BACKGROUND There is a hierarchical organisation of knowledge in the use of medicinal plants in communities. Medicinal use knowledge starts in the home and is passed on to family members. Next in the hierarchy are neighbours, village elders and finally, traditional healers being the most knowledgeable. For primary health care this hierarchy is actively followed in seeking remedies for ailments. ...

Animals (and their derived products) are essential ingredients in the preparation of many traditional remedies. Despite its prevalence in traditional medical practices worldwide, research on medicinal animals has often been neglected in comparison to medicinal plant research. This work documents the medicinal animals used by a rural community in the semi-arid region, inserted in Caatinga Biome,...

BACKGROUND In relation to the extensive use of herbal medicinal products in self-care, the safety information is limited and there is a need for improvement. This study describes spontaneously reported adverse reactions related to herbal medicinal products and natural remedies in Sweden. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the characteristics and frequency of adverse events recorded by the Swedish Medical...

A survey of medicinal plants used by rural and urban inhabitants of the three cities of the Tropical Atlantic Forest, Region of Vale do Ribeira, State of São Paulo, Brazil was performed by means of 200 interviews with medicinal plant users and extractors and, traditional healers. One hundred fourteen herbal remedies were recorded and the following information reported: Latin, vernacular and Eng...

Skin diseases are most common form of infections occurring in people of all ages. The aim of the study is not only to prescribe remedies for skin diseases in human beings but also to draw attention for the need towards a detailed study on medicinal plants, which could provide novel remedies leads for other dreadful diseases. This review has highlighted the role and utilities of some medicinal p...

Traditional remedies are part of the cultural and religious life of the African people. In this manuscript the nature and range of traditional remedies used for female complaints in relation to gynaecological conditions and disorders is reviewed. A total of 156 medicinal plant species are documented as being used for gynaecological complaints in South Africa. These are presented in a table with...

Zootherapy is the treatment of human ailments with remedies made from animals and their products. Despite its prevalence in traditional medical practices worldwide, research on this phenomenon has often been neglected in comparison to medicinal plant research. This review discusses some related aspects of the use of animal-based remedies in Latin America, identifies those species used as folk r...

The authors conducted survey of medicinal plants used by the tribal of Thrissur district. The investigation revealed several plant remedies to escape from the attack of insects and flies which are described in this paper. These could be used as soft common remedies in our households also.