A 2012 quantitative market survey, published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, highlights the substantial economic significance of “Ghana’s Herbal Medicine” trade. The research indicates that medicinal plants are frequently used to supplement or replace Western medicine. The study also identifies a need for further research into the ecological impact of medicinal plant extraction. Below are two tables taken from the paper providing information on Ghana herb species:
Table 2
Most frequently sold species at the Ghanaian markets in 2010.
| Species | Frequency (%) | Total Volume on 27 Stalls (kg) | Main Uses | Domestication |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pteleopsis subserosa | 44 | 49.5 | Clean uterus, STDs | Wild |
| Xylopia aethiopica | 41 | 186.8 | Laxative, ritual, spice | Wild and cultivated |
| Monodora myristica | 37 | 45.2 | Spice, induce menstruation | Wild and cultivated |
| Khaya senegalensis | 37 | 88 | Blood tonic, aphrodisiac, fever | Wild |
| Okoubaka aubrevillei | 37 | 14.5 | Ritual, convulsions, prevent miscarriage | Wild |
| Aframomum melegueta | 33 | 4.1 | Ritual, aphrodisiac, spice | Domesticated |
| Sorghum bicolor | 30 | 15 | Strengthen pregnant women, anemia | Domesticated |
| Afrostyrax lepidophyllus | 30 | 3.4 | Convulsions | Wild |
| Morinda lucida | 26 | 74.3 | Aphrodisiac, puerperal fever, phlegms, malaria | Wild and cultivated |
| Momordica charantia | 26 | 11.4 | Ritual, fever, measles, abortion | Wild |
| Sphenocentrum jollyanum | 26 | 10.1 | Aphrodisiac | Wild |
| Mucuna sloanei | 26 | 6.5 | Ritual | Wild |
| Strophanthus hispidus | 26 | 5.9 | STDs, fever during pregnancy, body pain | Wild |
| Ocimum americanum | 26 | 3.61 | Ritual | Cultivated |
Table 3
Species sold in the greatest bulk, summed for all Ghanaian markets.
| Species | Daily Market Stock (kg)1 | Domestication | Growth form | Product | Main uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xylopia aethiopica | 19936 | Wild and cultivated | Tree | Fruit | Laxative, ritual, spice |
| Monodora myristica | 10497 | Wild and cultivated | Tree | Seed | Spice, induce menstruation |
| Aframomum melegueta | 1959 | Domesticated | Herb | Seed | Ritual, aphrodisiac, spice |
| Khaya senegalensis | 788 | Wild and cultivated | Tree | Bark | Blood tonic, aphrodisiac, fever |
| Pteleopsis subserosa | 719 | Wild | Tree | Bark | Clean uterus, STDs |
| Pericopsis elata | 638 | Wild | Tree | Wood | Ritual |
| Piper guineense | 625 | Wild | Liana | Seed | Spice, asthma, convulsions |
| Caesalpinia bonduc | 601 | Cultivated | Liana | Seed | Skin rash (baby) |
| Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides | 574 | Wild | Tree | Root | Strengthen pregnant women, aphrodisiac |
| Daniela ogea | 565 | Wild | Tree | Bark, resin | Ritual |
| Securidaca longipedunculata | 561 | Wild | Shrub | Root | Aphrodisiac, phlegms |
| Morinda lucida | 541 | Wild and cultivated | Tree | Wood, root | Aphrodisiac, puerperal fever |
| Dichrostachys cinerea | 538 | Wild | Shrub | Wood, root | Headache, STDs, anticonception |
| Vitellaria paradoxa | 450 | Wild and cultivated | Tree | Seed (fat) | Skin boils, cosmetics, baby care |
| Rauvolfia vomitoria | 441 | Wild | Tree | Root | Mental problems, aphrodisiac |
1 On busy market days.
Source: van Andel, T., et al., Ghana’s herbal market. J. Ethnopharmacol. (2012), doi:10.1016/j.jep.2012.01.028
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