Table 2 Description on the habit, habitat, parts used, use value, frequency of citation, mode of preparations, route of delivery and human ailments treated by the THs in Megera and adjacent Kebeles of Dalle District, 2015

Acanthaceae

Hypoestes forskaolii (Vahl) R. Br.

Ciikkicho

W

Sb

LRt

Or

The leaf is pounded, macerated, and drunk;

The root is chewed, and the output is swallowed

Helminthiases

Severe stomachache

NT056

Alliaceae

Allium sativum L.

Waajjo tuma

HG

H

Bu

Or

The garlic is peeled, chewed, and swallowed

Tonsillitis

Acute severe stomachache

NT054

Aloaceae

Aloe sp.

Argiisa

W

Sb

Lf

Or

Fresh Aloe sp. leaf is chopped, pounded, and small quantity (about 1 teaspoon) is drunk immediately or licked and swallowed

Acute febrile illness (‘lamootta’/‘dingetegna’)

NT032

Anacardiaceae

Mangifera indica L.

Mango

HG

T

Sh

De

The fluid which oozes out while the shoot is cut is applied to the wounded part of the body

Blood clotting and wound healing

NT053

Apiaceae

Foeniculum vulgare Mill.

Malkata

HG

H

LSt

Or

Pounded, macerated, and are given orally

Blood pressure

NT015

Apocynaceae

Acokanthera schimperi (A. DC.) Schweinf.

Qaraaro

W

T

Fr

Or

The ripe fruit (only the sweet one) is pounded, macerated, and mixed with water, and the patient drinks about 1 and ½ cup of the preparation in the morning before breakfast

A syndrome called ‘Arrisho’

‘Usso/yebird beshita’ (a stabbing pain)

NT018

Asparagaceae

Asparagus africanus Lam.

Buticho

W

Sb

Rt

Or

The root is pounded, boiled, and drunk

‘Usso/yebird beshita’ (a stabbing pain), treated early in the morning before breakfast;

Febrile malaria (this time, but not necessarily in the morning)

NT026

Asteraceae

Acmella caulirhza Del.

Bexxo

HG

H

Fl

Or

Chewed and swallowed

Tonsillitis

NT004

Lactuca inermis Forssk.

Ameessa

W

Cl

Lf

Or

The leaf is chopped, boiled, and the filtrate is drunk

‘Lagote dhibba’ (growth retardation)

NT064

Vernonia amygdalina Del.

Hechcho

W

Sb

Lf

Or

The leaf of Vernonia amygdalina is pounded, macerated, and 1 cup of the preparation is given orally

Febrile malaria and helminthiases

NT043

Vernonia auriculifera Hiern.

Reejjicho

W

Sb

Sh

De

The leaf from the shoot of the plant, often with Solanum dasyphyllum, is gently rubbed and applied on the wounded surface

Wound healing

NT057

Boraginaceae

Cordia africana L.

Waaddicho

W

T

BFr

Or

The bark is pounded, boiled, and drunk; or the ripe fruits are boiled, and the sweet juice is drunk for 1 week (7 days)

Gastritis

NT041

Caricaceae

Carica papaya L.

Paappaye

HG

Sb

LFr

Or

The fresh leaf of Carica papaya is home dried, pounded, boiled, and mixed with sugar is taken orally for some time (often mixed with fresh leaves of Ajuga integrifolia);

Fruit of Carica papaya with the fruit of Zanthoxylum chalybeum are pounded, macerated, filtered, and drunk

Blood pressure

Gastritis

NT044

Celesteraceae

Maytenus undata (Thunb.) Blakelock

Kincho

W

Sb

Br

Or

The bark is pounded, boiled, and filtered, and 1 cup is drenched

Stomachache in infants

NT021

Clusiaceae

Garcinia buchananii Baker

Soloolsa

HG

T

Br

Or

The bark is peeled carefully, boiled, cooled, and drunk;

The same application in the third day from the treatment regimen by Sida ovata

Sexual impotence in male

A syndrome called ‘Arrisho’

NT036

Commelinaceae

Commelina benghalensis L.

