
| Engleromyces goetzei | 5 | 2 | Asthma, Malaria. |
| Maytenus obscura | 6 | 1 | Cancer |
| Plectranthus barbatus | 6 | 1 | Gonorrhoea |
| Aloe kendongensis | 6 | 1 | Gonorrhea |
| Vernonia lasiopus | 6 | 1 | Malaria |
| Croton macrostachyus | 6 | 1 | Bleeding |
| Grewia virosa | 6 | 1 | Cancer |
| Lonchocarpus eriocalyx | 6 | 1 | Diabetes |
| Cordia africana | 6 | 1 | Eye problems |
| Senna didymobotrya | 6 | 1 | Fungal Infection, Ring worms |
| Albizia gummifera | 6 | 1 | Fungal Infection, Ring worms |
| Ximenia americana | 6 | 1 | Gonorrhea |
| Ajuga remota | 6 | 1 | Malaria |
| Cardiospermum corindum | 6 | 1 | Malaria |
| Zanthoxylum chalybeum | 6 | 1 | Rheumatism |
| Maytenus senegalensis | 6 | 1 | Stomach pains |
| Ranking: 1= Commonly used; 6= Used for only one disease | |||
Discussion
Herbal medicines played an important role in the provision of health care for the rural poor within the communities under our study. The advantages are clearly low cost of herbal drugs and an element of self - reliance and non-dependency on government health institutions, some of which were located far away from the communities. Traditional health practitioners or herbalists treat patients using the indigenous knowledge acquired over generations, down family lines. This information is usually stored in human pharmacopoeia and hence the need for documentation for posterity. It is also prudent to document the indigenous knowledge due to the rapid disappearance of herbalists with authentic knowledge majority of who are advanced in age.
The herbalists were able to identify poisonous plants, by observing the foliage which domestic animals avoided while grazing. In addition, birds and bees avoided nectar from flowers of toxic plants, and through this “traditional taxonomy” plants with thorny leaves were regarded as “male”, that is, naturally poisonous. On the other hand, plants without thorny leaves were regarded as non-poisonous.
The commonest diseases within the study area were malaria, respiratory disorder, intestinal worms, skin diseases, and pneumonia, rheumatism, diarrhea and eye infections. Their incidences increased in that order. This was confirmed by the Embu District hospital morbidity data covering a three-year period from year 2000 to 2002 (Table 1). These diseases were treatable by the herbalists using common medicinal plants found in the study area. The report shows malaria was the commonest and the most commonly addressed disease by both herbalists and by the doctors at the local hospital. There was a correlation between the number of plants used to treat the most common diseases and the prevalence of diseases found in the study area (Table 2). Thus, the herbalists knew many herbal plants that were used in the treatment of the most prevalent ailments.
Table 2.
Plant species and the healing methods used by the Mbeere and Embu people
Key: (m)=Mbeere; (e)= Embu
| Condition/Local Names | Plant species | Part used |
| 1 Allergy | ||
| Muuti (m) | Erythrina abyssinica | Roots |
| Mururuku (m) | Terminalia brownii | Roots |
| Gatukia (m) | Emilia discifolia | Roots |
| The roots are boiled in water and the decoction taken | ||
| 2. Abortion (persons) | ||
| Mururuku (m) | Terminalia brownii | Leaves |
| The leaves are boiled in water and the decoction taken | ||
| 3. Anthrax | ||
| Mukengeta (m) | Senna singuana | Roots |
| Muthunthi (m) | Maytenus senegalensis | Leaves |
| The parts are boiled and the decoction taken by the patient | ||
