For many years humans have used different parts of plants for medicinal purposes, as source of food and feed. Hence the benefits of indigenous knowledge for the development of present day sophisticated medicinal inventions cannot be overlooked. Indigenous people living in and around protected areas are still making use of plants to cure human and animal related diseases. Guji, Kore and Gamo people of Nech Sar National Park are not indifferent to this fact. Primary data were collected from these indigenous communities of the area and concerned government officers by making use of interview questions and observation. In addition to this, information was also gathered from the operational and management staff of Nech Sar National Park through semi-structured questionnaire. Then data were transcribed and analyzed by making use of descriptive statistics and content analysis. The findings of the study showed, from the vegetation of Nech Sar National Park, a total of 12 plants are being used as a medicinal remedy for humans and livestock health related problems. Croton macrostachys (for skin infection), Balanites aegyptiaca (constipation and other intestinal problems), Aleo vera (joint pains and as a deworming), Acacia mellifera (treating ringworm) and Solanum incanum (treat livestock infected with water born parasites) are among the major plants which are being used as a local remedy to treat health complications by the indigenous community. Apart from this, the different parts of these plants are also used for processing food items in the household. The research found out that the local communities have strong faith on these plants as they have been used across generations so as to combat various diseases in an indigenous way. Therefore, policy and strategic actions should consider the preservation of indigenous knowledge along with biodiversity resources as indigenous technical knowledge will continue to shape up the development efforts of the present generation.
Cite this paper
Alemu, M. M. , Bhattacharyya, S. , Reeves, A. and Lemon, M. (2017). Indigenous and Medicinal Uses of Plants in Nech Sar National Park, Ethiopia. Open Access Library Journal, 4, e3428. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1103428.
Kala, C.P. (2005) Indigenous Uses, Population Density, and Conservation of Threatened Medicinal Plants in Protected Areas of the Indian Himalayas. Conservation Biology, 19, 368-378.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2005.00602.x
Qureshi, R.A., Ghufran, M.A., Gilani, S.A., Yousaf, Z., Abbas, G. and Batool, A. (2009) Indigenous Medicinal Plants Used by Local Women in Southern Himalayan Regions of Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Botany, 41, 19-25.
Nwachukwu, C.U., Umeh, C.N., Kalu, I.G., Okere, S. and Nwoko, M.C. (2010) Identification and Traditional Uses of Some Common Medicinal Plants in Ezinihitte Mbaise L.G.A., of Imo State, Nigeria. Report and Opinion, 2, 62-66.
Nguyen, D.N.V. and Nguyen, T. (2008) An Overview of the Use of Plants and Animals in Traditional Medicine Systems in Viet Nam. Traffic Southeast Asia, Greater Mekong Programme, Ha Noi.
Dawit, A. (2001) Plants as Primary Source of Drugs in the Traditional Health Care Practices of Ethiopia. Plant Genetic Resource of Ethiopia, 6, 101-113.
Bekele, E. (2007) Study on Actual Situation of Medicinal Plants in Ethiopia. Japan Association for International Collaboration of Agriculture and Forestry, Addis Ababa.
Mesfin, K., Tekle, G. and Tesfay, T. (2013) Ethnobotanical Study of Traditional Medicinal Plants Used by Indigenous People of Gemad District, Northern Ethiopia. Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies, 1, 32-37.
Abera, B. (2014) Medicinal Plants Used in Traditional Medicine by Oromo People, Ghimbi District, Southwest Ethiopia. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 10, 40.
https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-10-40
Kelbessa, E., Demissew, S., Woldu, Z. and Edwards, S. (2000) Some Threatened Endemic Plants of Ethiopia. In: Edwards, S. and Asfaw, Z., Eds., The Status of Some Plants in Parts of Tropical Africa, Botany 2000: NAPREC, Monograph Series No. 2, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, 35-55.
Birhanu, Z. (2011) Ethno-Botanical Survey on Medicinal Plants Used by Ethnic Groups of Denbia District, North-Western Ethiopia. Journal of Natural Remedies, 11, 119-123.
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Population Census Commission (2008) Summary and Statistical Report of the 2007 Population and Housing Census. Addis Ababa.
Zuberi, M.I. (2014) Role of Medicinal Plants in Healthcare in Africa and Related Issues: Special Emphasis to Ethiopia as an Example. Ph.D. Thesis, Ambo University, Ethiopia.
Payyappallimana, U. (2009) Role of Traditional Medicine in Primary Health Care: An Overview of Perspectives and Challenges. Yokohama Journal of Social Sciences, 14, 57-77.
Awoyemi, O.K., Ewa, E.E., Abdulkarim, I.A. and Aduloju, A.R. (2012) Ethnobotanical Assessment of Herbal Plants in Southwestern Nigeria. Academic Research International, 2, 50-57.
Alemu, M.M. (2016) Household Energy Demand and Its Impact on the Ecological Capital of Nech Sar National Park, Ethiopia. Journal of Environmental Protection, 7, 1273-1282.
https://doi.org/10.4236/jep.2016.710112