African traditional medicine

African traditional medicine is a complex system of healing disciplines. It combines indigenous herbalism with African spirituality. This system includes various specialists like herbalists, midwives, and diviners. Practitioners claim they can treat many different conditions. These include things like asthma, eczema, and high blood pressure. They also claim to treat more serious issues like cancer and Ebola.

Unlike modern medicine, which uses technical and analytical methods, this tradition views health through a spiritual lens.

In this tradition, illness is rarely seen as a random event. Instead, sickness is believed to stem from a spiritual or social imbalance. This means a person may be out of harmony with their community or the spirit world. Because of this, the diagnostic process focuses on finding the root cause of the imbalance. Healers often use incantations to help make a diagnosis. These spoken words are thought to create mystical and cosmic connections.

If the cause remains unclear, a practitioner might use divination. Divination is a method used to contact the spirit world for answers. This process often requires both medication and sacrifices to be effective.

Once a diagnosis is made, the practitioner prescribes a treatment. These treatments can range from herbal therapies to physical procedures. Some practitioners use fasting, dieting, massage, or bathing. They may even perform surgical procedures. Some methods are considered pseudoscientific by modern standards. For example, "bleed-cupping" or wet cupping is used for migraines and coughs. Other methods include using steam baths for fevers. Some cultures even use the fat of a boa constrictor for gout.

Other treatments involve zootherapy, which is the use of animal parts for medicine. An example is using baboon bones to treat arthritis.

Traditional medicine has a deep history in Africa. It was the dominant medical system for millions of people before Europeans arrived. The arrival of Europeans introduced evidence-based medicine, which changed the culture significantly. During the colonial era, many traditional practices were outlawed. Colonialists often viewed these methods as primitive. They also tried to control the sale of herbal medicines. In Mozambique, after independence in 1975, diviner-healers were even sent to re-education camps.

Despite this, healers remained vital to the health of their communities.

Today, there is a major revival of these medical systems. In the late 20th century, many developing countries realized they relied on expensive, imported medical technologies. This dependence on foreign supply chains can be difficult when those chains are erratic. As a result, many nations are now looking to integrate traditional medicine into national healthcare. In sub-Saharan Africa, the importance of this system is massive. A 2018 review estimated that nearly 60% of the population regularly uses traditional and complementary medicine.

This includes treating both people and animals.

Plants are the foundation of these treatments. In the tropical regions of Africa, more than 4,000 medicinal plants are used. These plants are chosen for their healing properties and their symbolic significance. For instance, colors like white, black, and red can hold special magical meanings. One well-known example is the Pygeum tree. Its bark is used to treat mild benign prostatic hyperplasia. In Africa, the bark is often made into tea.

Researchers have also studied plants like Tulbaghia violacea. In a 2007 study, this plant showed promise in reducing blood pressure in rats.

Many different types of plants are studied for their specific effects. In South Africa, researchers looked at sixteen plants in the KwaZulu-Natal region. They also studied the genus Aloe, which is used for infections and digestive ailments. Even common weeds have medicinal uses. For example, the Anredera cordifolia leaf can be used as a poultice for swollen feet.

Another plant, Bidens pilosa, uses boiled roots to treat infertility. These diverse botanical resources show how deeply connected traditional medicine is to the natural environment.