| 4. Asthma | ||
| Muthiga (e) | Warburgia ugandensis | Leaves/bark |
| Mwaraka (e) | Plectranthus barbatus | Roots |
| Kieha kia Murangi (m) | Engleromyces goetzei | Inner fresh |
| The parts are boiled in water and given to the patient | ||
| 5. Back-ache and Joint-ache | ||
| Muthira (e) | Gnidia glauca | Roots |
| Murangare (m) | Acacia ataxacantha | Roots |
| Muthigira (e) | Acacia mellifera | Roots |
| Muvaa (m) | Pappea capensis | Roots |
| Mutagataga (e) | Harrisonia abyssinica | Leaves/Roots |
| Mubindithindi (e) | Fagaropsis angolensis | Leaves |
| Muvingo (m) | Dalbergia melanoxylon | Bark |
| Muura (m) | Landolphia buchananii | Leaves |
| Muugu (e) | Landolphia buchananii | Leaves |
| The parts are boiled in water and taken with goat's soup | ||
| 6. Bone-setting (fracture) | ||
| Muthata (e) | Olea europaea ssp. africana | Sap |
| Karura (e) | Asparagus racemosus | Roots |
| Apply sap or root decoction | and bandage | |
| 7. Boils: | ||
| Ikothokotho (m) | Cissus rotundifolia | Fruits |
| Sap from the fruit applied on the boil | ||
| 8. Bronchitis | ||
| Makandu (e) | Ocimum gratissimum | Leaves |
| Mucuki wa ngig (e)i | Ageratum conyzoides | Roots |
| Mumonjore (e) | Solanecio sp. | Roots |
| The parts are boiled and the vapour inhaled | ||
| 9. Bleeding (Blood clotting) | ||
| Mutagataga (e) | Harrisonia abyssinica | Leaves |
| Mucuki wa Ngigi (e) | Ageratum conyzoides | Ashes |
| Mutundu (e) | Croton macrostachyus | Juice |
| The decoction of bark is taken, while ashes and the juice are applied to stop bleeding | ||
| 10. Colds and Flu | ||
| Mucobi (m) | Hoslundia opposita | Leaves |
| Mutongu (m) | Solanum incanum | Fruits |
| Muthuguni (m) | Clerodendron myricoides | Leaves |
| Gitunguru (e) | Allium ampeloprassum | Leaves |
| Muratina (m) | Kigelia africana | Bark |
| Mugaa (1) (e) | Acacia abyssinica | Tea from the bark |
| Mugaa (2) (e) | Acacia hockii | Bark |
| Munyua-mai (e) | Eucalyptus globulus | Leaves |
| Muringamu (e) | Eucalyptus saligna | Leaves |
| Ndania (e) | Coriandrum sativa | Leaves |
| Mucururi (m) | Trichodesma zeylanicum | Whole plant |
| Parts are boiled in water. The patient inhales the vapour or washes face with the decoction | ||
| 11. Cancer (of Breast and Prostrate Glands) | ||
| Muburu (m) | Vitex doniana | Leaves |
| Mukururu (m) | Flueggea virosa | Roots |
| Ndonga (m) | Ovariodendron anisatum | Root tuber |
| Muthunga (e) | Launea cornuta | Whole plant |
| Mubuu (m) | Grewia villosa | Roots |
| Muraga (m) | Maytenus obscura | Roots |
| Muiria (e) | Prunus africana | Bark |
| Concoction of the boiled parts is drunk by the patient | ||
| 12. Calf-rejection | ||
| Ndonga (m) | Ovariodendron anisatum | Root tuber |
| Concoction given to animal | ||
| 13. Dog-poison | ||
| Mwakia (m) | Zanha africana | Root tuber |
| Root powder mixed with | food | |
| 14. Dog-bite | ||
| Kianduri (m) | Xerophyta spekei | Ashes |
| Ashes applied to the bitten part | ||
| 15. Diabetes | ||
| Mucege (m) | Bidens pilosa | Ashes |
| Mutegenye (m) | Cyathula polycephala | Ashes |
| Kianduri (m) | Xerophyta spekei | Ashes |
| Add water to ashes and drink | ||
| Ndonga(m) | Ovariodendron anisatum | Ashes |
| Add water to the ashes and give to the patient | ||
| Karuria-Tatha (m) | Schkuhria pinnata | Whole plant |
| Boil the whole plant and drink the decoction to reduce sugar levels | ||
| Muthunga (m) | Launea cornuta | Whole plant |
| Muthigiriri (m) | Lonchocarpus eriocalyx | Bark |
