The practice of herbal medicine in management of oral health in Nairobi County, Kenya

Abstract

The use of herbal materials for oral health is on the increase due to the high cost of conventional medicine. However, there is scanty data about key players in the trade of the herbs and conditions under which they are handled and this study addressed the above concerns using a questionnaire. Results show that majority of the participants were male (72%) and middle aged while 40% were illiterate. Majority of the participants declined to state how and where they acquired knowledge of herbal medicine. Herbs are stored, packaged, prescribed and sold under unhygienic conditions hence increasing possibility of adulteration and deterioration. The study concluded that the quality of herbal materials used for oral health was poor and therefore safety and efficacy of the herbs may not be guaranteed. We therefore recommend that efforts should be directed at improving herbal trade through good agricultural, harvesting and processing practices that will make the products safe.