Medicinal plants for treatment of diarrhoeal diseases among under-five children: experience from traditional healers in North-eastern Tanzania.

Autor:	Liheluka E; Department of Public Health and Community Nursing, University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzania. eliheluka@gmail.com.; National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), Tanga Centre, Tanga, Tanzania. eliheluka@gmail.com., Gibore NS; Department of Public Health and Community Nursing, University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzania., Lusingu JPA; National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), Tanga Centre, Tanga, Tanzania., Gesase S; National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), Tanga Centre, Tanga, Tanzania., Minja DTR; National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), Tanga Centre, Tanga, Tanzania., Lamshöft M; Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, BNITM, Hamburg, Germany.; German Center for Infection Research, DZIF, Braunschweig, Germany.; University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany., Dekker D; Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, BNITM, Hamburg, Germany.; German Center for Infection Research, DZIF, Braunschweig, Germany., Bali T; Department of Educational Psychology and Curriculum Studies, University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzania.
Jazyk:	angličtina
Zdroj:	BMC complementary medicine and therapies [BMC Complement Med Ther] 2023 Oct 25; Vol. 23 (1), pp. 379. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Oct 25.
DOI:	10.1186/s12906-023-04216-0
Abstrakt:	Background: Right through history, humans have relied heavily on plants for sustenance and the healing of different ailments. One of the long-standing traditions that communities have inherited from earlier generations is the use of herbal medicines for the treatment of paediatric ailments, including diarrhoea. This study showcased medicinal plants used by traditional healers for the treatment of diarrhoeal diseases among under-five children in North-eastern Tanzania. Methods and Design: A qualitative research approach and a narrative research design were employed. The research was carried out in the districts of Korogwe and Handeni in North-eastern Tanzania, with 52 in-depth interviews performed with participants (traditional healers). Purposive sampling method was used to select participants, and a thematic analysis framework was used to analyze the data. Results: Study results indicate that traditional healers had enormous insights and were well informed about medicinal plants that were perceived to be efficacious in treating diarrhoeal diseases among under-five children. A total of 54 medicinal plants were reported by the participants to be effective in healing diarrhoeal diseases among under-five children. However, out of 54 medicinal plants, 15 were predominantly disclosed by the majority of participants. Those medicinal plants include Psidium guajava, Rhus natalensis, Ozoroa insignis, Tamarindus indica, Ocimum suave, Combretum molle, Zanha africana, Solanum incanum, and Ximenia americana. Other medicinal plants mentioned by most participants include, Ochna holstii, Elaeodendron schlechterianum, Albizia anthelmintica, Commiphora pteleifolia, Salacia stuhlmanniana, and Zenkerella grotei. Conclusion: All traditional healers seemed to have a clear understanding regarding the medicinal plants that were used to treat diarrhoeal diseases among under-five children. The participants acknowledged to treating under-five children with diarrhoeal diseases using herbal medications on multiple occasions. The findings of this study should inspire more in-depth botanical research to determine whether the medicinal plants reported in this study have anti-diarrhoeal properties. (© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)
Databáze:	MEDLINE
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