Ethnomedicinal Uses of Trees Among Bachama Tribe of Adamawa State, Nigeria

Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol. 5(2), April 2006, pp. 273-278

Ethnomedicinal uses of trees among Bachama tribe of Adamawa state, Nigeria

Idu M*, Gill L S, Omonhinmin C A & Angela Ejale Department of Botany, University of Benin, PMB 1154, Benin City, Nigeria E-mail: [email protected] Received 2 November 2004; revised 24 March 2005

Bachama tribe inhabits most parts of Numan Local Government Area. They utilize many plants for medicinal purposes from their surroundings for the treatment of ailments and diseases. The present communication deals with 21 trees species used by the Bachama people. Key words: Ethnomedicine, Medicinal plants, Bachama tribe, Nigeria IPC Int. Cl8: A61K36/00, A61P1/12, A61P9/02, A61P15/02, A61P21/00, A61P33/00

The Bachama people claim to have come from the these resources for various ailments and diseases area around Sokoto in the days of the Jihad. They also prevalent among them. Ethnomedicinal work of claim descendancy from Gobir people1. They are Nigeria is well documented3-8. In this paper, the folk mainly farmers and fishermen, and in the years past, uses of these species by the Bachamas of Adamawa they were good hunters. They use to rear both pigs state, Nigeria (Fig. 1) are presented. and goats. Today, they are among the best-educated tribe in Adamawa state due to the early advent of the Methodology Christian Missionaries to the area1,2. Field tours of 20-30 days duration were planned to The Bachamas belief in nature spirits, ancestors cover the tribal areas in different seasons to collect the and demigods are very strong. Spirits living in trees, ethnomedicinal tree species either in flowering or stones, mountains and parts of men, and animals are fruiting. One hundred informants were interviewed believed to have power to harm people and so are regarding the type of medicinal plants used by them in feared and needed to be appeased. However, they are Numan Local Government Area. People who were not worshipped. Some people have power to interviewed included full time/part-time herbalists, communicate with the spirits through media. They are old ladies, family heads, and village heads in order to normally notable and useful people to the society. get a better understanding of local customs, beliefs They act as seers and medicine men, claiming to use and habits. their powers for the welfare of the society. Those who During oral interviewing specific questions were misuse their powers with the intention of harming asked (Form 1) and the information supplied by the others are called witches. Today, the exercise of these informants was recorded. If at least two informants powers is largely confined to the secretive and select independently reported the use of a plant in the societies. Two most popular cults in this area are the treatment for a particular disease, the data were Ji-Boshe and Makaine. Many young men are involved considered to be reliable and thus recorded. Also, the in this cult, which has its spread in most Bachama samples of the plants used by the informants were villages including Numan town. The local collected for identification. government authority recognizes them as traditional To develop a good rapport with them and to gain healers. Despite the domination of these cults in the confidence of the healers and headmen, a task traditional medicine, herbal healers still have a strong which is often difficult to accomplish, as the healers presence in the area in delivering the much needed usually keep their knowledge a secret and are healthcare to the less privileged communities. unwilling to reveal it to outsiders, eatables, money Due to close association with trees, which mostly and local beer (brukutu) made from Guinea corn grow throughout the year, they have learnt to utilize (Sorghum sp.) were offered to them, which were ______accepted. During the survey, it was easier to approach *Corresponding author the healers individually in private, as they were 274 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL 5, No. 2, APRIL 2006

IDU et al.: ETHNOMEDICINE OF ADAMAWA STATE OF NIGERIA 275

willing to reveal easily their traditional plant-lore than when they are in large groups. Voucher specimens of herbarium materials were prepared and deposited in the herbarium of the Federal University of Technology, Yola, Adamawa state, with the specimen Field number as BSA-FNL, abbreviation for Botanical Survey of Adamawa state- Flora, Numan locality.

