Ethno medicinal survey of plants used for the treatment of rheumatism in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria

The study ethno- medicinal survey of plants used for the treatment of Rheumatism was carried out in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Multi-stage random sampling was employed the groups of respondents in this study. Primary and secondary data was used for the study; a total of fifty (50) questionnaires were randomly distributed among ten (10) herbal medicine practitioners from each of the five (5) selected wards selected within the Local Government. Data obtained was also supported with personal interviews. Result revealed that majority of the respondents were male (70.2%), while 29.8% of the population were female, the age group with the highest percentage (40.4%) of the respondents was between 41-50years, 55.3% of the respondents do not have opportunity to attend formal education. The highest percentage of the respondents (53.2%) identified bone ache as the commonest symptom of this disease, is closely followed by 44% of the respondents that identified muscle pull as sign of Rheumatism in the study area. (74.5%) of the respondents specified that the disease is predominant during the raining season, but the effect can also be prolonged to dry season. 72.3% of the respondent identified that Rheumatism is a disease normally affect adult category. According to the respondents, the plant parts normally used are arranged in descending order of their percentage as follows: 44.2% identified roots as the plants part normally used for the treatment of Rheumatism > 18.6% who identified leaves and back respectively > 7.0% of them that chose fruit. Methods of preparation of phyto-remediation of Rheumatism are arranged in decreasing order according to the view of the herbal practitioners; Boiling 34.9% > Soaking in water 27.9% > Pounding in moulter 18.6%, Grinding 14.09% > Squeezing and Soaking in alcohol 2.3% respectively, boiling was seen the method mostly used in extraction of the active ingredient of the plant root and other plant/parts. Problems faced in administering herbal medicine and they include: Graduation and dosage (63.4%), Problem of scientific backing (24.4%), Marketing/Patronage problem and law enforcement agent with 4.9% respectively. It was recommended that, research be intensified upon in terms of corresponding dosage of phyto-remedy to different ailment including rheumatism, depending on the gravity of the ailment and the age group of the affected individuals.