Contribution to the Knowledge of Plants Used by Bantu and Pygmy Healers in Beni and Lubero Territories (Democratic Republic of Congo)

Abstract

Traditional medicine is largely used in Benin and Lubero Territories (D R Congo) as costs for conventional drugs increase and become unaffordable to many people, particularly living in rural areas. The aim of this work is to unlock convergences of plant species used in Bantu and Pygmy herbal medicine. An ethno botanical survey was conducted from 2010 to 2012 in Beni and Lubero Territories. Thirty- six healers, well known in villages where Nande Bantus and Mbuti Pygmy live together were interviewed concerning the plant species used in traditional medicine. One hundred and ninety seven recipes from 182 plant species were identified in Bantu ethnic group and 78 recipes from 83 plant species in pygmy ethnic group. Decoction and Carbonization have been the main modes of preparation by Bantus healers, whereas pygmy healers have mostly used triturating. Ruderal plant species were mostly used among which the Asteraceae family is preponderant (23%). Frequencies comparison with Khi squared method has shown that Bantu herbal medicine is different from pygmies’ traditional medicine.