Traditional Practices and Ethnomedicinal Insights into the Preparation of Fermented Butter "Smen" Among Rural Communities in Developing country

In rural part of the developing country such as Morocco, majority of the population is dependent on natural remedies like Smen (ghee) for health issues due to their affordability and accessibility, and they often apply traditional methods before seeking formal medical help. Regardless of its widespread use, the knowledge surrounding Smen's medicinal properties has been extensively passed down orally rather than documented. 

The current novel qualitative ethnomedicinal study was conducted to evaluate and obtain data on Smen's traditional medicinal practices along with its bioactive compounds in Northern Morocco. The researchers conducted the study through semi-structured interviews with 630 elderly participants from March to April 2022. Data were assessed using descriptive statistics and expressed as a percentage of responses to each question in the survey.

The findings revealed that 66.5% of respondents recognized the health benefits of Smen, a knowledge inherited from previous generations. They used Smen to treat various ailments, including hemorrhoids, common colds, detoxification, rheumatism, and wounds or burns. 

Thus, it can be deduced that the study found parallels between Moroccan ethnomedicinal practices and Ayurveda, the ancient Indian traditional medicine system. Historically, Smen has served dual purposes in both culinary and medicinal contexts, highlighting its cultural significance. The diverse medicinal applications of Smen in Northern Morocco may aid in the development of medications based on ghee that have fewer adverse effects than conventional medicines.

Source: El Lamti F, Mennane Z, Elmtili N, Mrani Alaoui M. Ethnomedicinal Knowledge and Traditional Methodology for the Preparation of Fermented Butter "Smen" Among the Rural People of Northern Morocco: A Field Study. J Med Food. 2024 Nov;27(11):1133-1139. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2024.0087. Epub 2024 Sep 6. PMID: 39239716.