Laaluunxe

HG

Cl

Lt

De

The latex which oozes out is applied on the affected area

‘Baararre’ and ‘ishiisha’ (fungal skin infections)

NT047

Crassulaceae

Kalanchoe petitiana A. Rich

Hanculuulle

W

H

Lf

Oc

Oozing fluid of the leaf is spilled into the eyes

Inflammation of an eye due to poisonous plant materials

NT042

Cucurbitaceae

Cyclantheropsis parviflora (Cogn.) Harms

Basu baaqula

HG

Cl

FrS

Or

The fleshy fruit is boiled and eaten

The seeds are roasted and eaten

Constipation;

GIT (gastrointestinal tract) discomforts

NT062

Peponium vogelii (Hook.f.) Engl.

Surupha

W

Cl

Fr

Or

The juicy ripe fruit (about 2 or 3) are eaten for few days

Febrile malaria, gonorrhea, and ‘magarto’ (jaundice)

NT010

Cuppressaceae

Juniperus procera Hochst ex. Engl.

Hoomme

W

T

LSh

Or

The leaf is pounded, and the juice is given orally

The shoot is pounded, decocted, and drunk

Liver disease

‘Buutaame’ (painful swelling)

NT049

Dioscoreaceae

Dioscorea alata L.

Bohe

HG

Cl

LTb

De

Or

The leaf is rubbed gently and applied on the affected part of the skin;

The tuber is boiled and eaten for a certain amount of time

‘Baararre’

Diabetes

NT003

Dioscorea bulbifera L.

Kotte Bohe

HG

Cl

Tb

Or

Boiled and eaten regularly in small amounts every day; or prepared in the form of soup and drunk

Diabetes

NT035

Euphorbiaceae

Clutia abyssinica (Jaub. & Spach.)

Maalaasincho

W

Sb

Lf

Or

The leaf of the plant and fresh Aloe sp. are mixed, pounded, cold macerated, and given orally

Meningitis

NT007

Croton macrostachyus Del.

Masincho

W

T

Sh

Or

The shoot part is boiled and drunk

Febrile malaria, (especially P. vivax)

NT011

Euphorbia schimperiana Hochst Ex, A. Rich

Binjille

W

H

Lf

De

Mixed with the leaf of Gouania longispicata is pounded and creamed on the affected part of the skin

‘Dhiiga’ (leprosy)

NT025

Ricinus communis L.

Qombo”o

W

Sb

Rt

Or

Fresh root is chewed and swallowed

Breast cancer

NT071

Fabaceae

Millettia ferruginea (Hochst.) Bak.

Hengeddicho

W

Sb

Br

Or

The bark is washed, pounded, filtered, and given orally

Cancer

NT069

Flacourtiaceae

Dovyalis abyssinica (A. Rich.) Warb.

Shiilo

W

Sb

Br

Or

The raw bark is chewed and swallowed

‘Muje’ (a tumor)

NT017

Icacinaceae

Apodytes dimidiata E. Mey. ex Arn.

Doongicho

W

Sb

Br

Or

The bark of the plant is boiled, and about 1 cup is given orally

Stomachache

‘Lagote dhibba’ (retarded growth)

NT008

Lamiaceae

Ajuga integrifolia Buch.-Ham. (bugleweed)

Anamuro

HG

H

Lf

Or

Fresh leaf is pounded, decocted, and drunk with tea or coffee

Blood pressure

NT046

Clerodendrum myricoides (Hochst.) Vatke

Ma’niisa

W

H

LfR

Or

The leaf part is pounded, mixed with honey, and drunk; or its root is boiled, often mixed with the shoot of Zanthoxylum chalybeum, is given orally

‘Naqarsu dhibba’ (leukemia)

NT006

Ocimum lamiifolium Hochst. ex Benth.

Michete dhagicho

W

Sb

Lf

Na

Or

The soft leaves are rubbed gently to squeeze a characteristically reddish fluid, collect on a cup, and taken through nostrils very carefully;

It may also be drunk with coffee

‘Miche’ (an acute viral infection)

NT048

Plectranthus garckeanus (Vatke) J.K. Morton

Toontoona

W

H

Lf

Or

De

The leaf is boiled, filtered, and the liquid is given orally

Raw leaf is put between the fingers of legs

Helminthiases

Athletes’ foot (antifungal)

NT034

Plectranthus punctatus (L. f.) L’Hér.

Hellee

HG

H

LSh

De

The leaf and shoot are gently rubbed and creamed on the wound

Wound healing

NT031

Salvia nilotica Juss. ex Jacq.

Michete dhagicho (Damakase)

W

Sb

Lf

Na

The soft leaves are rubbed gently to squeeze a characteristically reddish fluid, collect on a cup and taken through nostrils very carefully; it may also be drunk with coffee

‘Miche’

NT070

Loganiaceae

Buddleja polystachya Fresen.

