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Medicinal Plants Used in the Treatment of Mental and Neurological Disorders in Ghana

Medicinal Plants Used in the Treatment of Mental and Neurological Disorders in Ghana

Mental health conditions and neurological disorders are conditions that affect thoughts, emotions, behaviours, and relationships. These include disorders that cause a high burden of dis-ease such as depression, bipolar affective disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, dementia, substance use disorders, and a number of other dis-eases. These conditions can be experienced in isolation; however, they often occur alongside other noncommunicable dis-eases such as cardiovascular dis-ease, diabetes, respiratory dis-eases and cancers.

Things such as tobacco use, alcohol use, unhealthy diets and physical inactivity can contribute to mental and neurological health issues.

Many people don’t realise the importance of herbs in curing mental and neurological disorders; the below table shows a list of herbs that are used in Ghana for addressing these disorders.

Species
Family
Growth forms
Local names in different languages
Voucher specimen
Frequency of mention
Plant part used
Method of preparation
Ageratum conyzoides
Asteraceae
Herb
Ewe: mima, Nyigbe; Fante: Ahaban Kankan, Efumomoe; Twi: Gu-ekuro, Adwoa-kura, Guakuo, Gu-ekura; Nzema: Ebuakulo; Ga-Dangme: Ntumumu
PA01/UGSOP/GH17
3
Leaves
The fresh leaves are macerated and the liquid obtained is instilled into the nostrils; the fresh leaves can also be boiled, sieved and drank as required.
Allium sativum
Liliaceae
Herb
Twi: Gyene Kankan; Ga Adangme: Aya; Hausa: Tafarmuwa
PA02/UGSOP/GH17
2
Whole plant
-
Alstonia boonei
Apocynaceae
Tree
Twi: Nyame-dua, Nyamedua, Onyamedua, Osen Nuru; Ewe: Siaketreke Fante: Nyena,Sinuro,Nyamedua; Nzema: Bakunin
PA03/UGSOP/GH17
2
Bark
The leaves are boiled and drank as required
Azadiratcha indica
Meliaceae
Tree
Fante: Nim, Aboode,Abodua; Ewe: Liliti; Ga-Dangme: Kintso, Asante: Gyedua; Twi: Nimsi, Dua gyane
PA04/UGSOP/GH17
1
Leaves; Roots
The boiled leaves/roots are drank as required
Bertholletia excels
Lecythidaceae
 
Brazil nut
PA05/UGSOP/GH17
1
Nut; Leaves
The leaves/nuts are boiled and sieved extract is drank as required
Bidens pilosa.
Asteraceae
Herb
Twi: Dwirentwi,Gyinantwi; Ewe: Dzanikpikpi;
PA06/UGSOP/GH17
1
Leaves
The fresh leaves are macerated and the liquid obtained is instilled into the nose
Blighia unijucata
Sapindaceae
Tree
Asante: Akye, Akan, Akyibiri, Twi: Akyebiri, Fante: Etedua
PA07/UGSOP/GH17
3
Bark; Roots
The dried barks/roots are boiled and drank as required, the extract can also be smeared on the body
Cassia occidentalis.
Caesalpiniaceae
 
Nkwadowa bɔdeɛ
PA08/UGSOP/GH17
3
Leaves
The leaves are boiled and drank as required
Cinchona pubescens
Rubiaceae
Shrub
 
PA09/UGSOP/GH17
1
 
 
Citrus aurantifolia
Rutaceae
 
Twi: Ankaadwea, Akenkaa Ankaatwaree; Fante: Ankama, Ewe: Mumoe; Asante: Ankaatwaree; Dagbani: Nyamsa, Lim buri; Ga-Adangme: Abonua; Hausa: Olomankilisi; Nzema: Domunli; Mole: Leemu; Ga: Kpete
PA10/UGSOP/GH17
1
Peel; Juice
The peels are squeezed directly on the forehead and into the nose
Cocos nucifera
Palmae
Tree
Twi: kube; Ewe: Agone
PA11/UGSOP/GH17
1
Juice
Drinking the fresh coconut juice at will
Corchorus olitorius
Tiliaceae
Herbaceous
Ewe: Ademe,Singui; Fante: Oturo; Twi: Otoro
PA12/UGSOP/GH17
1
Jute mallow, Leaves
Hot infusion is made from the leaves and drank as required
Cymbopogon citratus
Graminae
Herb
Ewe: Tigbe; Fante: Ti ahaban, Ga-Dangme:Ti-ba
PA13/UGSOP/GH17
1
Leaves; Oil
A decoction is made from the either the fresh/dried leaves and the oily content applied as a massage
Eucalyptus globulus
Myrtaceae
 
