Epilepsy and Ethno Medicinal Plant in Hausa/Fulani tribe

Introduction

Epilepsy is a common medical and social disorder or group of disorders with unique characteristics. Epilepsy is usually defined as a tendency to recurrent seizures. The word “epilepsy” is derived from Latin and Greek words for “seizure” or “to seize upon”. This implies that epilepsy is an ancient disorder; indeed, in all civilizations it can be traced as far back as medical records exist. In fact, epilepsy is a disorder that can occur in all mammalian species, probably more frequently as brains have become more complex. Epilepsy is also remarkably uniformly distributed around the world. There are no racial, geographical or social class boundaries. It occurs in both sexes, at all ages, especially in childhood, adolescence and increasingly in ageing populations (WHO 2005).

Epilepsy, called “farfadiya” in Hausa has changed from the old belief that was thought to be a curse or caused by God and then treated by incantation, herbs, rituals and magic to a modern scientific concept. Once a person is diagnosed and known to be epileptic, his career and employment even in government agencies may be adversely affected (Aguwa, 1986). Hence the search for agents and evaluation of drugs for the treatment of the disease becomes of paramount importance.

In modern medicine, epilepsy is considered to be a chronic brain syndrome of various etiology characterized by recurrent seizures and usually associated with loss or disturbance of consciousness. There may be a characteristic body contraction (convulsion). The seizure is due to excessive electrical discharged in the brain and the seizure pattern depends not only on the cause but the origin, extent, Intensity and type of epileptic discharged in the brain. Drugs used in the treatment of epilepsy are collectively termed “Anticonvulsants”. The mechanisms of seizure suggest several general ways in which drugs might abolish or attenuate them (Toman, 1965). 

Traditional medicine refers to health practices, approaches, knowledge and beliefs incorporating plant, animal and mineral based medicines, spiritual therapies, manual techniques and exercises, applied singularly or in combination to treat, diagnose and prevent illnesses or maintain well‐being (WHO 2003). In Africa, up to 80% of the population uses traditional medicine for primary health care and the global market for herbal medicines currently stands at over US $ 60 billion annually and is growing steadily (WHO 2003). The most effective method of identifying medicinal plants today is Ethno pharmacological studies. The clinical success of quinine and quinidine isolated from the Cinchona tree bark and recently artemisinin from Artemisia annua in the treatment of malaria have rekindled interest in medicinal plants as potential sources of novel drugs (Igoli et al, 2005). Today artemisinin based combination therapy is recognized as drug of choice for treatment of malaria (WHO, 2006).

Most of the drugs currently in use have undesirable effect and unpredictable pharmacological action; hence the need to search for newer drugs with fewer or no side effects and predictable pharmacological action because therapy of epilepsy is long term (at least two years after the last fit) where the drug would be withdrawn gradually for about six months (Roger and Brian, 1996).