Abstract:
Background: Indigenous knowledge develops by indigenous people in the processes of
their interaction with their environment and the science Ethinomedicine developed
gradually having its origin in the indigenous medicinal practices. The main purpose of
the study was to make survey of plants that have ethnomedicinal value and investigate
the uses and management practices employed by local people of ‘Boosat’, Welinchiti
area.
Methods: Five study sites were systematically established to include areas inhabited by
settled farmers and transhumance pastoralists. Eighty informants were randomly
selected. Ethnobotanical information of medicinal plants was obtained from informants
by semi-structured interview, observations, group discussions, and guided field walks.
RESULTS: Fifty-two medicinal plant species were documented, which are used to treat
43 human diseases. The category of medicinal plant species includes shrubs (46%),
herbs (25%), trees (19%), climbers (8%) and hemi parasites (2%). Roots (38%) and
leaves (23%) are the most frequently used plant parts. The method of preparation is by
crushing, pounding and mixing with cold water to serve as a drink and chewing to
swallow the juice, which accounted for (17%) each.
Conclusions: People of ‘Boosat’ are knowledgeable about the plants, their distribution,
medicinal use and management. Indigenous practices somehow contributed to the
sustained use, management and conservation of medicinal plants. Knowledge of
medicinal plants is wider among elderly women and men while the young are
comparatively less knowledgeable. The results of this study indicated significant
contribution in efforts directed towards conservation of the remaining medicinal plant
resources, provided that the necessary mechanisms are put in place before it is too late.