Bullaancho

W

Sb

Lf

Or

The leaves are pounded, macerated, and given orally

Cancer

NT013

Malvaceae

Sida ovata Forssk.

Qirqixxe

W

Sb

Lf

Or

The leaf of Sida ovate, often mixed with the root of go’ra (Rubus apetalus) is boiled at night, and the cooled preparation is drunk in the morning

‘A rrisho

NT060

Meliaceae

Ekebergia capensis Sparrm.

Goddiicho

W

Sb

Fr

Or

The fruits are pounded, filtered, and drunk

Few fruits are chewed and swallowed

Cancer

Stomachache

NT023

Melianthaceae

Bersama abyssinica Fresen.

Xeweerrakko

W

T

Br

Or

The bark is pounded, boiled, and a small amount of the preparation is drunk

‘Naqarsu dhibba’ (cancer)

NT063

Menispermaceae

Stephania abyssinica Dillon and A.Rich.

Kalaala

W

Cl

Lf

Or

The leaf part is boiled, and about 1 cup is drunk

Jaundice (liver disease)

NT050

Musaceae

Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman)

Weese

HG

H

RSt

Or

De

Unfermented newly processed “kocho” is baked and eaten

The dry “xusho” (thread) is burned to give “diqillo” (soot), mixed with any kind of body lotion or butter is creamed on the body

Amoebiasis

‘Bijaajo’/‘ikek’ (bacterial skin infection)

NT067

Musa x paradisiaca L.

Muuze

HG

H

St

De

The oozing fluid from the stem is applied on a fresh wound

Coagulation and protecting a secondary infection

NT065

Myrsinaceae

Myrsine melanophloeos (L.) R. Br.

Morocho

W

Sb

Lf

Or

The leaf (often mixed with Olea capensis) is pounded, cold macerated, and drunk

Cancer (leukemia)

NT020

Myrtaceae

Syzygium guineense (Wild.) DC.

Duuwancho

W

T

BFr

Or

The bark is pounded, macerated, and drunk

The ripe fruits of the plant are eaten in small amounts for some time

‘Arrisho’ (it cures after inducing diarrhea

Obesity

NT061

Oleaceae

Olea capensis L. f.

Seettaame

W

T

Sh

Or

The shoot (often with shoot of Zanthoxylum chalybeum and Clerodendrum myricoides) is boiled, mixed with honey, and drunk

Cancer

NT022

Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata (Wall. ex G. Don) Cif.

Ejersa

W

T

Sh

Oc

The soft shoot of the plant is pounded with the addition of small amount of water, filtered, and the pure drop is added at the margins of the cornea

‘Burdicho’ (an early stage trachoma)

NT066

Oliniaceae

Olinia rochetiana A. Juss.

Noole

W

T

Lf

Na

The leaf is heated slightly, rubbed by the hands, and then inhaled through nostrils

Viral common cold

NT009

Passifloraceae

Passiflora edulis Sims

Hoophe

HG

Cl

Fr

Or

Two ripe fruits are eaten every morning for about 6 months

Blood pressure

NT029

Phytolaccaceae

Phytolacca dodecandra L’Herit.

Haraanjicha

W

Sb

Lf

Or

Pounded, boiled, and taken orally early in the morning

Helminthiases; as a laxative

NT059

Poaceae

Cymbopogon citratus (Hook. & Arn.) Stapf.

Hixicho

HG

H

Lf

Or

The grassy leaf is boiled, macerated, cooled, and given to infants orally (esp. drenching)

GIT disorder

Boost immunity of breastfeeding infants

NT058

Podocarpaceae

Podocarpus falcatus (Thunb.) Mirb.

Dagucho

W

T

SLt

Or

The shoot is boiled, and 1 cup is drunk;

Oozing liquid from the stem is mixed with cold water and is drunk

‘magarto’ (jaundice)

Gastritis and amoeba

NT040

Polygonaceae

Rumex abyssinicus Jacq.

Shiishoone

W

H

Rt

Or

Fresh roots are pounded, boiled, and about 1 cup is given orally

‘magarto’ (jaundice)

NT001

Rumex nervosus Vahl

Taare

HG

H

Rt

Or

The root is washed and eaten raw

The root is pounded, boiled, and given orally

Intestinal parasites

‘Lammootta’ (acute febrile illness)

NT039

Ranunculaceae

Clematis simensis Fresen.

