Editorial: Traditional Medicinal Plants-- Treatment or Cure?

Abstract

In one of the articles appearing in this issue of the journal, the authors have documented medicinal plants used in treatment of AIDS/HIV in Tanzania. In many African languages the words "treatment" and "cure" as applied to management of diseases are used interchangeably, the divide-line being rather hazy. While it is generally recognised that there is no proven cure for AIDS, many drugs are used in the management of AIDS related illnesses such as diarrhoea, general malaise, fever etc. Thus the claims by Tanzanian herbalists need to be subjected to further scrutiny.