Indigenous herbal bricoleur methods for curing nocturnal enuresis among the yorubas of southwestern Nigeria

Métodos indígenas de bricolaje a base de hierbas para curar la enuresis nocturna entre los yorubas del suroeste de Nigeria

Resumen

This paper explores the indigenous knowledge of herbal, social, and bricoleur methods used to cure nocturnal enuresis (NE) among the Yoruba people of Southwestern Nigeria. Two methods were identified, namely, the ladder climbing /Oharan (Big Squirrel) method and the indigenous banana stem method. However,  for scientific and clarity reasons, this paper focuses only on the the indigenous banana stem method. The study further explores the procedures of how to prepare the herbal medicine through the indigenous banana stem method to curing the Persistent Primary Nocturnal Enuresis illness (NE), which is mainly caused by either the psychological or spiritual influences in the local environment. The paper adopted an explanatory research methodology, using percentages mainly, to investigate how the NE is cured among the Yoruba cultural group in the study area. Multi-staged sampling technique was adopted in selecting the sample population. Data were collected from primary and secondary sources. Primary data were collected, first, from a sample of 10 adults (comprising of 6 men and 4 women), out of a population of 15 adults whose treatments are on going at the period of collection of data for this research. The 15 adults were suffering from the NE at the time of this survey. The 15 patients came directly to the indigenous healing centre at the secluded area of Modakeke town within the Ile-Ife cosmopolitan town at the time the data was collected. Using convenience sampling technique, 10 patients were marked down as sample for the survey because they resided around the Ife environs and could be quickly monitored  while the remaining 5 patients came from a faraway place within Nigeria. Second, also 10 healed ex patients living in ife environs, out of a population of 20 ex patients who suffered in the past from NE, but who had received perfect healing in the past 5 years were followed up using the addresses indicated during their first registration at the healing centre. In total, the survey included 20 respondents from a population of 35. The study adopted explanatory research design, using mainly percentages, to allow for deep understanding of the research topic. The information needed were also collected from secondary sources that have been classified as credible published articles. Subsequently, the data generated were analyzed for easy apprehension using appropriate descriptive and inferential tool, percentages. The findings showed that the indigenous banana stem herbal remedy is very effective in permanently curing NE among the patients/respondents. This indigenous banana stem herbal remedy was found sufficient enough to put an end to respondents bed-wetting. This finding provided an important information and made immense contribution to the understanding of indigenous knowledge as a potential source for new treatments of NE.