A REWIEW OF TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, USAGE AND STATUS OF THE MEDICINAL TREES AMONGST THE TUGENS OF ELDAMA RAVINE AND ESAGERI DIVISIONS, KOIBATEK COUNTY, KENYA.

Abstract

Herbal therapy medicine uses plant extracts for their therapeutical value. It is the oldest form of healthcare known to mankind and remains an important element of human and livestock healthcare systems in many developing and industrialized countries. The Tugen ethnic group of Koibatek county and herbalists are well conversant and knowledgeable of the art of herbal medicine, and make good use of it. Despite its usefulness, the herbal therapy medicine is under threat from loss of medicinal plants and the disappearance of the art. The aim of the study was therefore to document the people’s knowledge of the indigenous herbal medicine, their use, and examine the threats facing the trees and the disappearance of the art. A sociological survey was carried   out in two Divisions of Koibatek county, and the collected data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) version 11.5. The study revealed that herbal medicinal plants play an important part in the heath care of the Tugen community, in Koibatek county, and that the local people are very knowledgeable on the herbal medicinal innovation, and make significant use of it. Unfortunately, the art is under threat from various causes, including slow and inadequate transfer of the art from the elderly herbalists to the younger generations. It is important to facilitate the protection and preservation of the traditional knowledge that might assist in discovery of modern medicine. Creation of legislations to regulate the harvesting of medicinal resources and create gene banks, will be useful.

Keywords: Key words:  Medicinal trees, herbalists, indigenous herbal knowledge and art, usage status, threats