Table 6 Medicinal plants reported by traditional healers among the Hamer ethnic group (January–February 2010)
Vernacular name | Scientific name | Family | Part(s) used | Medicinal use(s) | Method(s) of preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Busente | Hypoestes forskaolii (Vahl) R.Br. (H052) | Acanthaceae | Root | Evil eye | Fresh roots ground, macerated in water, filtered and drunk |
Zen dhesha | Amaranthus hybridus L. (H053) | Amaranthaceae | Seed | Diarrhoea | Powdered, cooked in water and drunk with honey |
Ekumangenta | Amaranthus spinosus L. (H045) | Amaranthaceae | Root | Toothache | Crushed, and pressed on tooth |
Dhela | Cadaba farinosa Forssk.N (H024) | Capparidaceae | Root | Hypertension | Chopped, boiled with meat soup and drunk |
Malaria | Chopped, boiled with meat soup and drunk | ||||
- | Maerua triphylla A. Rich (H011) | Capparidaceae | Root | Irregular menstruation, loss of appetite | Crushed, stood in water, filtered, and drunk |
Bote | Cucurbita pepo L (H035) | Cucurbitaceae | Seed | Intestinal parasite | Dried, roasted, chewed and swallowed |
Dhenqesho | Zehneria pallidinervia (Harms) C. Jeffery (H014) | Cucurbitaceae | Leaf | Cattle eye disease | Fresh leaves crushed, and juice instilled into the affected eye |
Gebezdhesha | Cyperus distans L.f. (H004) | Cyperaceae | Bark/Root | Malaria | Roots or mixed with inner bark, chopped, macerated in water, mixed with milk and drunk |
Fulante | Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight &Arn.N (H010) | Fabaceae | Bark | Jaundice | Inner part peeled off, chopped, boiled with water smoke is inhaled |
Lalombe aka | Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) De Wit (H013) | Fabaceae | Stem | Hypertension, intestinal parasite, irregular menstruation, loss of appetite | Chopped, macerated, filtered, mixed with honey and milk, and drunk |
Choq | Chasmanthera dependens Hoscht. (H041) | Menispermaceae | Leaf | Toothache | Fresh leaves chopped, smashed, and pressed on tooth |
Butambero | (H006) | - | Leaf/Root | Shello/Bishifechi | Chopped, macerated in water, filtered and drunk |
Buri | (H008) | - | Root | Abdominal colic | Crushed, infusion prepared, filtered, mixed with milk and drunk |
Evil eye | Burnt, and smoke inhaled | ||||
Adema | (H019) | - | Bark | Ara | Chopped, boiled in water and vapor inhaled |
Onoko | (H057) | - | Leaf | Koliberdate | Fed to goats |