Herbal drugs have been used since ancient times as medicines for the
treatment of a wide range of diseases, for both human and l ivestock. A
study conducted in the Lake Victoria Basin Kenya revealed vast
knowledge and reliance on traditional medicine as a source of
healthcare. The study documented 34 medicinal plant species distributed
among 21 botanical families and 34 genera, used in the management of
human ailments. The highest numbers of species were from the families
Asteraceae and Leguminosae . The most commonly harvested plant parts
were leaves (46.51%) and roots (34. 88%). The most common growth forms
utilised were herbs (40.54%) followed by shrubs (27.03%). The major
methods of herbal drug preparation were concoction (31.03%) and
decoction (24.14%) administered mainly through oral and dermal routes,
(64.29%) and (32.14%) respectively. The use of herbal drugs as mixtures
was reported to be a common practice by the herbal practitioners;
57.14% of the preparations were dispensed as mixtures while 42.86% of
the preparations composed of single plants. A rich knowledge of
medicinal plants was recognized and phytochemical and bioactivity
analyses of these herbal plants are recommended to determine their
safety and efficacy
