Some Phytomedicines from Shiselweni Region of Swaziland

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to gather information on herbal medicines used in traditional medicine in the Shiselweni region of Swaziland through an ethnomedical survey. Materials and methods: The study involved an open ended interview of each of the renowned traditional medical practitioners of the area to gather information on herbal remedies used by the practitioners. Voucher samples of plants used for the remedies were collected with the assistance of the traditional health practitioners who gave them. The samples were authenticated and deposited with the Curator of the National Herbarium, Malkerns, Swaziland. Results: Information about forty three phytomedicines used for treating twenty four diseases and three magico-medical conditions were collected. The phytomedicines were obtained from forty one plant species from twenty six families. Some of the diseases for which herbal medicines were provided were abscess, boils, chest pain, cough, debility, ear infection with pus, fracture, gonorrhoea, hiccup, palpitations, infertility, ulcer and uncontrollable uterine bleeding. The magico-medical conditions for which recipes were provided were good luck, removal of ill fortune and success in litigation. Conclusion: It is concluded that indigenous knowledge of the traditional medical practitioners of the Sheselweni region of Swaziland on herbal products is vast and could be useful in the integrated primary health care. There is need for more research on herbal medicines.