Eucalyptus
PA14/UGSOP/GH17
1
Oil
Cold infusion is made and the oily content obtained is rubbed on the body
Khaya senegalensis
Meliaceae
Tree
Hausa: Madwachi, Madachi; Ewe: Logo; Fante: Okum; GaAdangme: Kuga; Twi: Kuntunkuri; Mole: Kuka; Brong: Korobaa; Nzema: Anane
PA15/UGSOP/GH17
4
Bark
The leaves are boiled and drank as required
Lantana camara
Verbenaceae
Shrub
Akan,Ananse dokono
PA16/UGSOP/GH17
3
Leaves; Stem
The leaves/stem are boiled and the liquid obtained, drank as required
Mangifera indica
Anacardiaceae
Tree
Ewe/Asante/Twi/ Fante Mango, Amango,Ga: Mango
PA17/UGSOP/GH17
1
Bark
A decoction is made from the dried bark and drank as required
Momordica charantia
Cucurbitaceae
Herbaceous
Twi: Nyannya, Nyina, Nyinya; Ewe: Kakle; Dangme: Nyanyla, Nyanyra; Ga: Nyanyra; Nzema: Nyanya
PA18/UGSOP/GH17
1
 
Musa paradisiaca
Musaceae
Herbaceous
Twi: Brode; Nzema: Banna Ga: Amadaa
PA19/UGSOP/GH17
1
Leaves
The leaves are boiled and drank as required
Nephrolepis cordifolia
Nephrolepidaceae
 
Twi: Mmɛn
PA20/UGSOP/GH17
1
Leaves
The leaves are macerated and the liquid instilled nasally or inhaled. The leaves can be boiled and the extracted liquid used as a bathing liquid.
Occimum gratissimum
Lamiaceae
Shrub
Ewe: Babusui, Dzeveti; Ga: Sulu; Twi: Onunum, Nunum; Asante: Nunum; Ga-Dangme: Sulu; Hausa: Dardoyatagidi; Nzema: Amaloko; Wassa: Aprim; Fante: Onunum
PA21/UGSOP/GH17
3
Leaves
The leaves are boiled and drank as required
Passiflora edulis
Passifloraceae
 
Passion fruit tree
PA22/UGSOP/GH17
2
Leaves; Flowers; Fruit; Leaves
Boiling; grinding
Persea americana
Lauraceae
Tree
Dangme: Paya; Twi: Pee; Akan: Paya, Pae;
PA23/UGSOP/GH17
1
Fresh and dried leaves
A decoction is made from the either the fresh/dried leaves and drank as required
Fante: Pae;
Phyllantus nuriri
Euphobiaceae
Herbaceous
Twi: Awommaguwakyi; Ewe: Lane; Krobo: Ofobiokpai, Ofobi; Ga: Omatsoatsi;
PA24/UGSOP/GH17
1
 
 
Rauwolfia vomitoria.
Apocynaceae
Shrub
Twi: Kakapenpen; Ewe: Dodemakpowoe; Fante: Kakapenpen; Ga-Dangme: Apototso; Hausa: Wada, Nzema: Bakapembene; Wassa: Aneene
PA25/UGSOP/GH17
7
Roots
The roots are boiled and the extract obtained are instilled into the nose
Rubus fruticosus
Rosaceae
 
Bramble
PA26/UGSOP/GH17
1
Berries, leaves and flowers
Blend dry leaves and mix with honey
Scoparia dulcis
Scrophulariaceae
 
 
PA27/UGSOP/GH17
1
-
-
Sida acuta
Malvaceae
Branchlets
Ewe: Afideme; Ga: Shwoboto; Twi: Obraneatuto
PA28/UGSOP/GH17
1
Leaves
The leaves are boiled and drank as required
Tapinanthus globiferrus
Loranthaceae
Parasitic Tree
Twi: nkranpan Mole: Welebe
PA29/UGSOP/GH17
2
Leaves; stem
The leaves/stem are boiled and the liquid obtained, drank as required
Terminalia catapa
Combretaceae
 
abrɔfo nkateɛ
PA30/UGSOP/GH17
1
Yellowed leaves
The leaves are boiled and the liquid drank as required
Tetrapleura tetraptera
Fabaceae
Tree
Twi: Prɛkesɛ, Zate: Zamturi; Anyi: Aprekese, Kyeke, Fante: Esem, Ewe: Prekese
PA31/UGSOP/GH17
1
Seed
The seeds are ground and the liquid extract drank as required
Vernonia amygdalina
Asteraceae
Shrub
Ga:Tatso, Akpa, Dagbani: Biebingira, Ewe: Gbo, Gboti, Asante: Mbonasere, Mponasere; Nzema: Ayeanwole, Ga-Dangme: Tatsho
PA32/UGSOP/GH17
1
Leaves
A decoction is made from the either the fresh/dried leaves and drank as required
See also  Valerian - Uses and Benefits

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