A Survey of Traditional Health Remedies Used by the Maasai of Southern Kaijiado District, Kenya
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A Survey of Traditional Health Remedies Used by the Maasai of Southern Kaijiado District, Kenya John Warui Kiringe Research Abstract This study investigated the use of traditional health rem- trial and error with a view to combat illnesses that were edies among the Maasai of Kuku Group Ranch of South- often specific to their localities. In Kenya, for instance, ern Kajiado District, Kenya. A structured and semi—struc- the Samburu people who inhabit the northern part of the tured questionnaire was administered to heads or adult country make use of a wide range of ethno-medicinal re- members of households in the study area as well as key sources comprising of about 120 or more plant species people who are knowledgeable in Maasai traditional med- which are used to treat many diseases including malar- icine. Use of ethno-medicine was prevalent, with 73% of ia, gonorrhea, hepatitis and polio (Fratkin 1996). Similar the respondents indicating this was their preferred type elaborate and rich pharmacopoeia systems have also of treatment. Traditional medicine was the primary health been documented for other Kenyan communities such as care system for the community even though 98% of the the Maasai, Gusii, Luo, Abaluyia and the Kikuyu people respondents mentioned that they frequently sought mod- (Simiyu 1995, Sindiga 1995, Sindiga et al. 1995, Wandib- ern medical care provided by local dispensaries and clin- ba 1995). For most tribes of Kenya, knowledge and use ics. Knowledge on traditional plant health remedies was of ethno-medicine was passed down orally from genera- immense, and a wide variety of illnesses and body con- tion to generation (Sankan 1995) presumably to trustwor- ditions were treated and managed using locally avail- thy persons (usually first-born sons) that would continue able medicinal plants. The community had an elaborate the tradition and practice (Kokwaro 1976). Thus, it is only and complex pharmacopoeia supported by a wide range of recent that humans have curtailed their heavy depen- of plant species majority of which were readily harvest- dence on plants as critical sources of therapeutic reme- ed within the group ranch. Knowledge about the use of dies perhaps due to the advent of modern technology and ethno-medicinal resources and the resources themselves synthetic chemistry (Plotkin 1991). appeared to be threatened by rapid changes in traditional lifestyles and cultural practices particularly the spread of Christianity, formal education and emphasis on reliance of modern medical care. Plants recognized to be of medici- nal value by the community appeared to be equally threat- Correspondence ened by a myriad of factors particularly land use changes. John Warui Kiringe, The School for Field Studies, Center for There is great need to conserve the rich plant biodiversity Wildlife Management Studies, P.O. Box 27743-00506, Nairobi, in the ranch as well as preserve knowledge on the value KENYA. and use of traditional plant based remedies amidst a rap- [email protected] or [email protected] idly changing society. Introduction For generations, human beings have engaged in the de- Ethnobotany Research & Applications 4:061-073 (2006) velopment of detailed botanical pharmacopoeia through http://hdl.handle.net/10125/238 62 Ethnobotany Research & Applications Although Western medicine has become widespread in bonok), or medicine man (Sindiga 1995). It is important to developing countries, many rural communities are still note that initial home treatment of sick persons is a com- heavily dependent on plant-based therapies for their mon practice among African communities (Brown 1995, primary healthcare (Fratkin 1996, Schocke et al. 2000, Iwu 1993, Sindiga et al. 1995). Swanson 1995). According to the World Health Organi- zation (WHO) approximately 80% of the world’s popula- Study Area tion relies on traditional medicine to fulfill their daily health needs (Hamann 1991, Marshall 1998). In Kenya, statis- The study area, Kuku Group Ranch, Southern Kajiado tics show that 75 to 90 percent of local communities rely District of Kenyahas been previously described (Kiringe on ethno-medicine as the dominant health care system, 2005). Among the Maasai of Kuku Group Ranch, plants and this is a pointer to the importance of these resources are important resources without which their survival would (Ochieng’Obado & Odera 1995, Sindiga et al. 1995). The be compromised. However, there are fears that collec- high dependence on traditional plant remedies in most Af- tively, changes taking place in the ranch have increased rican populations is partly attributed to traditional beliefs the demand for natural resources including plants (Camp- and lack of reliable modern health care (Sindiga 1995). bell et al. 2000, Katampoi et al. 1990, Kiringe & Okello 2005). Consequently, the future of these plants amidst an It is interesting to note that traditional medicine, which had increasing human population, increased agricultural prac- been shunned, stigmatized, and disregarded in the past tices and