| The decoction reduces the sugar levels when drunk | ||
| Mwembe (e) | Mangifera indica | Leaves (shoot) |
|
Dry young shoots of Mangifera indica. Dry Launea cornuta. Mix one teaspoonful of each powder in a cup of water, drink 3 times a week, and repeat if necessary. | ||
| 16. Diarrhea | ||
| Mutagataga (m) | Harrisonia abyssinica | Roots |
| Murerema (e) | Basella alba | Leaves |
| Mix the parts with water, boil and drink. | ||
| 17. Erectile Dysfunction (Impotence) | ||
| Managu (e) | Solanum nigrum | Whole plant |
| Iviuviu (e) | Sonchus asper | Whole plant |
| Kungumanga (e) | Punica granatum | Seeds |
| Ndonga (e) | Ovariodendron anisatum | Whole plant |
| Mugeta (e)-Muthiga | Warburgia ugandensis | Leaves |
| Muramba (e) | Adansonia digitata | Bark |
| The decoction of parts drunk | ||
| 18. Eye Problem (infection) | ||
| Mururuku (m) | Terminalia brownii | Leaves |
| Muringa (m) | Cordia africana | Bark |
| Wash eye with decoction | ||
| 19. Elephantiasis | ||
| Mwerere (Kirembo) (e) | Euphorbia peudograntii | Bark |
| Mukengeta (e) | Senna singuana | Bark |
| Drink decoction of bark | ||
| 20. Fungal Infection and Ring Worm | ||
| Gatukia (e) | Emilia discifolia | whole plant |
| Mucii (m) | Leucas mollis | Leaves |
| Mwinu (m) | Senna didymobotrya | Leaves |
| Mukorwe (e) | Albizia gummifera | Bark |
| Mururuku (m) | Terminalia brownii | Leaves |
| Apply decoction from boiled parts on the body | ||
| 21. Family Planning (persons) | ||
| Mururuku (m) | Terminalia brownii | Leaves |
| Boil leaves in water and drink before action | ||
| 22. Gout | ||
| Murangare (m) | Acacia ataxacantha | Roots |
| Decoction from boiled roots taken | ||
| 23. Gonorrhoea | ||
| Murangare (m) | Acacia ataxacantha | Roots |
| Mwogoya (m) | Plectranthus barbatus | Roots |
| Kithunju (m) | Aloe kendongensis | Leaves |
| Decoction of the boiled roots taken | ||
| Makongo (m) | Agave sisalana | Roots |
| Mutura (e) | Ximenia americana | Bark |
| Cong'e (e) | Oxygonum sinuatum | Leaves |
| Muruva (m) | Grewia tembensis | Roots |
| Decoction from mixture of the parts taken, two cups daily for three days | ||
| Mukungumanga (m) | Punica granatum | Seeds |
| Mubabai (male) (m) | Carica papaya | Roots |
| Gikwa kia ngima (e) | Dioscorea minutifolia | Tuber |
|
The above parts are boiled together in three cups of water (teaspoon each), one cup of Decoction taken daily for three days. | ||
| 24. Insecticide | ||
| Muthiringo (m) | Strombosia scheffleri | Powder of the dry leaves |
| Murema muthua (m) | Carphalea glaucescens | Leaves |
| Muthira (m) | Gnidia glauca | Leaves |
| Apply dry powder of the leaves | ||
| 25. Kidney Problems | ||
| Mururi (e) | Trichilia emetica | Bark |
| Mukururu (m) | Flueggea virosa | Roots |
| Muthaguta (e) | Securinega virosa? | Bark |
| Boil parts in water and give to the patient | ||
| 26. Malaria | ||
| Mubindithindi (e) | Fagaropsis angolensis | Leaves |
| Mwinu (e) | Senna didymobotrya | Leaves |
| Wanjiru-wa-Rurii (e) | Ajuga remota | Whole plant |
| Mukurwe (e) | Albizia gummifera | Bark |
| Mumonjora (e) | Solanecio sp. | Leaves |
| Muuti (e) | Erythrina abyssinica | Roots |
| Decoction of the above mixture in boiled water is taken | ||
| Mururuku (m) | Terminalia brownii | Leaves |
| Mukunyi (m) | Cardiospermum corindum | Roots |
| Mutagataga (m) | Harrisonia abyssinica | Roots |
| Mugirimura (m) | Pentas zanzibarica | Roots |
| Muvovo (m) | Leonotis mollissima | Roots |
| Murumbawe (m) | Withania somnifera | Leaves/Roots |