Fiide

W

Cl

LSt

Or

The thread is chewed, and the small amount is swallowed;

Leaf of the plant is macerated and drunk

Toothache;

Cancer

NT037

Rhamnaceae

Gouania longispicata Engl.

Daanikuukke

W

Sb

Lf

De

Used often mixed with the leaves of Euphorbia schimperiana, are pounded and creamed on the affected part

‘Dhiiga’ (leprosy and leukoderma)

NT024

Rhamnus prinoides L’Herit.

Xaddo

W

Sb

Lf

Or

The leaf, often with the root of Rubus apetalus, is boiled, decocted, and drunk before meal

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)

NT027

Rosaceae

Hagenia abyssinica (Bruce) J.F. Gmel

So”ichote dhagga (qaanqo)

W

Sb

Fr

Or

The ripe fruit is pounded, decocted, and 1 cup of the preparation is drunk in the morning before breakfast

‘So”icho’ (tapeworm)

NT055

Prunus persica (L.) Batsch

Kooke

HG

T

Lf

Or

The leaf is pounded, macerated, and drunk

‘Lamootta’ (acute febrile illness)

NT033

Rubus apetalus Poir.

Go’ra

HG

Sb

Rt

Or

The root is pounded, boiled, and drunk

Tuberculosis and ‘siimmaxo’ (a disease condition characterized by painful urination like gonorrhea)

NT028

Rubiaceae

Coffea arabica L.

Buna

HG

T

Fr

Or

The fruit is roasted, pounded, and mixed with salt and honey and is eaten

Severe, frequent, and watery diarrhea

NT051

Gardenia ternifolia Schumach & Thonn.

Gaambeella

W

Sb

LLt

Or

The latex is creamed on the tongues of infants; or the leafs are boiled and given orally after cooling

‘Lagote dhibba’ (growth retardation)

NT038

Pentas lanceolata Forssk.

Baalaamu dhagga

W

H

Rt

Or

De

Root is pounded, mixed with water, filtered, and drunk

The root is pounded, mixed with small water, and applied on the wound

Cancer

Wounds

NT052

Rubia cordifolia L.

Haarre

HG

Cl

Rt

De

A TM practitioner chews the root, mixed with salt, and spits on the swelling while uttering the word “fincami” or “dhoohi!”

‘Buutaame’ (painful illness with fever and swelling)

NT002

Rutaceae

Ruta chalepensis L.

Xenaddaame

HG

H

Sh

Or

The shoot is chewed and swallowed

Detoxify poison

Painkiller for various ailments including stomachache

NT030

Rutaceae

Zanthoxylum chalybeum Engl.

Gadda

W

T

LSh

Or

The leaf/shoot (often with the shoot of Olea capensis and Clerodendrum myricoides) is boiled, mixed with honey, and drunk

The leaf of the plant is pounded, macerated, mixed with honey and is given orally

Cancer

Gastritis

NT012

Sapotaceae

Sideroxylon oxyacanthum Baill.

Bunguude

W

Sb

Lf

Or

The leaf part, often mixed with leaf of Zanthoxylum chalybeum and honey, is macerated and given orally

Cancer

NT014

Solanaceae

Solanum aculeatissimum Jacq.

Haanja Borbodho

W

Sb

LSh

Or

De

The leaf is chopped with red onion, boiled, and the soup is drunk;

The shoot is rubbed gently, and the liquid output is applied on the wounded area

Asthma

Wound healing

NT016

Solanum dasyphyllum Schum. & Thonn.

Borbodho

W

Sb

Sh

De

The soft shoot of Solanum dasyphyllum is gently rubbed, and the liquid output is applied on a wound

Wound healing

NT068

Solanum nigrum L.

Xu’naayye

HG

H

WP

Or

The herb is boiled and eaten regularly for about 3 days

‘Bisu shekkeere’ (P. vivax)

NT005

Tiliaceae

Grewia flavescens Juss.

Shishsho

W

T

Lf

Or

The leaf is decocted and given orally

‘Lagote dhibba’ (growth retardation)

NT019

Zingiberaceae

Zingiber officinale Rosc.

Jaanjiweelo

HG

H

RRz

Or

Oc

The rhizoid is pounded, dried, and mixed with feed/drink

The root of Zingiber officinale is washed well, gently rubbed with hands, mixed with small amount of water, and dropped into an eye

Pain management for cancer patients

‘Burdicho’ (early stage trachoma)

NT045