The yoruba name of plants

Yoruba Medicine – History The medical traditions
of the Yoruba people of western Nigeria developed
within a culture that deeply respects and venerates
ancestors. The orishas, or gods of the Yoruba

were former ancestors such as Oduduwa, the
legendary ancestor of all Yoruba people, and his
son Ogun. Respect for family and ancestors is so
deep that when Yoruba people die, they are buried
under the floor of the family house. Their spirits
remain with and protect the family.

The Yoruba believe that sickness is a whim or
punishment of a specific god or ancestor, who
must be identified and placated, or else is caused
by witchcraft for which the appropriate
countercharm must be employed. They developed
a shamanistic medical tradition utilizing both
herbalism (practiced by the onishegun, herbal
healers) and divination (practiced by the balabwo,
priests of the Ifa cult.)
Diagnosis in Yoruba
Medicine
The balabwo uses both psychotherapeutic
techniques in discussing the illness with the
patient, also casts an oracle reading using the Ifa
system revealed to the Yoruba by the trickster god
Eshu Elegba. The oracular reading involves
throwing a handful of 16 kola nuts from the right to
the left hand, 16 times, after which the right hand
is checked to see whether an odd or even number
of kola nuts remains. The outcome of each set of 4
throws is marked in a sandtray with a single or
double line. At the end of this process, the pattern
left in the sand tray corresponds to one of the 256
verses of the Odu, which the balabwo interprets for
the patient.
Because diseases may also be caused by
witchcraft, curses, or a form of the evil eye, the
balabwo also asks the patient questions about
events that occurred in the patient’s life around the
time that the illness began. Relevant information
might include strained relations with family or
neighbors who might have deliberately or
unwittingly put a curse on the patient.
Treatments in Yoruba Medicine
yoruba medicine plants
The psychotherapeutic consultation with the
balabwo is one part of the overall treatment. It has
the effect of calming the patient and engendering a
more positive frame of mind. The balabwo
recommended that the patient take specific steps
to cure the illness. By sacrificing to a particular
god or ancestor, or procuring a specific charm to
protect against a malicious spell. The balabwo also
send the patient to the onishegun to purchase
herbal remedies.
In treating diseases caused by angry gods,
sacrifices may be made to the god in question, but
special care must be taken not to make other
gods jealous in the process. For example, it is
often important to make an extra sacrifice to Eshu
Elegba when sacrificing to another god, in
recognition of the fact that Eshu Elegba is the
messenger and mediator between the Yoruba and
the gods, and also to prevent him from becoming
jealous which would create further problems for
the patient. The advice of the balabwo is essential
to ensure that the correct procedures are followed.
Materia Medica and Important
Texts in Yoruba
The important text of Yoruba medicine is the Odu,
a collection of 256 verses which is the oracle
consulted for diagnosis and treatment by the Ifa
priests. The Odu was revealed to the Yoruba
people by the god Eshu Elegba. Another important
text is the Awakaiye, The Fruit of Universal
Knowledge.
It should be noted that the Santeria tradition, which
was brought to the Americas by African slaves, is
descended from the Yoruba teachings.
yoruba medicine - yoruba name for medicinal plants
Some herbs in yoruba
language
If you want to know others, just post a comment!
