The place of traditional medicine in modern medicine
Recently a had a good friend diagnosed with lung cancer, a devastating diagnosis to receive. However, what was of interest is than when he visited a cancer organization my friend was referred to both an oncologist and a traditional healer! I was pretty surprised, but considering the strong influence traditional medicine has in Zimbabwe, it should not have been a shock.
Background
‘Traditional medicine has remained as the most affordable
and easily accessible source of treatment in the primary healthcare system of
resource poor communities in Zimbabwe. The local people have a long history of
traditional plant usage for medicinal purposes. …
About 80% of the population in developing countries use
traditional medicines because they cannot afford the high cost of western
pharmaceuticals and health care, and because traditional medicines are more
acceptable from a cultural and spiritual perspective …….
A total of 18 medical
conditions were treated using remedies made from medicinal plants.
Gastro-intestinal disorders, sexually transmitted infections, cold, cough and
sore throat and gynaecological problems were treated with the highest number of
medicinal plant species extracted from A,
Maroyi, 2013 , Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 2013, 9:31 ) http://www.ethnobiomed.com/content/9/1/31
Definition of traditional medicine
According to the World Health Organization, ‘Traditional
medicine (TM) refers to the knowledge, skills and practices based on the
theories, beliefs and experiences indigenous to different cultures, used in the
maintenance of health and in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement or
treatment of physical and mental illness. In some countries, it is referred to
as "alternative" or "complementary" medicine (CAM). http://www.who.int/topics/traditional_medicine/en/
Legal status of traditional medicines in Zimbabwe
In Zimbabwe, the Minister of Health presides over both
allopathic and traditional health sectors. In 1981, two significant statutes on
the practice of traditional medicine were enacted in Zimbabwe.
The Traditional Medical Practitioners Council Act of 1981
(79) is one of the most comprehensive pieces of legislation on the practice of traditional
medicine that has been enacted anywhere in the world. Under the terms of the
Act, the practice of traditional medicine includes every act the object of
which is to treat, identify, analyse, or diagnose, without the application of
operative surgery, any illness of the body or mind by traditional methods. The
Traditional Medical Practitioners Council Act recognizes ZINATHA as the
association for traditional medicine practitioners in Zimbabwe (80). This
legislation also created the Traditional Medical Practitioners Council.
An unregistered person commits an offence punishable by up
to two years imprisonment and/or a fine if he or she practises or carries on
business for gain as a traditional medical practitioner, whether or not
purporting to be registered; pretends, or by any means whatsoever holds himself
or herself out to be a registered traditional medical practitioner; or uses the
title "Registered Traditional Medical Practitioner" or any name,
title, description, or symbol indicating or calculated to lead persons to infer
that he or she is registered as a traditional medical practitioner. Falsely
claiming to be a registered spirit medium constitutes a similar offence.. (http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/en/d/Jh2943e/4.44.html
)
Books in our Library collection on traditional medicine
1.
The traditional medical practitioner in Zimbabwe
by M Gelfand, S Mavi, and R B Drummond
2.
Herbal medicine in primary care by S Eldin and A
Dunford
3.
Clasiical homoepathy by Dr M Blackie
4.
Homeopathy for the primary healthcare team by P
Downey
5.
Food plants of Zimbabwe by M H Tredgold
6.
Examining complementary medicine by a Vickers
Some articles on Traditional medicine use in pregnancy, cancer and sexual practices
1. Traditional medicine in late pregnancy and labour:
perceptions of kgaba remedies amongst the Tswana in South Africa by Rolanda van
der Kooi, Sally Theobald
In South Africa most black women use antenatal care services
and deliver in clinics, and a considerable number complement this use of formal
health services with traditional medicine. This study reported here examined
the knowledge, beliefs and practical experiences of pregnant women, traditional
healers and midwives with regard to kgaba (traditional medicine) and explored
what constitutes kgaba. Findings indicated that kgaba remedies are ingested not
only to prevent or solve physical problems but are also perceived as valuable
in protecting against the harm that evil spirits can cause during pregnancy. ….The
use of kgaba as perceived by the Tswana is an important component in the experience
of pregnancy and labour. …[http://www.ajol.info/index.php/ajtcam/article/view/31135]
2. Prevalence and patterns of prenatal use of traditional
medicine among women at selected harare clinics: a cross-sectional study by
Dudzai D Mureyi, Tsitsi G Monera and Charles C Maponga*
Fifty-two of the participants
reported to have used at least one traditional medicine intervention during the
third trimester of their most recent pregnancy to induce labour, avoid perineal
tearing and improve the safety of their delivery process. The study found
prenatal use of traditional medicine to be significantly associated with
nulliparity and nulligravidity. Such practice was also significant among
participants residing in a particular high density suburb located in close
proximity to informal traders of traditional medicines. Prenatal traditional
medicine use was not significantly linked to experiencing an obstetrics-related
adverse event. Instead, participants who reported not using any traditional
medicine during pregnancy reported experiencing significantly more adverse
events, mainly perineal tearing during delivery.
[http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6882/12/164
]
3. Traditional Practices
and Medicinal Plants Use
durin g Pregnancy by Anyi-Ndenye
Women (Eastern Côte d'Ivoire) Djah F Malan and Danho FR Neuba
The use of plants
during pregnancy is a common practice in Africa. In Côte d’Ivoire, despite
modern
antenatal
medical prescriptions, most pregnant
women resort to traditional medicine to
ensure foetus development and facilitate childbirth.. This study analyzes the
salience of plants used, the associated practices and reasons of such practices by pregnant
women
http://www.bioline.org.br/pdf?rh11011
]
4. Cancer tears families apart' by Wendy Muperi 2015 Daily News.
Wendy Muperi reports that tanford Mudzimuirema, who almost lost his legs to cancer, had to
turn to traditional medicines to save his legs and in the process severed
family relations. “I got sick in 2008. I defaulted on treatment as I could not
raise the money needed for the expensive injection,” he said adding, “I felt I
was a burden. When I started using herbs, the pungent smell disappeared and I
am walking again”. Traditional healers are recognised at law in Zimbabwe
through the Traditional Medical Practitioners Act Chapter 27:14 of 1996.
Zimbabwe’s medical industry is, however, yet to effectively benefit from the
traditional healers sector owing to deep mistrust between medical professionals
and traditional practitioners who fear intellectual property theft……http://www.dailynews.co.zw/articles/2015/01/26/cancer-tears-families-apart]
5. The use of herbal and other agents to enhance sexual
experience by Agnes Runganga1, Marian
Pitts, 2, McMaster John3
This study examines the use of herbal and other agents prior to
sexual intercourse. This practice is thought to be common in central and
southern Africa. The study comprises an analysis of the behavioural and
psychological aspects of the practice. Eighty-seven percent of the sample
reported using herbs and other agents regularly as a preparation for sexual
intercourse. The health and social consequences of such practices are examined;
the problems of cervical cancer and HIV and their relation to these practices
is discussed. [http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/027795369290243J]
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