Introduction
Methodology
The Maasai of Kenya
Study area
Data collection
Data analysis
Prioritization approach
Criteria | Sub category | Score |
---|---|---|
Plant part used | Fruits and leaves | 1 |
Bark | 2 | |
Stems and branches | 3 | |
Roots | 4 | |
Versatility | Species used in 1–5 ailments | 1 |
Species used in 6–10 ailments | 2 | |
Species used in 11–15 ailments | 3 | |
Species used in > 16 ailments | 4 | |
Availability | Abundant and very easy to find | 1 |
Common but becoming less abundant | 2 | |
Rare and needing some effort to find | 3 | |
Very rare and needing special knowledge to find | 4 |
Results
Scientific name, plant family, and voucher number | Local name in Maasai (Maa) language | Disorder categories and total use reports in brackets | Common plant part used for each disorder category in brackets | Ethnomedicinal uses |
---|---|---|---|---|
Acacia kirkii (Leguminosae) JN2018/016 | Olngonguenyi | G (32) D (4) MS (3) R (2) M (2) B (1) | R (G) B (D) M (MS) R (R) M (M) R (B) | Cleaning of uterus after birth, back ache, chest pain, colds, diarrhea, malaria, quick healing after birth, sexually transmitted diseases, stomach ache |
Acacia nilotica (Leguminosae) JN2018/010 | Olkiloriti | D (31) MS (17) R (5) B (4) GE (3) IF (2) F (2) G (1) I (1) | B (D) B (MS) B (R) B (B) M (GE) B (IF) B(F) B (G) B (I) | Back ache, expel the uterus, chest pains, clean wounds and cuts, cold, constipation, deworming, diarrhea, fever, general body health, joints, sexually transmitted diseases, stomach ache, ulcers |
Acacia sieberiana (Leguminosae) JN2018/005 | Oltarara | D (21) G (14) MS (5) R (4) IF (2) GE (1) M (1) | B (D) B (G) M (MS) B (R) B (IF) R (GE) B (M) | Expel the uterus after birth, back ache, cold, fever, diarrhea, general body health, joints, malaria, mouth infections, stomach aches, vomiting |
Carissa spinarum (Apocynaceae) JN2018/001 | Olamuriaki | B (41) MS (39) D (4) R (2) G (2) | R (B) R (MS) R (D) L (R) R (G) | Cleaning of uterus after birth, backache, cold, diarrhea, aid in digestion, joints, pelvic pain, sexually transmitted diseases, stomach upsets |
Dovyalis abyssinica (Salicaceae) JN2018/007 | Olmorogi | MS (29) GE (8) D (7) B (4) F (1) M (1) | R (MS) R (GE) L (D) R (B) R (F) R (M) | Appetite, back ache, diarrhea, fever, given to children for good health, joint pains, malaria, mouth wash, sexually transmitted diseases, stomach pain, tooth ache |
Gymnosporia heterophylla (Celastraceae) JN2018/009 | Olaimurunyai | B (8) D (4) GE (4) R (2) IF (1) G (1) M (1) I (1) | R (B) R (D) R (GE) R (R) R (IF) B (G) R (M) B (I) | Back ache, cleaning wounds, colds, aid abortion, general good health, gonorrhea, indigestion, joints, malaria, measles, respiratory disease, stomach upsets |
Lippia javanica (Verbenaceae) JN2018/006 | Osinoni | R (16) D (11) F (6) M (5) MS (3) GE (3) IF (3) B (1) G (1) | L (R) L (D) L(F) R (M) R (MS) M (GE) R, L (IF) R (B) R (G) | Allergies, cleansing of the uterus after birth, common cold, fever, good health in children, headache, induce vomiting, joints, kidney disease, malaria, sore throat, stomach upsets, tonsils |
Myrsine africana (Primulaceae) JN2018/004 | Oseketeki | D (40) B (11) GE (10) R (8) MS (6) F (2) I (1) P (1) U (1) | F (D) R (B) M (GE) F (R) R (MS) R, B (F) M (I) R(P) M (U) | Back ache, sexually transmitted diseases, pneumonia, cold, fever, cuts and wounds, deworming, general body health, heartburn, joints, pains, reduce blood pressure, stomach upsets, urinary tract infections, coughs |
Olea europaea (Oleaceae) JN2018/017 | Oloirien | D (22) R (21) F (10) M (10) MS (8) G (3) P (1) | B (D) B (R) B (F) B (M) R (MS) L (G) R (P) | Relief pain after birth, backaches, cold, cough, deworming, diarrhea, digestion, fever, malaria, pain killer, stomach ache, vomiting |
Olinia usambarensis (Penaeaceae) JN2018/011 | Olkirenyi | R (42) F (11) M (5) MS (3) IF (3) GE (1) | B (R) B (F) B (M) R (MS) M (IF) B (GE) | Back ache, chest pain, cold, fever, cough, general body health, joints, malaria |