Basil plant – Nchanwu in Yoruba
Fenugreek – ewedu in yoruba, hulba in Hausa
Hibiscus plant – Zobo
Tamarind – tsamia
Tumeric –  ata Ile pupa in Yoruba
Cayenne – Bawa
Chilli – Shombo in Yoruba
Black pepper – iyere in Yoruba, Oziza in igbo
Thorny pigweed/prickly amaranth – tete eleegun in
yoruba
alternanthera nodiflora – Dagunro
Butryospermum paradoxum – Shea tree – Ori
Allium sativum -Garlic – Ayu in yoruba
Capsicum frutescens – Tabasco pepper – Ata-
wewe
Lactuca capensis – Lettuce – Yanrin
Bryophyllum pinnatum – Air Plant, Life Plant,
Miracle Leaf or Goethe Plant – Abamoda
Zingiber officinale – Ginger – Jinja, Atale in yoruba
Dioscorea dumetorum – Sweet Yam- Esuru
Enantia chloranta – Awopa
Khaya grandifoliola, K. senegalensis, K. ivorensis –
Oganwo
Sphenocentrum jollyanum – Akerejupon
Olax subscorpioidea – Ifan, Ifon
Tetrapleura tetraptera – Aidan, Aridan
Lecaniodiscus cupanioides – Akika
Lippia multiflora – Efirin-gogoro, Efirin-oko
Jatropha curcas – Botuje, Lapalapa
Jatropha gossypifolia – cotton-leaf physicnut-
Botuje pupa
Jatropha multifida – coral plant, physic nut or
Guatemala rhubarb – Ogege
Cymbopogon citratus – lemon grass- Kooko-oba
Pterocarpus erinaceus – Apepo, Agbelosun
Pterocarpus osun – Osun
Pterocarpus santalinioides – Gbengbe
Catharanthus roseus -Madagascar rosy periwinkle
– Apabida pupa
Carica papaya – Papaya – Ibepe
Dioclea scandens – Dasa
Dioclea reflexa – Agbarin, Epe, Arin
Yoruba Names for plants
Lawsonia inermis – Henna plant – Laali, Lali
Ficus exasperata -Ficus Tree – Epin
Ficus asperifolia – Ipin
Ficus capensis – Opoto
Ficus elegans – Asoro
Ficus mucuso – Odan-afomo
Ficus thoningii – Odan-abaa
Ficus vallis-choudae – Ogunro
Vernonia amygdalina – Ewuro
Phyllanthus amarus – stonebreaker or seed-
under-leaf- Eyin-olobe
Mucuna sloanei – Werepe
Mucuna pruriens – Ewe-ina, Yerepe
Alstonia congensis – Ahun
Mangifera indica – Mango – Mangoro in yoruba
Nauclea latifolia – Egbesi
Sorghum bicolor – Poroporo okababa
Senna fistula – Aidantoro
Erythophleum suaveolens – Erun obo, Olu-obo
Ocimum gratissimum – Clove Basil- Efirin
Telfaria occidentalis – Fluted gourd – Ugwu
Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides – Senegal prickly-ash
or artar root – Orin ata
Acalypha wilkesiana – Jiwini, Ewe larapupa
Sida cordifolia – flannel weed – Iso-obo
Sida pilosa – Eesinle
Sida rhombifolia – Iseketu pupa
Thaumatococcus danielli – Ewe moi-moi
Azadirachta indica – Neem, Nimtree or Indian Lilac
– Dongoyaro
Aloe vera – Ahon-erin
Aloe barteri – Eti-erin, Ida-egun, Ida-orisa
Garcinia kola – bitter kola – Orogbo
Ageratum conyzoides – Billygoat-weed, Chick
weed, Goatweed, Whiteweed – Imi-esu
Abelmoschus esculentus – Okra- Ila
Abrus precatorius -jequirity, Crab’s eye, rosary
pea, precatory pea or bean, John Crow Bead,
Indian licorice – Oju-ologbo
Abutilon mauritianum – Furu
Acacia ataxacantha – Ihun, Ewon adele
Acacia nilotica – Baani, Booni
Acanthospermum hispidum – Bristly starbur,
Goat’s head, Hispid starburr – Dagunro
Acanthus montanus – Bear’s Breech or Mountain