medicinal plants’ sale for commercial gain is un- for its “witchcraft” and other “illegitimate” superstitious clear. Furthermore, changes within the Maasai community customs and practices, is now being actively promoted may lead to a breakdown of the intergenerational transfer by Western and international institutions as the dominant of information on the identification and use of medicinal primary health care in developing countries (WHO 2002). plants. By cataloging these species, the human ailments Since 1977, when the World Health Assembly (WHA) first they are used to treat and documenting their preparation, drew attention to the potential of traditional medicine (Sin- this valuable knowledge and pharmacopoeia can be pre- diga et al. 1995), its benefits have reached popular inter- served despite the current socio-economic changes. national rhetoric. In 1987, the WHA urged member states to, “initiate comprehensive programs for the identification, evaluation, preparation, cultivation, and conservation of Objectives medicinal plants used in traditional medicine” (Eloff 1998). Since then, the world has witnessed increased legitima- This study was conducted between 2000 and 2001 with cy and utilization of traditional plant remedies. One of the the aim of documenting the use of ethno-medicinal plant great benefits of this health care system is the indepen- resources among the Maasai of Kuku Group Ranch. This dence it provides people who practice it, since they can survey and documentation became necessary so as to treat themselves without relying on outside institutions safeguard these vital resources and knowledge about (Brown 1995). their use from toal loss amidst the rapidly changing land use practices, traditional and cultural practices among the For generations, ethno-medicine has been an inte- Maasai people across the country. It is also a key motivat- gral component of the Maasai culture, and its practice ing factor towards promoting and advocating their conser- is learned progressively throughout one’s life (Sankan vation. More specifically this study attempted to achieve 1995). This knowledge is passed down orally from gener- the following objectives: ation to generation (Ochieng’ Obado & Odera 1995, Sin- diga 1995, Sindiga et al. 1995), a practice that is similar to 1. Document plant species that were utilized for me- that of other Kenyan tribes such as the Kikuyu, Luo and dicinal purposes among the Maasai of Kuku Group Gusii. In the event that home remedies do not work and Ranch traditional professional help is sought, there are multiple 2. Document human ailments and conditions treated or categories of oloibonok whom a Maasai person can con- managed using traditional plant remedies, methods sult (Sindiga 1995). These range from the small-scale pri- of preparation and mode of administration vate practitioner to those selected individuals that oversee such important rituals as circumcision. These leadership Materials and Methods positions are passed on to kin (Sindiga 1995). The Sam- buru, Nilotic-speaking pastoralists like the Maasai, also The study area was divided into four blocks or sectors rely heavily on medicinal plants (Fratkin 1996). Diseases within which interviews targeting fifty percent (50%) cov- perceived to be of natural origin are treated using either erage of households were undertaken. For each house- traditional herbs or modern medicine, while sickness of hold, a structured and semi-structured questionnaire was a supernatural origin is attended to by a laibon (Fratkin administered (Martin 1995) to the heads or adult members 1996). Treatment is first attempted within the home, and if, with the help of local Maasai guides who also acted as in- after a significant period, the patient does not respond to terpreters. The questions asked to the respondents and the treatment, he/she may be taken to a laibon (pl. oloi- discussions during the survey focused on the following http://hdl.handle.net/10125/238 Kiringe - A Survey of Ethnomedicinal Health Remedies used by the Maasai of 63 Southern Kaijiado District, Kenya aspects; types of medicinal plant species found within or d.f = 1, p=0.05). This showed that majority of the respon- outside the group ranch that were recognized by the com- dents still relied on traditionally based plant medication munity to be of medicinal value, part(s) used (e.g. roots, but 98% mentioned that they periodically visited local clin- bark), human ailments and conditions treated or managed ics and dispensaries as their second or alternative health using ethno-medicinal plants, how they were prepared care source. When the respondents were asked who pre- and administered. The same questionnaires were admin- pares and administers traditional medication, 71% said istered to key informants in the community knowledgeable that everyone in the community does, while 26% said` in traditional medicine. that only men could. Plants identified by informants were collected by the au- Forty-one (41) different species of plants were used to thor with specimens deposited in the the University of Nai- treat and manage a variety of human ailments and condi- robi, herbarium. tions (Table 1).