Use of Native Herbs in Health Management in Nigeria

Abstract

In recent times there has been an increased awareness of the importance of traditional/alternative medicine in health care of human and animal populations in developing countries. It is an indisputable fact that farmers, civil servants, market women and men utilized indigenous knowledge systems in treating health problems before the advent of modern medicine. Increasing cost of modern orthodox drugs and services have further alienated the resource poor farmers, civil servant, market women and men from having access to modern orthodox drugs and services thus compelling them to resort to traditional medicine. Traditional medicine has become an issue mainly because it is cost saving and easily appreciated, adopted, applied and use by farmers, civil servant, market women and men. Traditional medicine extension delivery have in recent times become issues in the way forward for the development of the poor and least Developed Countries. Research is tilting towards traditional medicine, which is the springboard for rural development. Extension work in Nigeria is one of the means available to impart advance knowledge in traditional medicine, vocational skills and create awareness among farmers that encourages farmers’ adoption, application and continuous use of new innovations in traditional medicine, which is instrumental in sustaining good health of farmers that enhance them to promote increase in agricultural productivity and generate income to alleviate poverty in Nigeria. Traditional medicine extension delivery in human and animal diseases, health problems experienced by farmers, civil servant, market women and men and methods of control are highlighted. Random sampling procedure was used in the study to draw up a representative sample for the study. At first stage, 4 states were taken from 36 states. then one local government area was randomly selected from each of the 4 states namely: Dindima Local Govermemt Area of Bauchi State, Bekwarra.