Thistle – Ahon-ekun, Irunmu arugbo
Adansonia digitata – baobab – Ose
Aerva lanata – mountain knotgrass – Efun-ile
Aframomum melegueta – Grains of Paradise –
Atare
Alafia barteri – Agbari etu
Allium ascalonicum – The shallot – Alubosa
elewe, alubosa onisu
Different plants
Alchornea cordifolia – Ipa
Caesalpinia pulcherima – Barbados pride, dwarf
poinciana, Barbados flower-fence – Eko-omode
Afzelia africana – Afzelia, Lenke, Lengue, or Doussi
– Apa-igbo
Alternanthera sessilis – sessile joyweed or dwarf
copperleaf – Reku-reku
Anacardium occidentale – Cashew – Kasu
Anthocleista djalonensis, Anthocleista
liebrechtsiana – Sapo, Shapo
Arachis hypogea – peanut, or groundnut – Epa
Bambusa vulgaris – Golden Bamboo, or Buddha’s
Belly Bamboo – Oparun
Baphia nitida – African sandalwood – Osun, Irosun
Allanblackia floribunda – tallow tree – Eku, Eso
roro
Byrsocarpus coccineus – Amuje wewe
Calendula officinalis – pot marigold – Ododo-
Maria in yoruba
Calotropis procera – Sodom apple – Bomubomu
Canarium schweinfurthii – African elemi or
canarium – Paapo, Origbo
Canavalia ensiformis – jack bean – Sese-nla
Carapa procera – Carapa – Abo-oganwo
Cardiospermum halicacabum – balloon plant or
love in a puff – Shaworo
Celastrus indica – Ponju-owiwi
Ceiba pentandra – Araba
Cissampelos owariensis – Ewe jokoje
Chromolaena odorata – Siam weed – Akintola,
Awolowo
Tetracarpidium conophorum – Nigerian walnut –
Awusa, Asala
Vernonia colorata – Ironweed – Eriro-Ijebu
Xylopia aethiopica – Eeru, Erunje
Tridax procumbens – Igbalode, Muwagun
Waltheria indica – Ewe-epo
Vitex doniana – Oori-nla
Uvaria chamae – finger root or bush banana –
Eruju
Viscum album – mistletoe- Afomo in yoruba
Uvaria afzelii – Gbongbose, Anikan wogba-arun
Urena lobata – Ilasa-agborin, Ilasa-omode
Uraria picta – Alupayida
Voacanga africana – Ako-dodo
Argemone mexicana – Mexican poppy, Mexican
prickly poppy, Flowering thistle, cardo or
cardosanto – Egun arugbo, Ekan-ekun
Artocarpus altilis – Berefurutu
Boerhaavia diffusa – punarnava – Etiponla,
Olowojeja
Borreria verticillata – Irawo ile
Carpolobia lutea – Osunsun
Citrullus colocynthis – colocynth, bitter apple,
bitter cucumber, desert gourd, egusi, or vine of
Sodom – Egusi-baara
Citrus aurantium – Bitter orange, Seville orange,
sour orange, bigarade orange, or marmalade
orange – Osan
Aspilia africana – Yunyun
Nicotiana tabacum – Ewe taba
Source: An Ethnobotanical Survey of Herbal
Markets and Medicinal Plants in Lagos State of
Nigeria (PDF)  of
yoruba names for herbs and plants.
Bibliography:
Maclean, Una. Magical Medicine: A Nigerian Case
Study. London: Penguin Books, 1977.
Some other plants:
1. Transvaal alchornea – yoruba: ijandu, ijandudu,
gbaluwo, ijan pupa, sewo sese pepe, ijan, ijan
funfun, pepe
2. Christmas bush – yoruba: isin, ipa, epa, esin,
asiyin, esin abata
3. Yellow siris, yellow bean – yoruba: ayinreta,
ayinre popo, ayunre, akudinrin, alota
4. Lebbeck tree, siris tree, white siris tree, bastard
lebbeck, tall albizia, white siris – Yoruba: ayinreta;