| Muterendu (m) | Teclea nobilis | Leaves |
| Mataa (m) | Ocimum basilicum | Leaves |
| Karuria-tatha (m) | Schkuhria pinnata | Whole plant |
| Mukenia (m) | Lantana camara | Leaves |
| Mucatha (m) | Vernonia lasiopus | Leaves |
| Kithunju (m) | Aloe balyi | Leaves |
| Mubuthi (m) | Caesalpinia volkensii | Leaves |
| Mutambi (m) | Strychnos henningsii | Stem |
| Kivia (e) | Engleromyces goetzei | Whole fruit |
| Mugegeti (e) | Pistacia aethiopica | Bark |
| Mwarobaine (e, m) | Azadirachta indica | All parts |
| Mukandu (m) | Ocimum gratissimum | Leaves |
| Njugu (e) | Cajanus cajan | Leaves |
| Parts indicated are boiled in water and drunk two times a day for a week. | ||
| 27. Pneumonia | ||
| Mwokia (m) | Zanha africana | Roots |
| Mucigara (m) | Uvaria scheffleri | Roots |
| Murangare (m) | Acacia ataxacatha | Roots |
| Mukumbi (m) | Abrus schimperi | Roots |
| Muthigira (m) | Acacia mellifera | Bark |
| Kigurugua (m) | Commiphora africana | Roots |
| Kithunju (m) | Aloe ballyi | Leaves |
| Mugirimura (m) | Vernonia brachycalyx | Roots |
| Mucatha (m) | Vernonia lasiopus | Leaves |
| Munjuga-iria (e) | Clerodendrum myricoides | Roots |
| Decoction of mixture drunk | ||
| 28. Rheumatism (Joint Pains) | ||
| Mubingo (m) | Dalbergia melanoxylon | Roots |
| Muthinia (m) | Croton dichogamus | Roots |
| Mutiru (m) | Lonchocarpus eriocalyx | Bark |
| Mukenenga (m) | Zanthoxylum chalybeum | Roots |
| 29. Stomach Pains | ||
| Mwirungwa (e) | Leonotis mollissima | Roots |
| Mucuki (m) | Epilobium hirsutum | Roots |
| Muthunthi (m) | Maytenus senegalensis | Roots |
| Mutegenye (m) | Cyathula polycephala | Leaves |
| Muga-Nthegu (m) | Albizia amara | Roots |
| Kirurite (e) | Tithonia diversifolia | Leaves |
| Thina (e) | Cuscuta kilimanjari | Whole plant |
| Muthaata (m) | Olea europaea | Leaves |
| Parts boiled in water and the decoction drunk | ||
| 30. Shampoo (Hair) | ||
| Karundu (m) | Hermannia sp. | Leaves |
| Mix the leaves of the plant with water, apply to hair then rinse with water | ||
| 31. Skin Lashes | ||
| Mung'endia Nthenge (m) | Senecio succulent | Stem |
| Apply the stem ash | ||
| Ikothokotho (m) | Cissus rotundifolia | Fruits |
| Mururi (e) | Trichilia emetica | Sap |
| Apply sap or fruit juice to lashes or pimples | ||
| 32. Snake-bite | ||
| Ndonga (m) | Ovariodendron anisatum | Ashes |
| Kianduri (m) | Xerophyta spekei | Ashes |
| Apply ashes to the bite | ||
| 33. Soup | ||
| Muthinia (m) | Croton dichogamus | Roots |
| Mukenenga (m) | Zanthoxylum chalybeum | Roots |
| Mugeta (m) | Warburgia ugandensis | Leaves |
| Boil the parts in water and take with goat's bone soup | ||
| 34. Tooth-ache | ||
| Mwokia (e) | Zanha africana | Roots |
| Gakurue (e) | Phyllanthus sepialis | Roots |
| Mutongu (m) | Solanum incanum | Fruits |
| Mutegenye (e) white | Achyranthes aspera | Roots |
| Either apply powdered parts to the tooth or boil the parts and gaggle the decoction | ||
| 35. Typhoid | ||
| Muthithi (e) | Osyris abyssinica | Leaves/Roots |
| Mutathi (e) | Clausena anisata | Roots |
| Mwiria (e) | Prunus africana | Bark |
| Mukambura (m) | Dovyalis abyssinica | Friuits |
| Cong'e (e) | Oxygonum sinuatum | Whole plant |
| Kiruma (m) | Aloe lateritia | Leaves |
| Mixture of parts boiled in water and then drunk | ||
| Mwonge (m) | Periploca linearifolia | Roots |
| Kirurite (e) | Tithonia diversifolia | Leaves |
| Mutootoo (m) | Dombeya rotundifolia | Bark |
| Munjuga-iria (m) | Clerodendrum myricoides | Roots |
