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Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Health / Traditional Medicine (1281 Views)
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Traditional Medicine by Odunharry(m): 5:43pm On Sep 02, 2013 |
Traditional medicine, as is well known, is a cultural gem of various communities around the world and encompasses all kinds of folk medicine, unconventional medicine and indeed any kind of therapeutical method that had been handed down by the tradition of a community or ethnic group. By the World Health Organisation (W.H.O 1976) definition, traditional medicine is the sum total of all knowledge and practices, whether expli cable or not, used in diagnosis, prevention and elimination of physical, mental or social imbalance and relying exclusively on practical experience and observations handed down from generation to generation, whether verbally or in writing. With these descriptions, various forms of medicines and thera pies such as herbal medicine, massage, homeopa thy, mud bath, music therapy, wax bath, reflexology, dance therapy, hydrotherapy, mind and spirit thera pies, self-exercise therapies radiation and vibration, osteopathy, chiropractice,aroma therapy, preventive medicine, radiant heat therapy, therapeutic fasting and dieting spinal manipulation, psychotherapy, etc. are a few elements of traditional medicine. It does show that a large country of the size of Nigeria, with diverse cultures and traditions, should be rich in traditional medicine and should have eminent and respected traditional healers to take care of the teeming population. The traditional healer, as defined by the W.H.O (1976), is a person who is recognised by the community in which he lives as competent to provide health care by using vegetable, animal and mineral substances and certain other methods based on the social, cultural and religious background, as well as on the knowledge, attributes and beliefs that are prevalent in the community, regarding physical, mental and social well-being and the causation of disease and disability. |
Re: Traditional Medicine by Odunharry(m): 5:48pm On Sep 02, 2013 |
CATEGORIES OF TRADITIONAL HEALERS For most countries of the world, just as we have in Nigeria, a traditional healer may be able to per form many functions thereby becoming more versa tile as a healer. The various categories of tradition al healers, perhaps specialists known in traditional medicine today include (A. Tella, 1986; M. M. lwu, 1986). Herbalists: Herbalists use mainly herbs, that is, medicinal plants or parts of such plants-whole root, stem, leaves, stem bark or root bark, flowers, fruits, seeds, but sometimes animal parts, small whole animal — snails, snakes, chameleons, tor toises, lizards, etc; inorganic residues - alum, cam phor, salt, etc — and insects, bees, black ants etc. are added. Such herbal preparations may be offered in the form of (i) powder, which could be swallowed or taken with pap (cold or hot) or any drink, (ii) powder, rubbed into cuts made on any part of the body with a sharp knife, (iii) preparation, soaked for some time in water or local gin, decanted as required before drinking; the materials could also be boiled in water, cooled and strained (iv) preparation pounded with native soap and used for bathing; such "medicated soaps" are commonly used for skin diseases, (v)pastes, pomades or ointments, in a medium of palm oil or shea butter, or (vi) soup which is consumed by the patient. Herbal prepara tions may also be administered as enema. The herbalist cures mainly with plants which he gathers fresh. When seasonal plants have to be used, these plants are collected when available and are preserved usually by drying to eliminate mois ture. Herbs were the first medicines used by pre historic man. They are, therefore, part of every cul tural tradition and have helped the development and growth of herbalism in Nigeria. |
Re: Traditional Medicine by Odunharry(m): 5:50pm On Sep 02, 2013 |
Traditional Surgeon: The various forms of surgery recognised in traditional medical care include: (i) the cutting of tribal marks: traditional surgeons usually cut tribal marks into the cheeks, bellies, etc. and charred herbal products are usually rubbed into these bleeding marks to effect healing, (II) male and female circumcision (Clitori dectomy): traditional surgeons carry out these simple surgical operations with special knives and scissors; blood-letting operations and wounds that result from these operations are usually treated with snail body fluid or pastes prepared from plants. These practices are, however, fast dvino out in urban areas. (iii) removal of whitlow: diseased toes or fingers are usually cut open and treated. Piercing of ear lobes: particularly in the youth to allow the fixing of ear rings. Extraction of tooth: infected teeth or teeth with holes that bring pain to the mouth are removed and treated with herbal medicines prepared in local gin. Performance of amputations: occasionally and very rarely too, there are amputations per formed with 'anaesthesia'; usually, the patient is sent to sleep with a strong narcotic concoction and the amputation done with a very sharp knife. The excision has to be achieved with the very first stroke. The stump is packed with a suitable herbal preparation and healing usually occurs within some four or five weeks. Cutting of the uvula (uvulectomy); the cut ting of the uvula is widely practised. It is believed that uvulectomy can protect the patient from various infections of the pharynx and the respiratory system. Traditional surgeons in the northern part of Nigeria are versed in cutting off the upper end of the throat flap commonly referred to as epiglottis for the treatment of many illnesses. The traditional surgeon performs his skill with out the aid of X-rays and with only a little knowledge of anatomy. While he may still be respected in some local communities, complicated surgery is better achieved with modern facilities and better trained hands these days. |
Re: Traditional Medicine by Odunharry(m): 5:52pm On Sep 02, 2013 |
