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