Medicinal plants and traditional medical practices from Sierra Leone in West Africa have much to offer the rest of the world. Dr. Cyrus MacFoy, an experienced researcher and scientific consultant, highlights more than two hundred plants used to cure more than one hundred diseases and illnesses in this informational guide. He provides the plant location, their botanical and local names, English common names, and the ways they are used to treat and cure ailments and diseases. He also includes - findings regarding the conservation, sustainable use, and development of new drugs; - ways to incorporate different techniques into the health care delivery system; and - chemical analyses and biological activity testing of plant species. Discover how Africa's traditional healers play a critical role in treating diseases such as HIV and AIDS. In developing countries with poor infrastructure, these healers are located in nearly every rural village setting as well as in the busy urban areas. While underappreciated, they may play a key role in solving the continent's diverse health problems.

A Contextual Exploration of Phytomedicines’ Development in Africa comprises nine chapters, which focus on the critical role of medicinal plants in healthcare delivery on the African continent. The book begins with how phytomedicines can stimulate access to quality healthcare for socioeconomic development, and then discusses research and development efforts in Traditional Medicine for achieving universal health coverage in the African Region as well as approaches for producing sustainable, quality and safe phytomedicines. In an attempt to highlight some of the socio-anthropological aspects of plant medicines, the book takes a brief look at the ecological link between nature and phytomedicines, and concludes with a discussion of the critical factors for effective promotion and sustainability of African Traditional Medicine.

Medicinal Plants of East Africa is a revised edition of the book first published in 1976 on herbal remedies and he traditional medical practice of East Africa. The book covers the rich diversity of plants found in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, from sea to alpine plants. East Africa also has a rich ethnic diversity and a large number of herbalists whose traditional knowledge and practices are also covered in the book. Over 1500 species are described and for the first time over 200 of these herbs have been illustrated. Also included are maps detailing where the herbs were collected and an ethnographic map detailing the tribes of each herbalist whose knowledge is contained in the book. John Kokwaro is an Eminent Professor of Botany and a research specialist on herbal remedies at the University of Nairobi.