The use of medicinal plants to prevent COVID-19 in Nepal
Abstract Background Medicinal plants are the fundamental unit of traditional medicine system in Nepal. Nepalese people are rich in traditional medicine especially in folk medicine (ethnomedicine), and this system is gaining much attention after 1995. The use of medicinal plants has increased during...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-021-00449-w |
| _version_ | 1818440354363342848 |
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| author | Dipak Khadka Man Kumar Dhamala Feifei Li Prakash Chandra Aryal Pappu Rana Magar Sijar Bhatta Manju Shree Thakur Anup Basnet Dafang Cui Shi Shi |
| author_facet | Dipak Khadka Man Kumar Dhamala Feifei Li Prakash Chandra Aryal Pappu Rana Magar Sijar Bhatta Manju Shree Thakur Anup Basnet Dafang Cui Shi Shi |
| author_sort | Dipak Khadka |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Medicinal plants are the fundamental unit of traditional medicine system in Nepal. Nepalese people are rich in traditional medicine especially in folk medicine (ethnomedicine), and this system is gaining much attention after 1995. The use of medicinal plants has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic as a private behavior (not under the control of government). A lot of misinterpretations of the use of medicinal plants to treat or prevent COVID-19 have been spreading throughout Nepal which need to be managed proactively. In this context, a research was needed to document medicinal plants used, their priority of use in society, their cultivation status, and the source of information people follow to use them. This study aimed to document the present status of medicinal plant use and make important suggestion to the concerned authorities. Methods This study used a web-based survey to collect primary data related to medicinal plants used during COVID-19. A total of 774 respondents took part in the survey. The study calculated the relative frequencies of citation (RFC) for the recorded medicinal plants. The relationship between plants recorded and different covariates (age, gender education, occupation, living place, and treatment methods) was assessed using Kruskal-Wallis test and Wilcoxon test. The relationship between the information sources people follow and the respondent characteristics was assessed using chi-square test. Results The study found that the use of medicinal plants has increased during COVID-19 and most of the respondents recommended medicinal plants to prevent COVID-19. This study recorded a total of 60 plants belonging to 36 families. The leaves of the plants were the most frequently used. The Zingiber officinale was the most cited species with the frequency of citation 0.398. Most of the people (45.61%) were getting medicinal plants from their home garden. The medicinal plants recorded were significantly associated with the education level, location of home, primary treatment mode, gender, and age class. The information source of plants was significantly associated with the education, gender, method of treatment, occupation, living with family, and location of home during the lockdown caused by COVID-19. Conclusions People were using more medicinal plants during COVID-19 claiming that they can prevent or cure COVID-19. This should be taken seriously by concerned authorities. The authorities should test the validity of these medicinal plants and control the flow of false information spread through research and awareness programs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T18:11:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-41650bb2f63c46c6afbd383bb24633b7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1746-4269 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T18:11:01Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-41650bb2f63c46c6afbd383bb24633b72022-12-21T22:52:17ZengBMCJournal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine1746-42692021-04-0117111710.1186/s13002-021-00449-wThe use of medicinal plants to prevent COVID-19 in NepalDipak Khadka0Man Kumar Dhamala1Feifei Li2Prakash Chandra Aryal3Pappu Rana Magar4Sijar Bhatta5Manju Shree Thakur6Anup Basnet7Dafang Cui8Shi Shi9Guangdong Key Laboratory for Innovative Development and Utilization of Forest Plant Germplasm, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural UniversityCentral Department of Environmental Science, Tribhuvan UniversityState Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental SciencesEnvironmental Science Program, Golden Gate International CollegeProvincial Government Ministry of Social Development, Regional Health DirectorateEnvironmental Science Program, Golden Gate International CollegeEnvironmental Science Program, Golden Gate International CollegeEnvironmental Science Program, Golden Gate International CollegeGuangdong Key Laboratory for Innovative Development and Utilization of Forest Plant Germplasm, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural UniversityGuangdong Key Laboratory for Innovative Development and Utilization of Forest Plant Germplasm, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural UniversityAbstract Background Medicinal plants are the fundamental unit of traditional medicine system in Nepal. Nepalese people are rich in traditional medicine especially in folk medicine (ethnomedicine), and this system is gaining much attention after 1995. The use of medicinal plants has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic as a private behavior (not under the control of government). A lot of misinterpretations of the use of medicinal plants to treat or prevent COVID-19 have been spreading throughout Nepal which need to be managed proactively. In this context, a research was needed to document medicinal plants used, their priority of use in society, their cultivation status, and the source of information people follow to use them. This study aimed to document the present status of medicinal plant use and make important suggestion to the concerned authorities. Methods This study used a web-based survey to collect primary data related to medicinal plants used during COVID-19. A total of 774 respondents took part in the survey. The study calculated the relative frequencies of citation (RFC) for the recorded medicinal plants. The relationship between plants recorded and different covariates (age, gender education, occupation, living place, and treatment methods) was assessed using Kruskal-Wallis test and Wilcoxon test. The relationship between the information sources people follow and the respondent characteristics was assessed using chi-square test. Results The study found that the use of medicinal plants has increased during COVID-19 and most of the respondents recommended medicinal plants to prevent COVID-19. This study recorded a total of 60 plants belonging to 36 families. The leaves of the plants were the most frequently used. The Zingiber officinale was the most cited species with the frequency of citation 0.398. Most of the people (45.61%) were getting medicinal plants from their home garden. The medicinal plants recorded were significantly associated with the education level, location of home, primary treatment mode, gender, and age class. The information source of plants was significantly associated with the education, gender, method of treatment, occupation, living with family, and location of home during the lockdown caused by COVID-19. Conclusions People were using more medicinal plants during COVID-19 claiming that they can prevent or cure COVID-19. This should be taken seriously by concerned authorities. The authorities should test the validity of these medicinal plants and control the flow of false information spread through research and awareness programs.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-021-00449-wCoronaCOVID-19KnowledgeMedicinal plantsPandemicPeople |
| spellingShingle | Dipak Khadka Man Kumar Dhamala Feifei Li Prakash Chandra Aryal Pappu Rana Magar Sijar Bhatta Manju Shree Thakur Anup Basnet Dafang Cui Shi Shi The use of medicinal plants to prevent COVID-19 in Nepal Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine Corona COVID-19 Knowledge Medicinal plants Pandemic People |
| title | The use of medicinal plants to prevent COVID-19 in Nepal |
| title_full | The use of medicinal plants to prevent COVID-19 in Nepal |
| title_fullStr | The use of medicinal plants to prevent COVID-19 in Nepal |
| title_full_unstemmed | The use of medicinal plants to prevent COVID-19 in Nepal |
| title_short | The use of medicinal plants to prevent COVID-19 in Nepal |
| title_sort | use of medicinal plants to prevent covid 19 in nepal |
| topic | Corona COVID-19 Knowledge Medicinal plants Pandemic People |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-021-00449-w |
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