ArticleBMC complementary medicine and therapies2026
Traditional phytopharmaceutical practices and integrative healthcare perspectives among herbal practitioners: a cross-sectional analysis in Tigray, Ethiopia.
Article in BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
Traditional medicine remains a crucial component of primary healthcare in Ethiopia. This study assessed phytopharmaceutical practices and integrative health perspectives among traditional herbal practitioners in Tigray, Ethiopia. A community-based mixed-method cross-sectional study was carried out from March to May 2024 among 58 purposively selected traditional herbal practitioners across five zones in Tigray. A semi-structured interviews, observational assessments and medicinal plant specimen documentation were employed. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression, while qualitative data were analyzed using thematic content. The findings revealed that the mean age of practitioners was 56.5 years, with males constituting 62.07% participants. Most of the practitioners' experience exceeded 20 years and practiced herbal remedy on a part-time basis. A total of 22 medicinal plant species were documented for the treatment of infectious, physical and spiritual illnesses. Leaves (47.80%), roots (23.80%) and stem barks (16.41%) were the most extensively used plant parts. Greater informant consensus was observed for gastrointestinal disorders (ICF = 0.95) and respiratory diseases (ICF = 0.86). Fidelity level analysis indicated strong agreement on the utilization of Osimum lamifolium for respiratory disorders (93.1%), Ruta chalepensis for gastrointestinal ailments (92%) and Aloe vera for skin infections (90%). Formal education (OR = 6.00, p = 0,046), both family influence and experiential source of knowledge (OR = 11.67, p = 0.032), and prior training (OR = 3.82, p = 0.015) were significantly associated with openness towards integration with modern healthcare systems, whereas older age was reversibly associated with integration willingness (OR = 0.17, p = 0.05). Environmental degradation (98.28%), knowledge erosion (96.55%), lack of formal recognition (89.66%), and inadequate documentation (87.93%) were cited as major challenges to the sustainable practice of traditional medicine. In conclusion, the findings underscore the significance of traditional herbal medicine in community healthcare of Tigray. However, inadequate documentation, environmental factors and poor regulatory framework threatens sustainability of the knowledge. Improving documentation systems, regulatory frameworks and culturally sensitive integration strategies may enhance the sustainability and integration of traditional herbal medicine with the modern healthcare system.
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