A survey of plants used in traditional health care by Waja tribe Bauchi State, Nigeria.
Idu M., Osemwegie O. O., Timothy O., Onyibe H. I.
Author Affiliation: Department of Botany, University of Benin, PMB 1154, Benin City, Nigeria.
Plant Archives 7 : 535-538
Abstract : The Waja people of Bauchi, Nigeria, are renowned for their rich traditional healing system besides cattle rearing and farming. A study of the plants used by these people in traditional health practice revealed 27 genera of magnoliophytic plants and 3 genera of mushrooms. Adansonia digitata, Anacardium occidentale, Azadirachta indica, Bauhinia rufescens, Ganoderma sp., Mangifera indica, Ficus sp., and Parkia biglobosa were the most commonly used medicinal plants by the Waja folk health practitioner. Schizophyllum commune, Daldinia concentrica and Ganoderma spp. were very rarely used. The Waja people believe that folk healing system is not characterized by technological and surgical procedures, treats the body and mind simultaneously and still retains the rubics of spirituality.