Medicinal plants of Otwal and Ngai Sub Counties in Oyam District, Northern Uganda

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>An ethnobotanical study was carried out in four parishes in the Ngai and Otwal Sub Counties in Oyam district, Northern Uganda, where insurgency has been prevalent for the past 20 years. Documenting medicinal plant species used in tre...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Acipa Annabel, Kamatenesi Maud M, Oryem-Origa Hannington
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2011-01-01
Series:Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine
Online Access:http://www.ethnobiomed.com/content/7/1/7
_version_ 1818678009693995008
author Acipa Annabel
Kamatenesi Maud M
Oryem-Origa Hannington
author_facet Acipa Annabel
Kamatenesi Maud M
Oryem-Origa Hannington
author_sort Acipa Annabel
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>An ethnobotanical study was carried out in four parishes in the Ngai and Otwal Sub Counties in Oyam district, Northern Uganda, where insurgency has been prevalent for the past 20 years. Documenting medicinal plant species used in treating various health conditions among the local people.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Information was obtained from mainly the local population, the traditional healers and other experienced persons through interviews, formal and informal discussions and field excursions.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Seventy one plant species were reported for use in the treatment of various diseases in the study area. These plant species belongs to 41 families, with Asteraceae being the most represented. Roots were ranked the commonest plant part used. Oral administration was the most frequently used route of administration. A total of 41 different health conditions were reported to be treated by use of medicinal plant species. Thirty nine percent of the recorded plant species were reported for treating stomach related ailments.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The use of medicinal plants in primary healthcare is still a common practice in Ngai and Otwal Sub Counties. The trust they have is built on the curative outcome properties claimed, poverty and armed conflict that lead to inadequate healthcare facilities. The generation gap caused by the over 20 years of insurgency in the area has brought about knowledge gap on the usage of medicinal plant species between the young and the older generation.</p>
first_indexed 2024-12-17T09:08:27Z
format Article
id doaj.art-1315c278c08d415ebdb612c53417dfa3
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1746-4269
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-17T09:08:27Z
publishDate 2011-01-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine
spelling doaj.art-1315c278c08d415ebdb612c53417dfa32022-12-21T21:55:21ZengBMCJournal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine1746-42692011-01-0171710.1186/1746-4269-7-7Medicinal plants of Otwal and Ngai Sub Counties in Oyam District, Northern UgandaAcipa AnnabelKamatenesi Maud MOryem-Origa Hannington<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>An ethnobotanical study was carried out in four parishes in the Ngai and Otwal Sub Counties in Oyam district, Northern Uganda, where insurgency has been prevalent for the past 20 years. Documenting medicinal plant species used in treating various health conditions among the local people.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Information was obtained from mainly the local population, the traditional healers and other experienced persons through interviews, formal and informal discussions and field excursions.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Seventy one plant species were reported for use in the treatment of various diseases in the study area. These plant species belongs to 41 families, with Asteraceae being the most represented. Roots were ranked the commonest plant part used. Oral administration was the most frequently used route of administration. A total of 41 different health conditions were reported to be treated by use of medicinal plant species. Thirty nine percent of the recorded plant species were reported for treating stomach related ailments.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The use of medicinal plants in primary healthcare is still a common practice in Ngai and Otwal Sub Counties. The trust they have is built on the curative outcome properties claimed, poverty and armed conflict that lead to inadequate healthcare facilities. The generation gap caused by the over 20 years of insurgency in the area has brought about knowledge gap on the usage of medicinal plant species between the young and the older generation.</p>http://www.ethnobiomed.com/content/7/1/7
spellingShingle Acipa Annabel
Kamatenesi Maud M
Oryem-Origa Hannington
Medicinal plants of Otwal and Ngai Sub Counties in Oyam District, Northern Uganda
Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine
title Medicinal plants of Otwal and Ngai Sub Counties in Oyam District, Northern Uganda
title_full Medicinal plants of Otwal and Ngai Sub Counties in Oyam District, Northern Uganda
title_fullStr Medicinal plants of Otwal and Ngai Sub Counties in Oyam District, Northern Uganda
title_full_unstemmed Medicinal plants of Otwal and Ngai Sub Counties in Oyam District, Northern Uganda
title_short Medicinal plants of Otwal and Ngai Sub Counties in Oyam District, Northern Uganda
title_sort medicinal plants of otwal and ngai sub counties in oyam district northern uganda
url http://www.ethnobiomed.com/content/7/1/7
work_keys_str_mv AT acipaannabel medicinalplantsofotwalandngaisubcountiesinoyamdistrictnorthernuganda
AT kamatenesimaudm medicinalplantsofotwalandngaisubcountiesinoyamdistrictnorthernuganda
AT oryemorigahannington medicinalplantsofotwalandngaisubcountiesinoyamdistrictnorthernuganda