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Table 1 Conditions linked with the need for a blood purifier, cleanser, detoxifier or tonic according to East African folk medicine diagnoses

From: East African quintessential plants claimed to be used as blood purifiers, cleansers, detoxifiers and tonics: an appraisal of ethnobotanical reports and correlation with reported bioactivities

Medical condition

References

Anaemia, allergies and inappetence

Kigen et al. 2017; Gumisiriza et al. 2019; Kimondo et al. 2015

Renal problems, splenomegaly and pancreatitis

Kigen et al. 2017; Muriuki 2011; Koch et al. 2005

Cerebrovascular and ocular disorders

Kigen et al. 2017

Gynaecology and childbirth. To “clean” women after giving birth or facilitate placenta expulsion

Kigen et al. 2017; Kiringe 2006

Aches, pains, dermal diseases, oedema

Fratkin 1996; Kigen et al. 2017; Odongo et al. 2018; Posthouwer 2015; Maundu et al. 2001

Malaria

Odongo et al. 2018; Maundu et al. 2001

Circulatory system disorders, menstrual cramps, hypertension, postmenopausal syndrome

Fratkin 1996; Kigen et al. 2017; Posthouwer 2015; Maundu et al. 2001

Compromised/weakened immunity

Anywar et al. 2020

Diabetes mellitus (hyperglycaemia), hyperlipidaemia

Kigen et al. 2017

Toxins in blood

Fratkin 1996

Wrong eating habits (digestive system disorders), food poisoning, brucellosis, constipation

Fratkin 1996; Muriuki 2011; Maundu et al. 2001