Traditional Medicine and The Promotion Of Inter-Group Relations: The Igbo And Igala (Igara) Experiences In Nigeria. (original) (raw)
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Journal of African Studies and Sustainable Development, vol. 4 No.2, 2021,, 2021
Traditional Medicine has been an aged long mode of treatment. It has been in existence even before the domination of orthodox medicine particularly in Africa. Almost everybody was highly dependent on it for survival when it comes to health issue. But gradually, orthodox medicine became the order of the day putting the traditional medicine by the side. Today, the reverse is becoming the case as there are many health challenges facing orthodox medicine. Medical doctors are too few to attend to the massive population that needs them. Many orthodox medicines are too expensive and do not get to the reach of the common man. Diseases are becoming resistant to orthodox medicine. Some ailments that defy orthodox medicine such as amputations/bone settings, poison, snake bite, etc can be comfortably taking care of by the traditional medicine. However, this paper aims at bringing out its effectiveness and how to protect it from the new healthcare directives. It claims also that traditional medicine is not just an alternative mode of treatment to orthodox medicine but that it is currently a better safeguard for the progression of healthcare system in Africa since the usefulness of it has made some orthodox manufacturers to append the word "herbal" to their products due to its potency and effectiveness. Scientists are turning to traditional medicine by studying its drugs and modifying them to look modern. Since traditional medicine can no longer be avoided, this paper concludes that sooner or later, traditional medicine will not only become a better safeguard for the progression of healthcare claim but will remain the only saving grace that can save humanity from dying out.
Traditional medicine practices among the Yoruba people of Nigeria: a historical perspective
Journal of Medicinal Plants, 2014
Often times, people ask questions about the origin and development of traditional medicine among the Yoruba people. This paper attempts to unravel the historical development of Yoruba traditional medicine. Furthermore, the paper narrated the method of health care, diagnosis, treatment and specialization among the TMPs in the past centuries. The role of religious belief in traditional medicine was also explained, as well as magical and mystic practices in traditional medicine. While describing the introduction of orthodox medicine into Nigeria the paper highlighted the current patterns of modernization of traditional medicine and products, and ends with a note of the key areas that require Government's attention in improving traditional medicine in Nigeria.
THE POTENCY OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINE IN A CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY: A CASE STUDY OF ILE-IFE
ABSTRACT Existing studies revealed that Traditional Medicine, which had been the major means of treating ailments in Yoruba land from the time immemorial, had suffered a lot of setbacks as a result of the current scientific development. Besides, the derogatory names given to this therapy by the educated people and the growth of hospitals, dispensaries, clinics and maternity centres had made the traditional medicine to suffer a declining patronage. Consequently, the patronage of this medicine is gradually becoming the affairs of the poor masses who could not afford the orthodox hospital bills. It is against this background that the study aimed at evaluating the potency of traditional medicine and examine its relevance to the contemporary society especially in the curing of seemingly incurable diseases. The choice of Ile-Ife as a case study was informed by the fact that Ile-Ife is the acclaimed ancestral home of the Yoruba people, it therefore represented other Yoruba communities. In order to achieve this aim, primary and secondary sources were employed in eliciting information for this work. They were manifested in the fieldwork involving in-depth interview, group discussion and observation. Interviews were conducted with various categories of people in the town. The people include: Artisans, Christians, Muslims, patients who had experience traditional healing and the herbalists themselves. About 75% of the people interviewed were of the opinion that traditional medicine is potent and still relevant to the contemporary society. The bulk of the secondary data were obtained through the use of libraries and internet materials. Through fieldwork research survey, the efficacy and potency of African traditional medicine was revealed on aliments such as hypertension, infertility, stroke and cancer which can only be managed by orthodox medicine. More importantly, it was gathered through the in-depth interview that collaborative efforts on the part of government, educated elites, etc are necessary to revive African traditional medicine. This study recommended that; to enjoy full benefit of traditional medicine, both indigenous and modern medical practitioners must respect their areas of strength and accept their areas of weaknesses. The work therefore concluded on the note that African Traditional Medicine should be recognized as one of the major solutions to health challenges. It should not be a ‘rejection’ of modernity and we should not neglect African Indigenous Medicine because orthodox Medicine is now available. Keywords: Potency, Traditional, Medicine, Orthodox, Treatment
Traditional Medicine Practice amongst the Igede People of Nigeria. Part II
African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 2005
A questionnaire-guided ethno-medical survey of the Igede speaking communities of Benue state (Nigeria) was conducted. 90 plant species from 45 families were identified covering 109 recipes against 35 ailments, including internal, external infections and parasitic diseases as well as poisons, pesticides, cuisine and for veterinary purposes. Ageratum conyzoides was the only plant used in HIV/AIDS disease. Mode of preparation, dosage regimen, plant(s) and part(s) used are reported. The importance of this kind of documentation in research and bio-conservation are discussed.
