Assessment of herbal medicine use and its outcomes among post-stroke patients in Kumasi, Ghana

Stroke remains a significant cause of morbidity and disability worldwide, with many patients turning to herbal medicines as part of their treatment and recovery. Despite this common practice, limited empirical data exist on herbal medicine’s use and outcomes among post-stroke patients. The study investigated the prevalence, patterns, and self-reported effects of herbal medicine use among post-stroke patients in Kumasi, Ghana. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out with 83 post-stroke patients using structured questionnaires. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and presented as frequencies and percentages. All respondents reported using herbal medicines after a stroke. Also, 71.08% combined herbal remedies with conventional medications. Most respondents reported benefits, including improved mobility, enhanced well-being, clearer speech, and pain relief, after using herbal medicines. However, 28.9% experienced side effects including diarrhoea, fatigue, and nausea. Alarmingly, 85.5% did not disclose their use of herbal medicine to their conventional health care providers. Additionally, family and friends were the primary sources of recommendations for herbal remedies use. The use of herbal medicine is attributed to cultural beliefs and social influences. On the contrary, patients reported benefits. The findings, therefore, underscore the need for policy measures, such as strengthening public awareness and educate people about the availability of approved herbal medicine facilities, establishing regulatory frameworks for quality assurance, and promoting public health education. It is suggest that future research should include clinical trials to assess the safety and efficacy of commonly used herbal medicines in stroke management.