A survey of medicinal plants used by abagusii traditional healers of South Western Kenya in the treatment of haemorrhoids

Abstract

The bulk of the worlds health care is still based on the traditional use of local herbal remedies. Ethnomedicinal survey of plants used by Abagusii traditional healers of South West Kenya in the treatment of haemorrhoids was carried out and 10 plant species were botanically identified. It was found that in this ethnic group, there were a great variety of models that herbalists were using was based upon a five stage process, herbal actions, system affinity, specific remedies for the illness, herbal biochemistry and intuition. This study also revealed that the Abagusii healers have an extensive knowledge of their flora. This study also revealed that there was a rapid disappearance of many indigenous herbal medicinal plants, hence the need for conservation measures to be taken.