Indigenous Herbal Medicinal Knowledge and Healing Practices: The Case of Setema District in Jimma Zone, Ethiopia.

Abstract

Ethiopia is a home of many ethnic groups, cultures, and beliefs which in turn have contributed to the high diversity of indigenous health care knowledge and practices. Oromo people have used indigenous herbal medicine for a long period facing health problems of the societies. Societies are using indigenous medicine by preparing from different plants found in their surroundings. The aim of the present study was to investigate and analyze the indigenous herbal medicinal knowledge, beliefs, and healing practices in the Jimma zone, Setema district. Secondary data were reviewed for the conceptual framework. The primary data were gathered through observation, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussion and the Woreda’s Indigenous Herbal medicinal Knowledge and healing practices were qualitatively analyzed. Fieldwork was conducted between February and March 2020.The source of knowledge of these indigenous medicines was originated from the grandparents and holy Quran. Most of the time the modern health institutions (clinic, pharmacy, and hospitals) refer to indigenous healers for diseases like hemorrhoid tumors and evil sprite. Societies have high respect for indigenous medicines. The indigenous medicine administration is: drenching(drinking), chewing or eating, putting the drugs on the head with other additives like butter, topical application of the drug on the part, tying the drug on diseased part of the body, or some of the drugs are used as smoke or direct smoking. The process of the treatment is first identifying the symptoms, like itching, high pain, bleeding on the area (anal part), by using cotton the drug will be applied for three to four days. Prepare indigenous medicine from plants’ stem, leaves, roots, and plant oil Used to treat diseases like blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer, to treat feet fungus, to treat eye, ear, uterine disease, syphilis, hemorrhage, skin diseases, rabies, and other diseases. The dose given to the patient was based on the age of the patient and given based on a small spoonful or large spoon. Therefore, People use both indigenous medicine and Biomedicine to alleviate their health problems. Indigenous medicines were highly supported in the study area due to religious, economic social factors. There are varieties of indigenous knowledge and a variety of indigenous medicinal plants in the study area. Due to lack of capacity (workplace or land, capital, equipment or machine) and assistance given to them by local Government attention and assistance provided to them was very weak. The responsiveness of the local administrators was very weak in terms of legal issues for the certificate, and workplace.