World Health Forum. 1994 ; 15(2): 138-43.

Traditional herbal eye medicine in Kenya.

Klauss V, Adala HS.

University Eye Hospital, Munich, Germany.

A study was conducted in Kenya on 16 traditional healers in order to obtain information about their knowledge of eye conditions, the herbal medicines they used, and their indications for referral to ophthalmologists. Evidence remains scanty that traditional treatments are beneficial, and in some instances harmful effects have been reported. Nevertheless there is a solid case, based on economic and other grounds, for integrating traditional healers into the modern health care system.