Medicinal Plants Used in Alternative Medicine to Treat Cancer in Bukavu

Abstract

Current modern anticancer therapies are costly, inaccessible and even unavailable for poor populations living in resources-limited countries. The alternative way of treatment consists of using herbal remedies offered by traditional health practitioners. The study explored which plants are used by local traditional healers, what types of cancer they treat and how they do it. This was a cross-sectional survey conducted during the year 2015 among traditional health practitioners operating in the town. Twenty-two renowned traditional healers agreed to inform about plants used, preparation, cancer type and mode of utilization. Fifty one plant species belonging to 29 families dominated by Asteraceae and Malvaceae were identified. Those plants are used solely or in mixture to treat blood cancer, breast cancer, uterus cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer, throat cancer, skin cancer and fungating wounds. The recipes consisted of decoction, infusion, juice and topical cataplasms prepared by mixing extracts of different plant parts including leaves, tubers, spikes, barks and fresh plants. Potential side effects are limited to gastrointestinal disturbances, sedation, irritation and dizziness. Half of plants listed matched published studies, lending credence to the information given. This is a starting point for deep phytochemical, pharmacological and toxicological investigations to scientifically work up the available herbal remedies before their integration into improved traditional medicines.