Terminalia brownii is widely used in African traditional medicine. Infusions of the wood are taken to treat cough, and bark decoctions to treat jaundice, malaria, tuberculosis, epilepsy, urino-genital problems, syphilis and gonorrhoea, and as anthelmintic.
Stem and bark decoctions are taken against body swellings.
Bast fibres are chewed for the treatment of yellow fever. Leaves are administered to treat stomach complaints, colic, diarrhoea, eye infections, fungal infections and ringworm, and as abortifacient.
Roots are used against allergic reactions. In veterinary medicine, leaves are given to livestock to treat diarrhoea and leaf extracts are applied for the treatment of conjunctivitis.
Pastoral communities in Sudan, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania use leaf and bark decoctions to treat worms and babesiosis in cattle and goats.