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African Traditional Medical Health Practices: Beliefs And Concepts In Ihiala L.g.a Of Anambra State
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Another problem associated with African traditional medical health
practices according to Omonzejele (2003) is when it resort to spiritual
explanation for the causation of ill-health which is attributed to many
mystical forces. This factor limits African traditional medicine to the
extent that it is extremely difficult to provide explanation and
evidence in accordance to basic epistemology for the cure of aliment
even when the therapy is effective. For instance in Nigeria, everyone
knows that orthopaedic cases are best handled by traditional
practitioners, but the connection between the broken leg of hen and the
treatment of a patient with a broken leg is quiet difficult to explain.
In Western medicine, scientific explanations are usually provided on how
a particular drug works with body chemistry, in that wise, one cannot
expect the west and non-Africans to accept any kind of cure or advances
in medicine by Africans without adequate explanation.
Again the
fallout of Africa’s economic woes has also contributed to the problems
facing African traditional medical practices. There are many traditional
medical practitioners, most of them are mere charlants who like the
sophists of the ancient times make huge sums of money from the trade. In
the past, traditional health practitioners only saw what they did in
terms of services to their communities where one cannot really afford to
be dubious. The African traditional practitioners of this present day
move from the rural to urban areas with the sole purpose to enrich
themselves. They are patronised by unsuspecting patients. These mobile
practitioners of African traditional medicine sometimes do not know
anything about African traditional medicine. They are just merely people
who were unable to cope with present economic situation thereby having
no other option than to resort to this type of trade. They are in the
business perhaps because most Africans somehow have confidence and
believe in African traditional medicine.
Furthermore, the methods and
procedures of using or the trial of new drug before its application on
humans in African traditional medicine is weak. That by using the bark
of a particular tree which was effective in animals does not show good
and enough reason that the same bark will be effective in treating human
beings that has a similar ailment. The African traditional
practitioners hardly have knowledge of botanical properties of the drugs
they use. They are unable to anticipate the effect the drug would have
on humans at the trial stage, which he ought to share with the subject
as to enable them make informed consent or refusal. They only hopes that
the drug “works†without adverse effects. This kind of act is quiet
insufficient because the drug may not only “work†but may be harmful to
the subject (patient).
However, in other to correct these problems,
misconceptions, the African Traditional Medical Health practices should
be studied as it is an important religious liturgical act, and also of
great value and significant to every individual and the society as a
whole in almost all sphere of life.
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]Medical health practice is one of religious practice in African Tradition. It is a means of securing the lives of the individuals. Among all communities in Africa, life is regarded as sacred. Each individual’s life is seen as a gift from God to the community and to the family.Ihiala Local Government Area which is located in Anambra State is a community of people who hare and believe in African traditional World view and Institutions.This work is to know African Traditional way of medical ... Continue reading---
