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 | ||