Traditional African Medicine

Many people believe that traditional African medicine has no basis in science - that it is pure superstition, and that it is rapidly disappearing from Africa. 

The George Washington University in the USA would certainly not agree, and nor would the 600 and more institutions, physicians, researchers and health care workers who held the first major event on traditional African medicine in July 2006.  As for the disappearnace of traditional medicine from Africa, it is doubtful that the two thirds of the African population who still rely on it for primary health care would be happy to hear it.

African medicine is far from just superstition; it is a complex system of medicinal plant usage and holistic therapies combined with the importance of culture, arts and spirituality in healing.   Western medicine, although the obvious contribution to health, is still failing in several areas: it is too expensive for those living in poverty; it often has serious side effects; it becomes less effective with time; and it addresses only the illness without considering that body, mind and cultural heritage all play their part in the physical and mental condition of the individual.

So, what is the solution to address health needs of millions of people? According to the World Health Organization, traditional medicine has a central role to play in the 21st century. It can be an invaluable way of delivering safe, inexpensive and effective health care. African medicine, especially when properly combined with Western treatments, can easily and effectively be used for a large variety of conditions including AIDS related illnesses, various infectious and chronic diseases, TB, malaria and mental illnesses.

It is not difficult to find a traditional health practitioner - they practice all over Africa. They are often people who are in posession of therapies passed down through the centuries from father to son, and mother to daughter.  They are easily found both in rural and urban areas - just ask around and people will gladly show you where to go.

Many of the practitioners will use combinations of herbs to treat symptoms. However, a few of them, generally the most skilled and close to traditional African healing, will employ much more “exotic” techniques. My favorite practitioner is the doctor of Ssezabwa Falls between Kampala and Jinja. The doctor here cures only with water. He talks to the patient, listens to the description of the problem and “feels” what is needed. He then collects some water from the river by the falls and performs a ritual of meditation and pray. The water is then used on the body or drunk by the patient. He is very successful in curing people, and very well known and respected by the locals.

It surprised me to notice that this way of curing with water is similar to two fashionable homeopathic therapies used in Western society: Water Therapy and Floral Therapy (made by Bach Flower Remedies). Both Water and Bach Flower therapies are based on the use of water and are effective in addressing emotional and physical distress. In particular, Bach Flower Remedies have been used by thousands of people for over seventy years, and now the Rescue Remedy (a mix of Bach Flower Remedies) is the most popular non-pharmacological remedy against stress.

The traditional doctor of Ssezabwa Falls does not have this kind of exposure, however, and no matter how brilliant his art may be he will not easily achieve notoriety and fame. But I recommend, if you get the chance, that you go and talk to him, and challenge him on questions such as “what is the origin of illness?”, or “why do we suffer?”, or even deeper questions like “what is life?”  I guarantee that you will be surprised and touched by his clear, logical and profound explanations.

Traditional African Medicine is not just pure magic and superstition, and it certainly is not dying. It is a vibrant mixture of real medical knowledge, great understanding of the human nature, and a thousand years of old culture and complex spirituality.

It is doubtful that you will ever use their mixes of herbs or follow their rituals, but don't underestimate the power and importance of the magical healing arts of traditional African doctors.