Analysis of Traditional Herbal Medicine Ingredients, Preparations, Disease Identification Methods and Delivery in Gondar city and its Surrounding

Abstract

 The objective of this study was to analyze the traditional herbal medicine ingredients, preparations, disease identification and delivery methods of the traditional healers use in and around Gondar City, North West Ethiopia. The focus of the study was to the traditional herbal medicine. Because the study was pertinent to investigate the general situation of “preparation disease identification method and delivery, the study was conducted based on Functional Theory. For this to be more robust, the researcher employed the qualitative
research method. To this study, hence, the researcher took eight traditional herbal medicine experts who have lived in Gondar and the surrounding areas for decades practicing this medicinal activity. The research participants were selected using the purposive sampling techniques due to the long-lived practical experiencing in the herbal medicinal activities in the areas. Data was collected from the participants using two tools. One was using participant observation and the other was using semi-structured interviews. The data gathered were then analyzed using content analysis and descriptive analysis techniques. In the process of the study, thus, it was possible to confirm that traditional healers have identified the type of disease in a traditional way to prepare traditional medicine from different types of plants. They have given the appropriate traditional medicine to the patients. After identifying the type of disease, they collect the medicinal plants (either from the plants in natural environment or from other traditional healers) the healers have had numerous traditional practices to be practiced as healing properties of the medicines. Based on the findings of the study it was recommended that the healers have been good potential holders of traditional herbal medicine with their knowledge in the community. Hence, it would be incredibly important if concerned bodies consider the traditional medicine and bring into modern, more scientific practices so as to enhance the field of medicine in this modern humanity era.