There is no gain denying the fact that Islam has gained ground in Yoruba lands for many years through the activities of some Muslim Alfas who had strived so hard in the propagation of Islam, but what disturbs the mind of a keen observer, is the fact that despite the strong propagation of pure practice of Islam void of alien practices established by the founding fathers of Islam in Yoruba land, there are still many Muslim Alfas who cling to mixing Islamic beliefs and practices with those of the idolaters, through their practices of indiscriminate Yoruba traditional medicine. Thus, we shall in this paper critically examine the practice of Yoruba traditional medicine among Muslim Alfas with a view to give Islamic verdict on such practices. In doing justice to the paper we adopted the method of oral interview conducted among Alfas in the said local government. This is done to know how deep the Alfas of the said local government had gone in the practice of Yoruba traditional medicine. And our finds show that the Alfas are of three categories when it comes to the practice of Yoruba traditional medicine in the said local government, that is, those who practise it indiscriminately, those who are moderate in their practice and those who detested the practise. However, it is our belief that public enlightenment and mosque to mosque admonition on the Islamic rulings on indiscriminate practice of Yoruba traditional medicine will go a long way in checkmating it.
The Place of Traditional Medicine in the African Society: The Science, Acceptance and Support
American Journal of Health Research, 2014
Traditional medicine (TM) has been described by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as one of the surest alternative means to achieve total health care coverage of the world's population. In most African societies, traditional medicine plays an important role in the lives of millions who cannot access western medicine. In some areas, TM is part of the first set of response mechanisms for medical emergencies whilst in others the whole health system of the community is hinged on medicines rooted in local practice and belief. Although the relevance and values of TM is begining to gain recognition, African traditional medicine (ATM) still faces some challenges which underscore its scrutiny. This paper thus analyses the issue of science, acceptance and support for successful implementation of ATM and present the contemporary measures that are being taken to raise its standard to the level of western medicine.
Traditional Medicine in Contextual African Society: On-Going Challenges
Open Access Journal of Oncology and Medicine
The role of traditional medicine in contextual African society cannot be overemphasized. Due to the less financial implication on the part of patients(s) patronizing the medicine to treat a particular ailment. In recent time, attention by government and relevant stakeholders in the health sectors in African tend to shift their compendium effort to improve modern health medicine, this has yielded little effort. In light of this a greater percentage of African population still resorts to traditional medicine due to the less financial implication and accessibility. Over the years, traditional African medicine seems to face some ongoing challenges. It is due to these recurring mitigating challenges that this paper intend to explore and map-out modalities to surmount the challenges. The challenges farfetched by the researcher were lack of usage of information communication technology (ICT), lack of adequate funding, lack of sufficient awareness, religion/cultural interference, unethical practices, deforestation of plant medicine. Similarly, way forwards out the challenges were map-out. It was concluded that, the possible solutions as pointed-out by the researcher if given prior attention will help to remedy the bedeviling challenges facing traditional medicine.
UPINE PUBLISHERS Traditional Medicine in Contextual African Society: On-Going Challenges
The role of traditional medicine in contextual African society cannot be overemphasized. Due to the less financial implication on the part of patients(s) patronizing the medicine to treat a particular ailment. In recent time, attention by government and relevant stakeholders in the health sectors in African tend to shift their compendium effort to improve modern health medicine, this has yielded little effort. In light of this a greater percentage of African population still resorts to traditional medicine due to the less financial implication and accessibility. Over the years, traditional African medicine seems to face some ongoing challenges. It is due to these recurring mitigating challenges that this paper intend to explore and map-out modalities to surmount the challenges. The challenges farfetched by the researcher were lack of usage of information communication technology (ICT), lack of adequate funding, lack of sufficient awareness, religion/cultural interference, unethical practices, deforestation of plant medicine. Similarly, way forwards out the challenges were map-out. It was concluded that, the possible solutions as pointed-out by the researcher if given prior attention will help to remedy the bedeviling challenges facing traditional medicine.
Trends and Challenges of Traditional Medicine in Africa
African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 2011
Prior to the introduction of cosmopolitan medicine, traditional medicine used to be the dominant medical system available to millions of people in Africa in both rural and urban communities. However, the arrival of the Europeans marked a significant turning point in the history of this age-long tradition and culture. This paper examines the trends and challenges of traditional medicine in Africa. The impact of colonialism on African traditional medicine is also examined. Although the paper is on Africa, references are drawn around the world to buttress the growing demand for traditional medicine. The paper concludes that to minimise the current distrust between modern and traditional doctors and to achieve the objective of regulation, standardisation and cooperation, both traditional and modern doctors must acknowledge their areas of strengths and weaknesses from which they operate and be genuinely concerned about the difficult but necessary task of being human.
Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 2015
The Yoruba people, whose major homeland is southwestern Nigeria, are one of the major ethnic groups in Africa. They have a long history of highly sophisticated sociocultural and political systems. Like other ethnic groups in Africa, the Yoruba have an impressive system of indigenous medicine. The Yoruba indigenous forms of medical practices are still in existence up until today in spite of the influence of colonization, westernization, and modernization. The Yoruba medicine has its distinct nature, forms, and methods, and it has been very resilient to the imposed western medical system since the colonial period. Against this background, this paper examines the nature, forms, and methods of the traditional Yoruba medicine. The paper discovers that the traditional Yoruba medicine is typified by the use of herbs, roots, concoction, verbal incantations, and so on. It is also found out that among the Yoruba, health and religion are intertwined and therefore, the efficacy of Yoruba medicine is dependent on the approval of the Yoruba gods and goddesses (Orisha). In other words, important aspects of Yoruba medicine are belief system and spirituality. The paper concludes that, in spite of the great influence of modern western medicine, the Yoruba indigenous medicine is very resilient and it continues to play a vital role in the health management system among the Yoruba in contemporary Nigeria.