Edo: ekpaghudo; Igbo: nyie avu
5. Flat Crown – yoruba: ayinre, ayinre isingede,
ayinre ogo
6. Black currant tree – yoruba: aduigbo, asofeyeje,
olowuko, yanya holo
7. Tassel berry – yoruba: aponlojusese, aroro
White mahogany – yoruba: ifa okete
8. Kola nut – yoruba: obi-abata, ogungun
Zulu coshwood, vanquisher – yoruba: atewu-edun,
orodo, ofun, fomu, obi-edun
9. Job’s tears, gromwell-read, pearl barley –
yoruba: obi, obi ifin, obi pupa, obi abata
10. African mahogany, counterwood – Yoruba :
apa, ako apa, apa igbo
11. Pond apple – afe
12. Soursop, prickly custard apple : eko oyibo,
eko omode
13. Wild custard apple, custard apple – abo,
arere, afon
14. Silk tree albizia, mimosa, mimosa tree, silk
tree, silk sirirs, Persian acacia, pik siris tree –
ayinre, ayinreye
15. Pattern wood, alstonia – atikekereheyin,
dagunro kekere
16. Scrub ironbark, grey birch – ira odan, ira,
iralodan
17. Coastal goldenleaf, coast goldleaf – asaragba,
asa gidi, aarasa, ira, fonu fonu
18. Blighia konig sapindaceae, akee apple – isin
odo, isin jise, isin oka, isin odan
19. Triangle tops, Phialodiscus unijugatus, P.
plurijugaturs, P. zambesiacus – isin ako, ako isin,
odofin ile, akoisin
20. Star apple – osan agbalumo, osan olomo
wewe, onidosan, agbalumo olomo
21. Satin leaf, Damson plum – osan edun, osan
palambi, osanko
22. Upas tree, antiaris – oriro, oro, oro efun, abori
kefun, awase, oriro omo oluugbo
23. Alligator weed – sawewe
24. Sessile joyweed, sessile floweres globe
amaranth – ewaowo, awo crede, moni roderode,
sajeje
Source  – CRC
World Dictionary of Plants Names –
Umberto Quattrocchi
leaves of Senecio biafrae – worowo in Yoruba
fermented seeds of Parkia biglobosa, African locust
beans in English, Igba/Iyere in Yoruba
leaves of Talinum triangulare (water leaf) or Basella
alba, Indian spinach in English, Amunututu in
Yoruba
West African black pepper/Ashanti pepper (Piper
guineense, Uziza in Igbo and Ata iyere in Yoruba
Phyllanthus amarus – ehin olobe or eyin olobe in
Yoruba
Celosia argentea – soko (yoruba)
Launaea taraxacifolia – African lettuce, wild lettuce
– efo yanrin.
Xanthosoa poeppigii – ewe koko
Citrus aurantiifolia – osanwene
Anacardium occidentale – kasu
Vernonia amygdalina Delile – ewuroaja
Bridelia ferruginea benth – ira
Physic nut, termite plant, Barbados nut, fig nut –
eto-mkpo
Monodora myristica – abo lakoshe, arigho,
eyinaghose
Lawsonia inermis – henna, cypress shrub,
egyptian privet, alkanna – laali in yoruba, uhie
inine in Igbo.
Hybanthus Enneasprmus – abiwere in yoruba
Usolala-ocha in Igbo.
Asparagus africanus – aluki, kadankobe
Syzygium aromaticum – Clove – konofuru
Holarrhena Floribunda – Holarrhenna – Ako-ire,
are-ibeji, areno, isai
Alstonia Boonei – awun
Shea butter tree – emi, emi-egidi
Guava – guafa
Solanum incanum L. – Bitter apple – ikan
Brimstone tree – oruwo, owuru
Garlic – Allium sativum – ayu
Plant names from Yoruba
Morinda lucida – Oruwo
Enantia chlorantha – Awopa
Alstonia boonei – Ahun
Gossypium barbadense – cotton seed – Owu
Alstonia boonei – Stool wood – Ahun
Cymbopogon citratus – lemon grass – Ewe tea,
Oko oba
Carica papaya – pawpaw – Ibepe
persea americana – avocado pear – Pia
Hymenostegia – ikun
Emilia coccineus – Scarlet tassel flower –
odundun-odo
Peperomia pellucida – Silver bush – Renren
Elaeis guineesis – Red oil palm – Ekuro
Vitex grandifolia – Stool wood – Oori