| Murembu (e) | Ehretia cymosa | Bark |
| Murava (m) | Combretum molle | Leaves |
| Individual parts are boiled in water and drink | ||
| 36. Ulcers | ||
| Gatukia (e) | Emilia discifolia | Whole plant |
| Mugere (e) | Hibiscus micranthus | Roots |
| Mukeu (e) | Dombeya burgessiae | Roots |
| Powder of the parts is mixed with water and boiled, then given to the patient | ||
| 37. Vitamins Supplement | ||
| Muburu (m) | Vitex doniana | Fruits |
| Muthigiu (m) | Rhus natalensis | Tea from bark |
| Tea or fruits is taken | ||
| 38. Worms (Human/animals | ||
| Mubarwa (e) | Albizia anthelmintica | Bark/roots |
| Mwinu (e) | Senna didymobotrya | Leaves |
| Muvovo (m) | Leonotis mollissima | Leaves |
| Mucaritha (m) | Entada leptostachya | Roots |
| Mugeta (m) | Warburgia ugandensis | Bark |
| Mururuku (m) | Terminalia brownii | Bark |
| Terere (e) | Amaranthus hybridus | Leaves |
| Mubera (m) | Psidium guajava | Leaves |
| Mubiru (m) | Vangueria madagascariensis | Leaves |
| The parts are boiled in water and given to the patient | ||
| 39. Skin burns | ||
| Mwembe (e) | Mangifera indica | Leaves |
| Decoction applied | ||
| 40. Blood pressure | ||
| Muthigiriri (e) | Lonchocarpus eriocalyx | Bark |
| Muterendu (e) | Teclea simplicifolia | Leaves |
| Mukura (e) | Piliostigma thonningii | Bark |
| Drink decoction | ||
Medicinal plants species documented in the study area were ranked by the number of times they were used to treat different diseases (Table 3). The ranking ranged from 1 to 6. Rank 1 represented multi-purpose herbs and rank 6 denoted those herbs used to treat one type of ailment without combination with other medicinal plants.
Terminalia brownii was a multi-purpose medicinal plant and among the most used herbal plant for various conditions. It was used as a multi-purpose medicinal plant and was used either alone or in combination with other plants. The second and third most utilized medicinal plants were Ovariodendron anisatum and Warbugia ugadensis respectively. For this reason, these plants should be encouraged for propagation and conservation. In addition, proper methods of harvesting should be used as means of conservation of such multi-purpose medicinal plants.
Conclusions
The herbalists were active in the provision of primary and secondary healthcare in the study areas. Malaria was the commonest disease in Mbeere and Embu districts and could be treated with at least twenty-five medicinal plants, either singly or in combination with other medicinal plants. Respiratory ailments were treated with 21 herbs; Intestinal worms with 9 herbs; Pneumonia with 10 plants; Diarrhea with 23 plants; Rheumatism with 9 herbs and urinary tract infections with 11 herbs. The most used medicinal plants were Terminilia brownii and Ovariodendron anisatum, which treated six and five conditions respectively.
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by a grant from African institute for Capacity Development (AICAD), situated at JKUAT, and is greatly appreciated. The authours wish to appreciate the information given to them by the Provincial Health Officer at the Embu Hospital. We would also like to thank the Provincial Director, Ministry of Gender, Sports, Culture, and Social Services for identification of authentic herbalists from whom information in this study was obtained. Finally, we thank Geoffrey Mungai of the National Museums of Kenya for helping in PRA work in this research.
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