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Traditionally, rural African communities have relied upon the spiritual qualities and practical skills of traditional medical practitioners (TMPs), whose botanical knowledge and insights into the plants’ distribution and ecology are invaluable. To many people in the developing world, traditional health care is more accessible than modern health facilities. Traditional medicines are usually inexpensive, locally available and accepted by local people, contrary to modern medicine.
Also in Uganda, interest in traditional healing practises is still alive. For example, many of the traditional birth attendants (TBAs) are registered members of the traditional healers’ associations. Through the work of such organisations as Rukararwe Rural Development scheme in Bushenyi district, Uganda N’eddagala Lyayo, Salompas and Uganda Natural Chemotherapeutics laboratory in Kampala, the importance of traditional medicine and traditional healing in Uganda has been promoted.
Around Bwindi, 90% of people rely on medicinal plants for their day to day health care. With the increasing demand for medicinal plants, however, their conservation has become an issue.
The objective of
this study was to
compare the use of
medicinal plants by
different specialist
groups in terms of
habitat preference
and sustainability
of the harvested
plants. The resource
users were
categorised into
four groups; male
herbalists (MH),
woman herbalists (WH),
TBAs and male
non-specialists (MNS).
Five parishes around
the park (Kitojo,
Nteko, Mpungu,
Nyamabale and
Rutugunda) were
selected for the
study. Information
was gathered using
participatory rural
appraisal (PRA)
methods such as semi
structured
interviews, informal
conversation, market
visits, free listing
of species, field
excursions,
preference ranking
and pairwise
ranking.
Results showed that
almost all people
rely on medicinal
plants for their
health care. There
was a similarity in
the habitat
preference of TBAs
and WH, both ranking
mature fallow lands
and bushy thickets
as their primary
source of the
medicinal plants.
The MH and MNS
however, ranked the
forest as their
primary source.
Prepared grounds for
planting and gardens
were ranked last as
the sources of
medicinal plants.
All the medicinal
plant vendors were
males; they stocked
dry plant materials
ranging from about
0.5 to 10 kilograms.
Most plants are
collected in fallow
lands, mainly by
women (47%) and in
the forest, mainly
by men (21%). Male
herbalists prefer
older succession
stages than women.
There is also a
difference in the
kind of material
male and female
herbalists collect.
Men collect more
root and bark
material (16%) than
women (8%) and woman
collect more leaf
material (85%) than
man (74%). It was
also found that male
herbalists use more
destructive
collection methods.
There is a need to
establish what is
the effectiveness of
the used herbal
remedies and what
are the correct
dosages.
Over-harvested
species should be
monitored and trials
carried out to
cultivate some in
gardens outside the
park. Where
possible,
cultivation of
medicinal plants
should be
stimulated. Resource
users should also be
trained in the need
for conservation of
the species they are
using.
Possible follow up
questions;
•
Which plants should
be monitored, which
may be cultivated
outside park?
•
What are the
effective chemical
components of
medicinal plants (as
in effectiveness)?
What are the correct
dosages?
•
Can training improve
sustainability of
the medicinal
plants? Both in
harvesting
practises, storage
and dosage.
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