HERBS IN ORTHODOX PRACTICE: A VIEW BY MEDICAL STUDENTS

Authors

  • O. O. Enwere

Keywords:

Herbs, students, opinion, medical, eastern Nigeria.

Abstract

Use and opinion of herbs among medical students of Imo State University Nigeria was assessed. Information on herb use, indication and opinion from returned self-administered questionnaire was analyzed. A total of 114 students (91.2%) of 125 responded. 32 (28.1%) students had used herbs before, a significant proportion being males (OR 3.7). Herbal tea was the most popular herb used; maintaining good health and treating malaria were the only indications (50% each). Most students (>90%) believe herbs to be harmful, and generally unsafe especially in pregnancy. Most students (73%) who had used herbs consider them effective in treating hypertension or diabetes mellitus (OR 3.5 & 6.0 respectively). Most students (89.1%) believe there’s a lot of misinformation about herbs. Most students view use of herbs with skepticism. Inculcating study of herbs in medical curriculum will provide better information on herbs.

Author Biography

O. O. Enwere

Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Imo State University and, Department of Internal Medicine, Imo State University Teaching Hospital, PMB 08, Orlu, Imo State, Nigeria

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Published

2009-03-07

How to Cite

Enwere, O. O. (2009). HERBS IN ORTHODOX PRACTICE: A VIEW BY MEDICAL STUDENTS. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 6(2), 203–206. Retrieved from https://journals.athmsi.org/index.php/ajtcam/article/view/577

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 2 (2009)

Section

Research Papers

License

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution CC.

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