Prunus africana (Rosaceae) JN2018/019 | Olkujuk | D (4) MS (1) B (1) GE (1) M (1) | B (D) M (MS) B (B) B (GE) B (M) | General body health, indigestion, joint pains, malaria, prostate cancer, stomach ache |
Rhamnus prinoides (Rhamnaceae) JN2018/002 | Olkonyil | MS (21) B (12) D (5) GE (3) M (2) IF (1) | R (MS) R (B) B (D) R (GE) R (M) R (IF) | Back ache, diarrhea, general body health, induce vomiting, joint pain, malaria, sexually transmitted diseases, stomach ache, tonsils |
Searsia natalensis (Anacardiaceae) JN2018/012 | Olmisigiyioi | GE (25) R (12) D (7) F (7) MS (3) M (1) I (1) | B (GE) B (R) B (D) B (F) B (MS) B (M) B (I) | Enhance good health in children, cold, fever, cuts and wounds, diarrhea, joints, malaria, sexually transmitted diseases, stomach upsets, tooth ache |
Searsia pyroides (Anacardiaceae) JN2018/018 | Olmunkushi | GE (18) MS (11) D (7) M (2) P (2) F (1) I (1) | B (GE) R (MS) R (D) R (M) R (P) M (F) R(I) | Back aches, general good health, cleaning wounds, cold, fever, skin rash, joints, malaria, pain, stomach upsets |
Solanum incanum (Solanaceae) JN2018/020 | Entulelei | IF (57) R (3) MS (1) I (1) | R (IF) R (R) R (MS) R (1) | Common cold, heartburn, injuries, infections, sore throat, stomach ache, tonsils |
Toddalia asiatica (Rutaceae) JN2018/015 | Oleparmunyio | R (50) F (12) M M (10) IF (4) D (3) | R (R) M (F) R (M) R (IF) R (D) | Allergies, cold, fever, cough, deworming, malaria, diarrhea, stomach ache |
Trimeria grandifolia (Salicaceae) JN2018/014 | Oledat | MS (33) GE (6) R (6) R B (4) M (4) D (3) P (1) | R (MS) B (GE) R (R) R (B) R (M) R (D) R (P) | Body pains, arthritis, back ache, chest pain, cold, general body health, joints, malaria, sexually transmitted diseases, stomach ache, vomiting |
Turraea mombassana (Meliaceae) JN2018/003 | Olchani narok | D (45) GE (7) M (4) I (3) MS (1) | B (D) R (GE) R (M) L (I) R (MS) | Appetizer, common cold, constipation, deworming, diarrhea, dysentery, general body health, healing of wounds, indigestion, induce vomiting, joints, malaria, mouth wash, stomach upsets |
Vepris simplicifolia (Rutaceae) JN2018/013 | Orgilai | MS (38) D (12) R (9) M (5) B (5) G (2) GE (1) P (1) | R (MS) R (D) R (R) R (M) R (B) M (G) R (GE) R (R) | Relief pain after birth, back ache, body pain, chest pain, common cold, general body health, heart burn, joint pains, malaria, pneumonia, sexually transmitted diseases, stomach upsets |
Warburgia salutaris (Canellaceae) JN2018/008 | Osokonoi | D (54) R (12) G (6) F (6) MS (4) M (3) I (1) | B (D) B (R) B (G) B (F) B (MS) B (M) M (I) | Chest pain, reliefs pain after birth, back ache, clean the uterus after birth, common cold, cough, fever, heartburn, malaria, stomach aches, ulcers |
Priority list for conservation
Species | Versatility (ailments/score) | Part used/score | Availability/score | Sum |
---|---|---|---|---|
Myrsine africana | 16/4 | Roots/4 | Abundant/1 | 9 |
Turraea mombassana | 15/3 | Roots/4 | Abundant/1 | 8 |
Gymnosporia heterophylla | 12/3 | Roots/4 | Abundant/1 | 8 |
Vepris simplicifolia | 12/3 | Roots/4 | Abundant/1 | 8 |
Dovyalis abyssinica | 11/3 | Roots/4 | Abundant/1 | 8 |
Trimeria grandifolia | 11/3 | Roots/4 | Abundant/1 | 8 |
Searsia pyroides | 10/3 | Roots/4 | Abundant/1 | 8 |
Acacia kirkii | 9/2 | Roots/4 | Abundant/1 | 7 |
Carissa spinarum | 9/2 | Roots/4 | Abundant/1 | 7 |
Rhamnus prinoides | 9/2 | Roots/4 | Abundant/1 | 7 |
Toddalia asiatica | 8/2 | Roots/4 | Abundant/1 | 7 |
Solanum incanum | 7/2 | Roots/4 | Abundant/1 | 7 |
Acacia nilotica | 14/3 | Bark/2 | Abundant/1 | 6 |
Olea europaea | 12/3 | Bark/2 | Abundant/1 | 6 |
Acacia sieberiana | 11/3 | Bark/2 | Abundant/1 | 6 |
Warburgia salutaris | 11/3 | Bark/2 | Abundant/1 | 6 |
Searsia natalensis | 10/3 | Bark/2 | Abundant/1 | 6 |
Lippia javanica | 13/3 | Leaves/1 | Abundant/1 | 5 |
Olinia usambarensis | 8/2 | Bark/2 | Abundant/1 | 5 |
Prunus africana | 6/2 | Bark/2 | Abundant/1 | 5 |