Results and discussion Ethnomedicinal account of 21 tree species (Figs. 2-9) including the botanical names arranged alphabetically, followed by their family, local names, parts used, preparation, route - either internal or external, mode of administration and use have been enumerated (Table 1). All the plants mentioned in this paper are very popular among the Bachama people and enjoy a good reputation in traditional medicine. Despite an extensive modern programme to uplift the rural health, the traditional healers are still the only medical

Form 1—Questionnaire on medicinal plants used by the Bachama tribe of Adamawa state

Medicinal Tree Survey Project, Department of Botany, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria

(One form should be completed for each tree)

1. Name: ______2. Address:______3. Occupation:______4. Date:______Collection No. ______5. Taxon:______Family:______6. Local name (s) (Specify language or dialect)______7. Locality (specific): Habitat: Tree: Monocot: ______Dicot:______8. Height: ______Diameter:______9. Bark Characteristics 10. Smell: ______11. Latex: Present: ______Absent: ______Colour:______12. Tree parts used in medicine Root:______Stem:______Twig:______Root bark:______Stem bark:______Flower:______Fruit:______Seed:______13. How a plant is used: Fresh: ______Dried: ______Boiled______14. Other plant or tree ingredient added to it______15. Method (s) of preparation for use: Powdered______Extracted with cold water______With hot water______Boiled: ______Extracted with local gin: ______Any other 16. Mode of administration: 17. Dosage: ______20. Any other comment on information:______

276 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL 5, No. 2, APRIL 2006

Table 1—Enumeration of plants used by the Bachamas

Name of plant species Vernacular Locality Parts used Preparation *Route Dosage (voucher number) name I E and use

Acacia seyal Del. Numan Yelwa, Bolon, Root Ear drop - + Two drops/ear twice (Mimosaceae) Lamurde daily for ear problem BSA-FNL316 Anogeissus leiocarpa Korgose Lamurde Bark Decoction mixed + - Two cups taken daily (DC.) Guill and Perr. with local porridge prescribed as worm (Combretaceae) (Kunu) expellant BAS-FNL321 Balanites aegyptiaca Tirme Lamurde Lainde Bark along with Powder + - Used as snuff by adults (L.) Del. leaves of Viscum to stop headache (Balanitaceae) album BSA-FNL323 Boswellia dalzielli Ndakato Kohumto, Yelwa, Bark Infusion or + - One cup taken three (Roife.) Hutch. and Lainda decoction, bath times daily for relief Dalz. from migraine and (Burseraceae) epistaxis BASE-FNL:305 Combretum ghasalense Fotokumge Yelwa, Lamurde Root/Bark Maceration mixed + - One cup taken 3-4 Engl. and Diels. with Kunu prepared times daily for the (Combretaceae) from Guinea corn treating amenorrhoea BSA FNL:315 Crossopteryx febrifuga Tirme Kawe Numan Bark with Viscum Maceration + - As food for fattening (G.Don.) Benth. album leaves children (Rubiaceae) growing on it BAS-FNL: 322 Daniella oliveri Banga Lainde, Lamurde, Bark with whole Powder + - Preparation mixed (Roife.) Hutch and Tingo plant of Viscum with fat from a black Dalz. album growing on goat, burnt to produce (Caesalpiniaceae) tree branch smoke, which is BSA-FNL:304 inhaled to overcome vertigo Euphorbia kamerunica Wato Numan Leaves Maceration, - + Crushed with rib of a Pax. pomade dog, resolvent is (Euphorbiaceae) applied to spleen BSA-FNL: 308 region to control inflammation Entada africana Guill. Buntin Lainde Bark Powder + - Powder is used as & Perr. snuff to stop headache (Mimosaceae) BSA-FNL: 324 Ficus sycomorus L. Ngwalle Kikan Bark with fresh Maceration + - One cup taken as (Moraceae) whole plant of infusion daily as BSA-FNL: 301 Viscum album cardiotonic growing on the tree branch Khaya senegalensis Digene Lamurde Bark/oil from -Decoction + - One cup, twice daily (Desr.) A. Juss. seed for stomach pain Three (Meliaceae) teaspoons mixed with BSA-FNL:302 -Oil extract + - Kunu (local porridge) for two days as ascaricide Kigelia africana Benth Ruwe Sabon Gari, Bark Macerate with three + - Taken with Kunu, as (Bignoniaceae) Lainde hand full of red meal used as anti- BSA-FNL:314 Sorghum vulgare amenorrhoea

