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Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used for the treatment of diarrhoea and skin ulcer in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana

2013; Academic Journals; Volume: 7; Issue: 44 Linguagem: Inglês

10.5897/jmpr2013.5170

1996-0875

Sam George Henry, Adu Francis, Annan Kofi,

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies

The indigenous people of Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana are reputed to have been treating many diseases effectively with herbs; however documentation of these herb uses is not available. The present study documented the medicinal plants used traditionally for the treatment of diarrhoea and skin ulcer in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. Fifty-two traditional healers were interviewed with the help of a prepared questionnaire. Plants that were cited were coded in the field for identification later. Fourteen and ten plant species were cited for the treatment of diarrhoea and skin ulcer, respectively. Out of the fifty two respondents, forty six (88.5%) had knowledge of plants used in treating diarrhoea and forty (76.9%) had knowledge of plants for skin ulcer treatment. Fourteen recipes for diarrhoea and ten for skin ulcer were documented. The survey uncovered very important sources of cheap remedies for diarrhoea and more importantly, skin ulcer. Key words: Diarrhoea, skin ulcer, medicinal plants, treatment, Ghana.