Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
phytomedicines containing mixture of active molecules in a standardized dosage form. Most of the
points raised above for malaria apply equally for other parasitic infections.
For fungal infections, the following plant medicines (among others) are used most frequently
by herbalists:
•
Aframomum
spp.
•
Bridelia ferruginia
•
Cassia alata
•
Dracaena mannii
•
Myristica fragrans
•
Terminalia ivorensis
The most widely used herbs for the treatment of tuberculosis include the following:
•
Citrullus colocynthis
•
Costus asper
•
Diospyrus abyssinica
•
Echinops giganthus
•
Kaempferia galanga
•
Ocimum gratissimum
•
Piper guineense
•
Pluchea dioscoridis
•
Plumeria rubra
•
Siphonochilus aethiopicus
•
Sutherlandia frutescens
subspecies
microphylla
•
Tabernaemontana elegans
•
Tinospora cordifolia
•
Uvaria chamae
•
Voacanga globosa
•
Xylopia aethiopica
•
Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides
Vaginal Formulations and Microbicides
Herbal medicinal products, including phytomedicines, have been used by women in traditional
healing systems to promote health and for the management and treatment of conditions of particular
interests to women, such as premenstrual syndrome (PMS), menopausal symptoms, gender-specific
cancers, birth control and complications of pregnancy and child bearing.
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It is quite common in
many traditional cultures for women to apply certain herbal preparations, including vaginal douche,
either pre- or post-coitus for the prevention of sexual transmitted diseases and for personal hygiene.
In most non-western societies, women play specialized roles in healing and are generally regarded
as more knowledgeable in the use of health promoting herbs, in direct contrast to the medicine-
men who are more likely to combine healing herbs with life-endangering portions. Certain aspects
of traditional herbal medical practice are restricted to women. Use of herbs by non-specialists is
closely linked to diet and information regarding their safe use are generally shared among women
and passed on through generations as part of healthy culinary recipes.
Vaginal formulations and microbicides are products such as douches, gels or creams that women
can use topically, to prevent or significantly reduce the transmission of HIV and other disease-
causing organisms during sexual intercourse. Vaginal microbicides have the potential of provid-
ing a relatively cheap and effective way for women to protect themselves against HIV infection.
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine has estimated that introduction of a microbicide,
that would reduce infection by 40%, at 30% coverage, in 73 lower-income countries, would avert