Contd IDU et al.: ETHNOMEDICINE OF ADAMAWA STATE OF NIGERIA 277

Table 1—Enumeration of plants used by the Bachamas—Contd

Name of plant species Vernacular Locality Parts used Preparation *Route Dosage (voucher number) name I E and use

Maytenus senegalensis. Kpatakpalato Lainde, Leaves Decoction + - Taken two times daily Exell. Ngbalang, Zekun, for protection against (Celastraceae) Opalo measles BSA-FNL:309 Parkia biglobosa Rire Lainde, Kohumto, Leaves & bark Decoction, bath + - Two tea spoon full, (Jacg.) R.Br.Ex.G. Kohumso. twice daily, to cure Don. measles (Mimosaceae) BSA-FNL: 303 Piliostigma reticulatum Banda Numan Leaves with bark Bath + - Dermatic agents (DC) Hochst. of Tamarindus (Caesalpiniaceae) indic BSA-FNL: 320 Securidaca Mborme Kedimuye, Root Powder + - Crushed to powder, longepedunculata Lamurde used as snuff to cure Fres. biliousness (Polygalaceae) BSA-FNL: 306 Syzgium guineense Kadaduwe Bolong, Dong Root Decoction + - Two-table spoon, (Willd.) DC. taken three times daily (Myrtaceae) to control flatulence BSA-FNL: 307 and stomachache Terminalia Panke Numan Bark Decoction + - One cup taken three avicennioides Guil. times daily to cure And Perr. colic and diarrhoea (Combretaceae) BSA-FNL: 312 Vitex doniana Sweet. Fil Numan Bark Decoction + - A cup taken three (Verbenaceae) times daily for BSA-FNL: 352 dysentery Voacanga thouarsii Tabura Yelwa, Kokunto Leaves and roots Maceration + - Powder taken with Roeam & Roaem & yogurt (Nunnu) to cure Schultes gonorrhea (Apocynaceae) BSA-FNL: 325

*I= Internal. E= External practitioners available to the Bachama people living System of Medicine. It is hoped that the information in the remote part of the Local Government Area. The will be of use in planning for future research in this trees are used more commonly in medicine than the direction. herbs as this part of Nigeria enjoys longer period of very hot/dry season (approximately 7 months) during Acknowledgement which most herbs dry out. This might be the reason This paper is dedicated to Late Prof L S Gill, who for the dependency on tree species. participated in this work and stimulated our interest The knowledge of local plants and their uses can be on the subject. vital for health development programme as well as for the local population. The resources can be harnessed References for the pharmacological investigation in the modern 1 Nissen M, An African Church is Born, (Purups Grafiske Hus. Publications, Denmark), 1966, 53-58. system of medicine. Also, it may very well be utilized 2 CAPRO, The cross and the gods, (Baraka Press and for the preparation of drugs in the Integrated Publications, Kaduna), 1992, 78 – 92. 278 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL 5, No. 2, APRIL 2006

3 Gill L S, Ethnomedicinal uses of plants in Nigeria, (Uniben 6 Idu M, Omonhinmin AC & Olorunfemi DI, Traditional uses of Press, Nigeria), 1992, 276. Sorrel drink (Hibiscus sabdariffa ) for hypertension in northern Nigeria, Ethnobotany 11(1&2) (1999), 105-106. 4 Gill L S, Nyawuame HGH, Esezobor EI & Osagie IS, Nigerian 7 Idu M and Omoruyi OM, Some ethnomedicinal plants of Higgi Folk Medicine: Practices and Beliefs of Esan People, tribe from Adamawa state, Nigeria, Ethnobotany, 15 (2003), Ethnobotany, 5 (1993), 129-142. 48-50. 8 Ijomah JU, Idu M & Umar AH, Medicinal Plants used by the 5 Gill LS, Idu M & Ogbor DN, Folk medicinal plants: Practices Fulani traditional herbalist in Yola North and South local and beliefs of the Benin People in Nigeria, Ethnobotany, 9 Government areas of Adamawa stare, J Appl Sci Manage, 1 (1&2) (1997), 1-5. (1997), 59-63.