This study was carried out to interact with local traditional healers and villagers; herbal sellers with aims for document information on indigenous knowledge on plants used to treat ailments of respiratory diseases in Birnin Kebbi local government area of Kebbi state, Nigeria. The study was carried out in villages including; Birnin Kebbi town, Ambursa, Zauro, Makera, Gwadangaji and Kardi areas. The study shows that 513 informants were interviewed through a questionnaire. A total of 77 (15%) were herbalists, 147 (28.6%) were traditional healers, while 268 (52.2%) were villagers with practical knowledge of plans used to treat respiratory diseases, the total 21 (4%) were herbs sellers. The study shows the common plants used for treatment of respiratory diseases in villages within the study areas with their species, family and local named parts used for the treatment of respiratory diseases, preparation and administration of the plant extracts were documented, survey permitted the sampling of 20 plants species and 14 families. The leaves or whole plants were most highly used while bulbs, flowers, fruits, seeds, resin and sap were least used. Six different respiratory diseases were namely; cough pneumonia, catarrh, sore throat, asthma, bronchitis, tuberculosis and covid-19. The major method of preparation of the remedies were; concoction, decoction, infusion, maceration and steaming of inhalation. The diseases, parts of the plants used as number in table 2, were also documented in the study. The percentage of the plants used for treatment of respiratory diseases was shown in the study. Leaf shows higher percentage with 35%, fruits shows 15%, flowers has 10%, bulbs 10%, seeds has 10%, stem has 10%, rhizomes has 5%, and style has 5%. Leaf has higher percentage while rhizome and style shows least percentage used for the treatment of respiratory diseases. Further study should be carried out to identify more plants, used for the treatment of respiratory diseases.
Key words: Respiratory disease, Traditional healer, Herbalist, Villager and Birnin Kebbi
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