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Cited by 141Complementary and Alternative Medicine StudiesNatural Antidiabetic Agents StudiesEthnobotanical and Medicinal Plants Studies

Traditional Medicine and Its Role in the Management of Diabetes Mellitus: “Patients” and Herbalists’ Perspectives

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Kasole, Rose, Martin, Haikael D., Kimiywe, Judith·2019·Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
DOI 10.1155/2019/2835691PMC PMC6637672
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is a complicated health condition with multiple causes and many treatment options. Various myths may influence diabetics' health-seeking behavior, and they may use traditional medicines, which include normal foods and herbs, for primary health care. The aim of this study was to determine patients' and herbalists' practices and perspectives regarding the use of traditional medicines and the role of traditional medicines in the management of diabetes. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We conducted a cross-sectional study with a mixed-methods design. We interviewed 140 patients attending diabetic clinics using a structured questionnaire, conducted focus group discussions with an additional 20 diabetic patients, and conducted in-depth interviews with 8 local herbalists. The majority of the diabetic participants believed that diabetes is caused by a high-carbohydrate diet. Of the 140 participants who answered the questionnaire, 67.2% reported using traditional medicines to manage their diabetes, including 58.6% who reported using both conventional medicines and traditional medicines. Some participants believed that combining conventional and traditional medicines improved the effectiveness of treatment. Reasons given for using traditional medicines included the high cost of conventional treatment and the availability and accessibility of the traditional medicines. The most commonly used traditional medicines were indigenous vegetables and medicinal plant products including amalanth leaves, hare lettuce leaves, nightshade leaves, spider plant leaves, okra pods, moringa leaves and seeds, soursop leaves, black plum back, avocado seed, and lemongrass. CONCLUSION: Patients and herbalists provided a range of perspectives regarding the use of traditional medicines to treat diabetes. Further research is needed to identify bioactive compounds present in commonly used traditional medicines and their efficacy.

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  • A. muricata has been used as a medicinal remedy since ancient times to treat and improve various diseases, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cancer, and bacterial infections.

    “It has been utilized as a medicinal remedy since ancient times to treat and improve various diseases, for example, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cancer, and bacterial infections.”

    From Annona muricata: Comprehensive Review on the Ethnomedicinal, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacological Aspects Focusing on Antidiabetic Properties (2023) · cites this paper as [21]

    Results §3.3 (page not provided) reports that participants used soursop leaves (Annona muricata) to manage diabetes, supporting that part of the claim as a report of use, not proven effectiveness. The paper does not establish use of A. muricata since ancient times or specifically for hypertension, cancer, or bacterial infections; Discussion §4 mentions high blood pressure only in connection with traditional medicines collectively. (LLM, conf=0.89)

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  • In Tanzania, the leaves of A. muricata are among the most-used plants to cure diabetes.

    “In Tanzania, which is in Eastern Africa, the leaves of A. muricata are among the most-used plants to cure diabetes.”

    From Annona muricata: Comprehensive Review on the Ethnomedicinal, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacological Aspects Focusing on Antidiabetic Properties (2023) · cites this paper as [21]

    Results §3.3 reports that soursop (Annona muricata) leaves were among the traditional medicines most frequently reported for diabetes management, used by 11.5% of questionnaire respondents. But the study was conducted at two hospitals in Northern Tanzania (Methods §2.2), and it reports participants’ beliefs and practices rather than establishing that the leaves cure diabetes. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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  • A. muricata leaf decoction is consumed in minimal doses to lower blood-glucose levels.

    “Its decoction is consumed in minimal doses to lower blood-glucose levels.”

    From Annona muricata: Comprehensive Review on the Ethnomedicinal, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacological Aspects Focusing on Antidiabetic Properties (2023) · cites this paper as [21]

    Section 3.3 reports that participants used soursop (Annona muricata) leaves to manage diabetes, and the Discussion likewise lists them among traditional medicines used for that purpose. The paper does not specify a leaf decoction or minimal doses, nor does it establish that this preparation lowers blood-glucose levels. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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Research works printed but not linked: 5

  1. [2]Jangid H. Chaturvedi S. Khinchi M. An overview on diabetis mellitus Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research and Development 2017 p. 11
  2. [3]Piero M. Nzaro G. Njagi J. Diabetes mellitus? a devastating metabolic disorder Asian Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences 2015 4 40
  3. [24]Babu P. D. Subhasree R. Bhakyaraj R. Vidhyalakshmi R. Brown rice-beyond the color reviving a lost health food-a review Magnesium 2009 187 (13.10)
  4. [36]Maitera O. Osemeahon S. Barnabas H. Proximate and elemental analysis of avocado fruit obtained from Taraba state Nigeria Indian Journal of Science and Technology 2014 2 2 67 73
  5. [48]Hussin A. H. Adverse effects of herbs and drug-herbal interactions Malaysian Journal of Pharmacy 2001 1 2 39 44

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Authors
Kasole, R., Martin, H. D., & Kimiywe, J.
Affiliations
  • Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (TZ)
  • Kenyatta University (KE)
Corresponding author
Kasole, Rose
ORCID
Venue
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2019-07-04
Volume
2019
Pages
1-12
ISSN
  • 1741-427X (ISSN-L)
  • 1741-4288
DOI
10.1155/2019/2835691
PMC
PMC6637672
OpenAlex
W2955402364
Cited by
141
References
44
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 32 · 2023: 29 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 3
FWCI
17.40
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Nelson Mandela Institute of Science and Technology NM-AIST
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Natural Antidiabetic Agents Studies
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Ethnobotanical and Medicinal Plants Studies
Keywords
diabetes mellitus, traditional medicine, herbal medicine, medicinal plants, patient perspectives, health-seeking behavior, food beliefs, Moringa, Annona muricata, indigenous vegetables, complementary and alternative medicine

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