Abstract

EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS, USES AND THERAPEUTIC BENEFITS OF ROSEMARY PLANT

Busingye John*

ABSTRACT

With the COVID-19 second wave and surging cases, many people have become experts in the application of herbal and home remedies to treat various diseases globally with sub-Saharan Africa having some of the highest cases. Herbal medicine have been used in treating various diseases in the sub Saharan Africa for long despite the fact that few studies have been conducted to document such vital and rich indigenous traditional knowledge in the use of herbs before it is lost or distorted. This study aimed to document the medicinal plant species known as Rosemary (used by experienced IK experts in treating various diseases. An ethnopharmacological survey was conducted in Mbarara city, Mbarara district, Kiruhura, Kazo, Ibanda, Rubirizi, Sheema, Mitooma, Bushenyi, Ntungamo, Kabale, Rwampara and Isingiro District. Using Krejcie and morgan‟s (1970) sample size determination table with a sample size of 51 respondents. The study targeted farmers and patients who used Rosemary in treating various diseases were purposively identified using the snowball technique. The study found out that Rosemary is important because of its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidants and immune boosting compounds. It was also found out that it helps in the reduction of bronchial inflammation which is the mucus in the lungs and many other benefits and uses in selected south west Uganda. FGDs, interviews, questionnaires, and documentary evidence to obtain data. Data was analysed using SPSS version 20, thematic and content analysis.

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