HERBS USED BY THE URHOBO PEOPLE IN DELTA STATE NIGERIA FOR THE TREATMENT OF TYPHOID FEVER

Abstract

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Typhoid fever is a common disease that very many people across the globe suffer from over time. There has been little investigation into the local medicinal herbs used for the treatment of this disease. Herbal plants used in the treatment of typhoid fever by the Urhobo people in Delta State were investigated in this study. A well structured questionnaire were administered to the focus group, which comprises of traditional healer, School Teachers and people that were adjudged by the locals to be knowledgeable in the use of medicinal herbs. It was found that beside the use of orthodox medicine, herbal plants were also used for the treatment of the ailment. The survey shows that majority of the herbs used by these people to treat the disease were used in combination with other herbs. Agronomy crops form buck part of the plants used to treat the disease. It was observed during the survey that the medicament containing unripe pawpaw, unripe pineapple, grape fruit and lime were more frequently used among the people in different places of the study area. The study showed that 23 plants belonging to 19 families were frequently used than other plants by the Urhobo people of Delta state Nigeria in the treatment of typhoid fever.