Indigenous Tacit Knowledge of Traditional Medicine against COVID-19 in Algeria

Abstract

This research aims mainly to emphasize the contribution of indigenous tacit Knowledge of traditional medicine to treat COVID-19 symptoms in a traditional and Islamic context in Algeria. In order to do so, we proceed as follows. First of all, to find out whether traditional treatment delays the death of people affected by COVID-19, a survival analysis was carried out among a sample of 74 hospitalized patients at the University Hospital Center in a region located to the west of Algeria. Subsequently, interviews with 185 traditional healers from the same region were held to identify the plants on which these patients relied. Three main results emerge from our study: first, the use of traditional treatment helped prolong the survival of people with COVID-19. Second, we were able to identify 11 medicinal plants. Third, Healers over 80 who had acquired tacit knowledge knew more medicinal plants compared to other age groups.