Table 2 Data on raw materials and finished products
Variables | Frequency, n (%) |
|---|---|
Sources of raw material supply (n = 99) | |
Gathering in the flora or fauna | 51 (51.5) |
Buying from a medicinal plant wholesaler | 38 (38.4) |
Growing medicinal plants | 10 (10.1) |
Natural origins of raw materials (n = 135) | |
Plant | 124 (91.8) |
Animal | 9 (6.7) |
Mineral | 2 (1.5) |
Raw material drying methods (n = 73) | |
Sun drying in the open air on tarpaulins | 32 (43.9) |
Shade drying in the open air on tarpaulins | 31 (42.5) |
Shade drying on the ground in the open air | 4 (5.5) |
Sun drying in the open air on the ground | 2 (2.7) |
Sun drying then shade drying in the open air on tarpaulins | 2 (2.7) |
Shade drying in an enclosed area on tarpaulins | 2 (2.7) |
Primary packaging of raw materials (n = 43) | |
Plastic bag | 16 (37) |
Plastic drum | 8 (19) |
Cardboard | 6 (14) |
Clay pot | 6 (14) |
Plastic bottle | 4 (9) |
Piece of fabric | 3 (7) |
Preparation methods for finished products (n = 126) | |
Decoction | 40 (31.7) |
Infusion | 28 (22.2) |
Calcination/Carbonisation | 21 (16.7) |
Powder | 21 (16.7) |
Maceration | 16 (12.7) |
Primary packaging of finished products (n = 64) | |
Plastic bag | 37 (58) |
Plastic bottle | 10 (15.5) |
Plastic drum | 5 (8) |
Glass bottle | 3 (4.5) |
Piece of fabric | 3 (5) |
Calabash | 2 (3) |
Cardboard | 2 (3) |
Paper | 2 (3) |
Labelling of finished products with instructions for use, identity and address of manufacturer (n = 95) | |
No | 34 (35.8) |
Yes | 61 (64.2) |
Storage conditions for finished products (n = 17) | |
Suitable location at room temperature | 13 (76.5) |
Suitable room free of moisture | 3 (17.5) |
Anywhere in the home | 1 (6) |
Registration of finished products (n = 96) | |
No | 91 (94.8) |
Yes | 5 (5.2) |
Shelf life of finished products (years) (n = 74) | |
< 1 | 20 (27) |
1 – 2 | 41 (55.4) |
3 – 4 | 12 (16.2) |
> 4 | 1 (1.4) |