Ghanaian Healing and Traditional Medicine: An Ethnobotanical Study of the Use of Medicinal Plants Among Traditional Ashanti Healers of West Africa

Authors

Patricia Fifita, Brigham Young University
Dr. William Olsen, Brigham Young University

Keywords

Ghanaian healing, traditional medicine, ethnobotanical study, medical plants, Ashanti healers, West Africa

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Anthropology

Abstract

For the importance of this paper, ethnobotany is defined as the study of interactions between plants and people, particularly the influence of plants on human culture. The study of medicinal plant knowledge is an issue of increasing importance and definite urgency, especially as various indigenous peoples around the globe are suffering a great loss of traditional knowledge and practices. Examining traditional plant knowledge holds value in the interest of cultural preservation, as well as providing an important contribution in the area of drug discovery. In this project, I focused on the traditional healing practices and systems of the Ghanaian peoples of the Ashanti region in West Africa. I primarily examined the use of medicinal plants in the various traditional healing practices of the Ashanti culture.

Recommended Citation

Fifita, Patricia and Olsen, Dr. William (2013) "Ghanaian Healing and Traditional Medicine: An Ethnobotanical Study of the Use of Medicinal Plants Among Traditional Ashanti Healers of West Africa," Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2013: Iss. 1, Article 96.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2013/iss1/96