Understanding the Nature, Classification and Categorization of Entrepreneurial Women Indigenous Herb Sellers at Bode/Ibuko Market, Ibadan, Nigeria

Herbal medicine and their preparations from plants, herbs, and animals both in parts and whole forms have been used since the early days of humankind and are still used throughout the world for health promotion and treatment of disease. The study identified the usefulness of Entrepreneurial Women Indigenous Herb Sellers (EWIHSs) in health care delivery system in Nigeria. It also identified the nature, classification and categorization of EWIHSs at Bode/Ibuko Market, Oyo State, Nigeria and it consequently, examined the groups that have knowledge of treatment of human illnesses and diseases. The study was conducted using both primary and secondary data. The primary data was collected through observation and oral interview of 18 EWIHSs at the Bode/Ibuko herbal market in Ibadan, Oyo state. The study utilized thematic analysis for the qualitative data collected. The study identified two major classifications of EWIHSs (Herbs and roots sellers' category and those that deal with sales of animals in whole form and parts such as Lion heads, Chameleon, bats, monkeys, owls, vulture and so on) which was noted to be sub-divided into five categories of EWIHSs as follows: (i) Those that sell both plants and animals parts and in whole form whether dead or alive; (ii) those that sell purely plants parts or in whole form, (iii) those that sell purely animal parts or in whole form and (iv) those that sell mineral materials dug from the ground such as camphor, kafura (Naphthalene), Kanafuru (Clove) and so forth and finally (v) those that sell the combinations of one to four (i to iv) above. Others that were attached to EWIHSs in terms of providing herbal materials for the public sales are being called different names such as: Iya Oko (Village women); Oni Taba Juku (snuff sellers or powdered tobacco); Oni Iyere (Black pepper sellers), and Alubosa Ayu (Allium sativum - Garlic); Oni Poroporo (Solanum aviculare sellers), Bara (Bitter melon); Isude; Baka, Epa ikun (belongs to the family Solanaceae) and finally Oni Yari (indigenous comb sellers - the women in this category sell indigenous combs, mirrors and so on). All of them together with EWIHSs are being called different names such as Lekuleja, Alagbo Omo, Oniwosiwosi, Alate, Elewe Omo and so forth. It was observed from the study that not all these categories of EWIHSs have the knowledge of treatment in terms of combination of materials for treatment of human illnesses and diseases, as a result public need to be cautious as regards receiving prescription and treatment from them. This is a dangerous development that may have adverse consequences on the unsuspecting customers who may not be able to distinguish between sellers or healers. The study recommended that public need to be cautious on who is to approach when they go for indigenous herbal treatment. It is suggested that the intending customers of EWIHSs must first see guidance from officers of the herbal sellers especially the secretary or the president in the herbal market. Finally, Policy implications include the need for government to improve the knowledge of the sellers in health care and also encourage the sellers through improved access to loan so as to enable the sellers contribute positively to the broader health objectives of Nigerian society.