Paddy Weeds as a Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Health and Illness

Abstract

The thirst for search of weeds as sources of herbal medicine is on high peak due to low cost, high expensive cost of modern medicine, poverty invading the population and worst the haphazard side effect of modern medicine on health. Seventy two (72) species of weed were distributed among sixteen (16) families and fifty (50) genera, forty seven native and twenty five exotic species were inventoried (Table 1) Random vegetation surveys were used to conduct the study in 2020. Plants observed were photographed, geo-referenced collected and organized to be herbarium specimen. Plants identification were done using checklist, weed manuals and standard key and later set for by means of Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG) classification system. Component features in the study were; scientific and family names, common English names and Hausa names, native/exotic species and medicinal values, the information on the medicinal values on species part used in herbal medicine were obtained through literature and oral interview with various sources. The study investigates the medicinal values of paddy weeds in Usur. The result is presented in a tabular form showing the parts used, the roots, leaves, stems, flowers, bark and whole plant for curing different diseases and illness such us wound, typhoid, ulcer, pile, syphilis, and cancer etc., the parts are prepared or applied in the body or consumed as food or as a drinks. Weeds such us <i>Ageratum conyzoides</i> (L) cure gonorrhea; <i>Indigofera hirsuta </i>(L) treat epilepsy; <i>Cynodon dactylon </i>removes toxins and <i>Amaranthus spinosus </i>(L) treats kidney diseases. Majority of weeds belongs to the important families their distribution shows Poaceas, Asteraceae, Cyperaceae, Malvaceae, Fabaceae, Amaranthaceae, Lamiaceae and Rubiacea, Cleomaceae, Commelinaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Solanaceae, Araceae, Onagracea, Portulaceae, and Sphenocleaceae respectively.