Bryophyllum pinnatum – Life plant – Abamoda
Cajanus cajan – Pigeon Pea – Otiili
Vernonia amygdalina – Bitter leaf – Ewuro
Nicotiana tabacum – Virginia tobacco – Ewe taba
Allium ascalonicum – Onion – alubosa gambari,
alubosa keta, elubasa
Garcinia kola – Bitter kola – Orogbo
Citrus aurantifolia – Lime – Osan wewe
Citrus paradise – Grape – Osan nla
Amaranthus spinosa – spiny amaranth – Tete
elegun
Amaranthus viridis – slender amaranth – tete-
abalaye
Bryophyllum pinnatum – mother of millions –
Odundun Abamoda
Calotropis procera – milkweed – Bomubomu
Heliotropium indicum – scorpion weed – Ogbe ori
akuko, Agogo igun
Kalanchoe crenata – Eti eleti
Manihot esculenta – cassava, tapioca, manioc,
yucca – Gbaguda, Ege
Momordica charantia – bitter melon, bitter gourd,
balsam pear – Ejinrin were
Ananas comosus – Pineapple – Ope-oyinbo
Ocimum basilicum – Basil – Efinrin wewe, ofen,
eferi, efinrin aruntantan, efinrin ata, efinrin
marugbosanyan, efinrin aja
Ricinus communis – Castor oil plant – lava pupa,
Laa funfun
Bambusa vulgaris – bamboo – oparun
Anacardium occidentale – cashew nut tree –
Kausu
Cucuma doonestica valeton cucuma longe –
turmeric – atale, atale pupa
Verbena – Verbena officinalisVerbena – Ewe
Orukan, Yemaya.
Parsley – Petroselinum crispum – Isako, Oshun
Sage -Salvia officinalis – Kiriwi, Babaluaye,
Obatala.
Purslane, Pigweed, Little Hogweed – Portulaca
oleracea – Gbure.
Spinach – Spinacia oleracea – Obedo, Ewe tutu,
Ede.
Anise – Pimpinella anisum – Eweise, Ochiosi,
Azowano.
Medicine plants with yoruba
Names
Sweet potato – oduku, anamo, edumsi,
kukundunkun
Colocasia esculenta – taro, dasheen – ikoko, kok,
isu koko, koko, koko funfun
Canna indica – edible canna – ido, okun
Cyper esculentus – chufa, rushnut, earth almond –
ofio, ofio omu, imumu ofio omu, erunsha
Dioscorea alata – water yam, common yam –
ewura duduku, kiamfa, arunfanfan, atti, egbodo
Dioscorea bulbifera – potato yam, aerial yam –
emina, guite sinde, guite sode, aparia isu, emina
esi,
Dioscorea cayenensis – yellow yam, negro yam –
pansaga, agandan, aginipa, apepe, igangan
Dioscorea dumetorum – Bitter yam – itakun isu
Dioscorea esculenta – lesser yam – isu alubosa
Musa paradisiaca – plantain – (banana fruit)
ogede agbagba
Zea mays – sweet corn – agbado
Centella asiatica – asiatic pennywort, wild violet –
ewe karo
Crassocephalum crepidioides – hawksbeard
velvetplant – ebolo, efodu, egusi
Opuntia ficus-indica – prickly-pear, Indian fig –
oro agogo
Cucurbita pepo – summer squash, courgette,
zucchini, marrow, pumpkin – elegbe, elegede,
apala
Lagenaria siceraria – bottle gourd,calabash gourd,
white flowered gourd, white pumpkin – igba
Luffa aegyptiaca – smooth loofah, discloth gourd,
sponge gourd, vegetable sponde – run, erun
kaankan
Telfairia occidentalis – fluted gourd – egusi, iroko
Trrichosanthes cucumerina – snake gourd –
tomato elejo
Arachis hypogaea – peanut, grouns nut, pea nut,
chinese almond – egpa, epa gidi, ogodsia
Cajanus cajan – pigeon pea, cajan pea, Conge pea,
yellow dhal, cajan pea – otili, otimi
Canavalia ensiformis – jack bean, horse bean –
papanla, popondo, poponla
Lablab purpureus – hyacinth bean, lubia bean,
Indian bean – awuje
Mucuna prurins – velvet bean, buffalo bean –
werekpe, esin, esinfunfun, esise, ewe ina, here,
wepe, werepe, yerepe
Solanum melongena, eggplant – Igba aja