Ethnobotanical survey of stomach ailments treatments among the indigenes of Otu-Jeremi, Ughelli South Local Government, Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

The present study documents some of the medicinal plants which are used by the indigenous people of Otu-Jeremi in Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State, Nigeria for the treatment of stomach ailments. Data were gathered through structured questionnaires and interviews with some traditional herbal practitioners and patients suffering from stomach ailments about the plants, parts used, method of preparation and mode of administration and their therapeutic values. The study revealed that twenty-seven (27) plant species belonging to twenty-one different families were used in treating various stomach ailments. The stomach ailments treated with these plants include stomach ache, dysentery, constipation, stomach ulcer, diarrhea, gastric ailment and digestive disorder. Out of these twenty-seven plant species, 51.85% are used in the treatment of stomach ache and other ailments either solely or in combination with other plants. Stomach ulcer, and constipation as well asdysentery alone were treated with 5(18.52%), 2(7.41%) and 2(7.41%) plants, respectively. Gastric ailments, diabetes, dysentery, constipation and diarrhea as well as digestive disorder were treated with one (1) plant species accounting for 3.70% each of the total plant species used in the area for the treatment of stomach ailments. The plant parts used in these treatments include leaves, roots, fruits, bark and seeds. It is recommended that government and ethnomedical practitioners should come together to find means of encouraging and promoting the use of medicinal plant in treatment of different ailments which is now becoming a global practice.