Medicinal Plants in the Ethnoveterinary Practices of Borana Pastoralists, Southern Ethiopia

A survey was conducted in the Borana rangeland pastoral areas of southern Ethiopia between October 1998 and May 1999 to generate information on the ethnoveterinary use of plants. Information was collected by direct interview of 24 healers and 97 livestock owners. Forty-three plant species were collected, compressed, and submitted to the national herbarium for botanical classification. Roots, leaves, barks, shoots, and other parts of plants were recorded that could be employed to treat sick animals. Oral administration of infusions, decoctions, and other preparations comprised 56.42% of the applications, followed by topical application of poultice, sap, and other forms (37.2%). Infusion was the most frequently used preparation (35.6%), followed by poultice (30.13%) and decoction (17.8%). Knowledge of medicinal plants can empower pastoralists to solve animal health problems cost-effectively. National Veterinary Institute PO Box 19 Debrezeit, Ethiopia Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Addis Ababa University Box 34 Debrezeit, Ethiopia Faculty of Science Department of Biology Addis Ababa University Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Vol. 2, No. 3, 2004 • Intern J Appl Res Vet Med 220 drugs, and the high cost of drugs and equipment. Consequently, the majority of those raising stock in rural areas are far from the site of veterinary stations, and those who have access to veterinary services may not be able to afford to pay for them. Additionally, reduced funding for animal disease control is an issue in Ethiopia and is likely to influence the incidence of some serious livestock diseases. Cutbacks in modern veterinary services mean that livestock owners cannot rely on veterinary services for control of various important livestock diseases. Thus the pastoralists who occupy remote, inaccessible areas of the arid and semi-arid lowlands (such as the Borana pastoralists) are highly vulnerable to such problems. A practical solution to this problem is to develop socially acceptable and effective remedies from reasonably inexpensive sources that can complement modern medicine. The practice of traditional veterinary medicine provides such a short cut. In Ethiopia people have used traditional veterinary methods to treat both human and livestock diseases for generations. Plants comprise the largest component of the diverse therapeutic elements of traditional livestock health care practices. Herbal medicine is the branch of traditional practices that is most amenable to scientific investigation. Herbs are also invaluable subjects of international development. More than 30% of modern drugs are derived from plants. The use of indigenous expertise, especially that of ethnobotanists, has received considerable attention in recent years. However, information on veterinary herbal medicine has not been systematically documented. This study was conducted to document and present various herbal preparations used by Borana pastoralists in Ethiopia and to collect medicinal plants for botanical classification in the hopes of furthering knowledge of veterinary herbal medicine. MATERIALS AND METHODS Study Area The study was conducted in the Borana zone of the Oromia regional state in southern Ethiopia in four selected districts between October 1998 and May 1999.The Borana zone is geographically located between 3 ̊ 36 6 ̊ 38 N latitude and 36 ̊ 43 -41 ̊ 40 E longitude. The largest proportion of the Borana zone (62.5%) can be classified as lowlands with a semi-arid to arid climate. Nomadism and semisedentarism are typical livestock-rearing practices in these areas. Two rainy seasons are recorded in the area: the spring and autumn rains, referred to as “gannaa” and “hagayyaa,” respectively. The spring rain starts around mid-February and ceases around the end of May, and the autumn rain starts around mid-September and ends around mid-November. The mean annual temperature varies from 10 ̊C to over 25 ̊C. The natural vegetation is forest and lowland bushy savannah or steppe-type vegetation. Data Collection Information on different aspects of ethnoveterinary medicine in the study area was collected by direct interviews of known healers and livestock owners. A total of 24 well-known healers and 97 livestock owners were interviewed in four districts of Borana rangelands. Baseline data on healers’ sources and specialty were collected. Subsequent discussions centered on details of the healers’ practice. An ethnobotanical survey was conducted by transect walking or driving with respondents along culverts. Parts of the plants that were identified as having medicinal value were collected, compressed, and submitted to the National Herbarium of Addis Ababa University for botanical classification. RESULTS A total of 77 different plants used by Borana pastoralists to treat or prevent a wide range of livestock disease situations were collected. Of these, 64 were submitted to Addis Ababa University for botanical classification. Forty-three of the submitted plant specimens were botanically classified. Table 1 presents a summary of their indications, component used, routes of administration, and forms of preparations. 221 Intern J Appl Res Vet Med • Vol. 2, No. 3, 2004 Ta b le 1 .S u m m a ry o f M e d ic in a l P la n ts U se d b y Bo ra n a P a st o ra lis ts in C o n tr o lli n g L iv e st o c k D ise a se s L o ca l N am e B o ta n ic al N am e P ar ts U se d R o u te s P re p ar at io n In d ic at io n s H am m ar es sa A cc ac ia b re vi sp ic a B ar k of r oo t O ra l P as te in fu si on C ow dr ia si s, 3 -d ay s ic kn es s, d ia rr he a H al lo A cc ac ia b us ei In ne r ba rk To pi ca l P as te w ith o r W ou nd s an d bu rn s, m as tit is , sw ol le n te at s, w ith ou t bu tte r; in fu si on an d re ta in ed f et al m em br an e Ja m as A cc ac ia m el ife ra B ar k O ra l R ed c ol or ed ; in fu si on D ia rr he a Ji rm e A cc ac ia n ilo tic a R oo t O ra l In fu si on R et ai ne d fe ta l m em br an e O ra l In fu si on D ia rr he a O ra l/N as al P as te S na ke b ite A ur ic ul ar /O cu la r P as te C ow dr ia si s D ha da ch a A cc ac ia t or til is In ne r ba rk O ra l In fu si on D ia rr he a In ne r ba rk To pi ca l A s su tu re S ur ge ry H aw ac ho A lb ez ia a nt he lim en tic a R oo t ba rk O ra l D ec oc tio n H el m in th ia si s Q ul lu bb i A liu m s at iv um B ul b O ra l P as te o r as is A s ex pe ct or an t, an tis ep tic , an d an tim al ar ia l ( fo r hu m an s) C ha kk e A lo e ke do ng es is W ho le p la nt O ra l In fu si on A bd om in al d is te ns io n To pi ca l P as te D er m at op hi lo si s H ar ge ss a A lo e sc un di flo ra S ho ot To pi ca l S ap E ar p ai n, o ph th al m ia , w ou nd s, b ur ns R oo t O ra l E ar p ai n, o ph th al m ia , w ou nd s, b ur ns Le af To pi ca l E ar p ai n, o ph th al m ia , w ou nd s, b ur ns N ee m A za rd ra ch ta in di ca R oo ts O ra l In fu si on E ct oa nd e nd op ar as ite s Le af To pi ca l P as te E ct op ar as ite s B ad da na B al an ite s ro tu nd ifo lia B ra nc he s To pi ca l A sh D er m at op hi lo si s, m an ge m ite s M im m ix a C ap si cu m a nn um P od s O ra l In fu si on C ow dr ia si s