Herbs and herbal combinations used to treat suspected malaria in Bo, Sierra Leone

doi:10.1016/j.jep.2015.03.028

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Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Most adults in West Africa treat acute febrile illnesses with local herbs, but the patterns of herbs used for malaria have not been recently described in Sierra Leone.

Materials and methods

We used a population-based cross-sectional approach to interview 810 randomly-sampled rural and urban adult residents of Bo, Sierra Leone, in December 2013 and January 2014 about their use of herbal remedies when they suspect they have malaria.

Results

In total, 55% of the participants reported taking one or more of seven herbs to treat symptoms of malaria. Among herb users, the most commonly used anti-malarial herbs were Moringa oleifera (moringa, 52%) and Sarcocephalus latifolius (yumbuyambay, 50%). The other herbs used included Senna siamea (shekutoure, 18%), Cassia sieberiana (gbangba, 18%), Uvaria afzelii (gone-botai, 14%), Morinda chrysorhiza (njasui, 14%), and Craterispermum laurinum (nyelleh, 7%). Combination herbal therapy was common, with 37% of herb users taking two or more herbs together when ill with suspected malaria.

Conclusions

Indigenous medical knowledge about herbal remedies and combinations of local herbs remains an integral part of malaria case management in Sierra Leone.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Cross-sectional study;
Herbal medicine;
African traditional medicine;
Malaria;
Moringa oleifera;
West Africa

: Correspondence to: Department of Global and Community Health, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive 5B7, Fairfax VA 22030, USA. Tel.: +1 703 993 9168; fax: +1 703 993 1908.

Cheryl & ethnovet

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Tuesday, 14 April 2015