Abstract
Data based on independent interviews with 45 herbalists of the Luo of Siaya District, Kenya, comprised 1129 remedy reports and related to 330 species of plants. While 49% of the remedies were encountered only once we list here 66 remedies (49 taxa) that were confirmed through independent reports from three or more individuals. A log-linear model was applied to these data in order to establish criteria for evaluating the likely efficacy of specific remedies. A quantitative interaction effect was calculated for each remedy as a measure of its degree of confirmation. The validity of the values derived from the mathematical model is considered in relation to classical criteria for evaluating ethnomedicinal reports.
Résumé
Les résultats d’enquêtes individuelles avec 45 herboristes Luo du district de Siaya au Kenya ont permis de répertorier 330 espèces de plantes médicinales utilisées dans quelques 1129 traitements herboristes. Puisque 49% de ces plantes médicinales n’avaient été mentionnées qu’une seule fois, nous avons bâti une liste de 66 plantes médicinales (49 taxa) dont chacune a été rapportée par plus de trois herboristes. Les résultats obtenus ont été incorporés dans un modèle logarithmique linéaire afin d’identifier des critères d’evaluation de l’efficacité de ces plantes médicinales. Pour chacune des plantes médicinales “l’effet de l’interactíon quantitative” a été utilisé comme mesure de son degré de confirmation. La validité des résultats obtenus à partir de ce modèle mathématique a été comparée aux critères classiques d’évaluation des rapports ethnomédicinaux.
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Johns, T., Kokwaro, J.O. & Kimanani, E.K. Herbal remedies of the Luo of Siaya District, Kenya: Establishing quantitative criteria for consensus. Econ Bot 44, 369–381 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03183922
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03183922