Bone Setters: Bone setting or orthopaedic surgery is the art of pairing fractures and other orthopaedic injuries. It is recognised to have attained a level of success comparable to that in orthodox medicine in Nigeria. Traditional bone setters are those knowledgeable in the art and skill of setting broken bones in the traditional way, using their skill to see that bones unite and heal properly. There have been reported cases of fractures resulting from motor accidents or falls from trees. Such fractures may be simple, compound or com plicated. Wounds resulting from such fractures are usually cleaned, the bones are set making sure that the ends of the bones unite properly to prevent any deformity. Bleeding is usually stopped on application of plant extracts, basil or cassava leaf extracts or the giant snail's body fluid. It is common to use banana leaves as lint. Wooden splints made from bamboo plants are used to immobilise the fractures while fresh or dry banana stem fibre (a fibrous plant), have served as bandage. Various methods are known for applying traction to fractured legs. Patients are usually also subjected to radiant heat treatment or hot applications of peppers to reduce inflammation and swelling. The occurrence of deformities or abnormal shapes of post-treatment limbs is very rare. An interesting aspect of the bone setter's approach is the selection of a chicken whose leg would be broken and re-set. The fracture caused on the chicken is treated alongside that of the patent at the same time and in the same way. This is usually used to determine the time the patient's fracture would heal, and the time to remove the wrapped splints and clay caste. It is particularly note-worthy that bone setters are often capable of arresting the deterioration of gangrenous limbs that may lead to amputation. This feat makes amputation rare. Situation s have arisen when patients have had to be withdrawn from hospital for treatment in the bone setters clinics. |
Re: Traditional Medicine by Odunharry(m): 5:58pm On Sep 02, 2013 |
Practitioners of Therapeutic Occultism: These practitioners include diviners or fortune tellers, who may be seers, alfas and priests, and use supernatural or mysterious forces, incantations, may prescribe rituals associated with the community's religious worship and adopt all sorts of inexplicable things to treat various diseases. The practitioners are usually consulted for diagnosis of diseases, their causes and treatment. With their ability to deal with the unseen, the supernatural, they are usually held in high esteem in the com munity. They are believed to have extra-sensory perception and can see beyond the ordinary man. They can receive telepathic messages, can consult oracles, spirit guides etc. and perform well where other traditional healers and orthodox doctors fail. Their activities include making prayers, citing and singing of incantations, making invocations and preparing fetish materials to appease unknown gods. It is believed that diseases which are caused by supernatural forces will be readily diagnosed and treated by these practitioners. This, in itself, sterns from the belief that certain medical ingredients — unusually large trees that are believed to house spirits, astronomic herbs, grave-yard plants like the physicnut, protective plants such as the wild colocynth or Sodom apple or even some reproductive herbs like the sausage tree or the tree of life itself — have occultic powers and can be effectively utilised by these practitioners for the good of all. The instructions which these practitioners use include magic stones which are usually thrown to the ground. Sounds so produced are read and interpreted. Some take replies of messages in a pool or glass of water. Others depend on the throwing of cowries, coins, kola-nut seeds, divining rods, keys or sticks, etc. Divination has come of age, its various functions linked with religion, creation myths, cosmology et cetera. Its use as communication and for sto chastic processes makes it unique and beyond the reach of most traditional healers. Specialists exist in the various categories of traditional medicine identified earlier. |
Re: Traditional Medicine by Odunharry(m): 6:07pm On Sep 02, 2013 |
Modern-day technology, innovations and education, have however, made a lot of impact on the herbalist and on the practice of traditional medicine in Nigeria. The general populace now wants to compare the herbalist with the orthodox medicine general practitioner. Herbalists are now being encouraged to improve on the quality of their out put and practice. Herbalists are being encouraged to identify correctly the medicinal plants and other ingredients used in the preparation of herbal prod ucts. They should be mindful of the sources of theirraw materials and avoid adulteration, all in the bid to ensure safe medicines. Herbalists who normally would rely on the collection of plants from the wild are being encouraged to have their own medicinal gardens and farms and grow some plants especial ly those facing extinction due to over-use, bush burning, drought, urban development et cetera. Herbalists are being encouraged to undertake toxi city studies on their products, in collaboration with scientists and recognised institutions. As micro organisms and parasites abound in the environ ment, herbalists are being reminded of the need to work in clean hygienic environment and the need for good manufacturing practices to prevent con tamination of raw materials and finished herbal products, to ensure stable and well- preserved proucts, to ensure properly-labelled herbal medicines and, probably most important, to ensure standards as well as also uniform and accurate dosing. Herbalists are also being encouraged to register their proven and efficacious standardised herbal preparations with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). It is an interesting development that some states of the federation have established traditional medicine boards to monitor the activities of its prac titioners, This development should be encouraged throughout the country. www.onlinenigeria.com/health/?blurb=574 |
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