It’s high time we make an effort to align science with what is on the ground

One of the eye-opening points of my childhood was when a snake spit into my eyes whilst I was busy hunting locust in the bushes during one of my school holidays. Our sole rural clinic was remote, approximately twenty kilometers away. My worried parents were not guaranteed the availability of medicines too.

My grandpa, VaTara, a man erudite in traditional medicine was more than ready to play a prominent role in treating me. There were barricades in the form of qualms from my dad, he believed that the use of traditional medicines was contrary to ‘Christianity’.

It was a war of ideas and reason, and in the end, common sense prevailed. Ever since I venerate traditional medicines.

What is it and whence?

African Traditional Medicine has often been described as prehistoric; It has been in existence among various African tribes, becoming intricately woven with their cultural values, belief systems, and knowledge. This culminated in distinct forms of the practice but possessing varying degrees of congruity.  

Consequentially, there are different names by which practitioners are called depending on their tribe. These names include n’anga or godobori in Zimbabwe, akomfo, bokomowo in Ghana, Sangoma, or inyanga in South Africa, niam-niam, shaman, or mugwenu in Tanzania and babalawo, dibia, or boka, etc. in Nigeria.

Traditional African medicine is a range of traditional medicine disciplines involving indigenous herbalism and African spirituality, typically including diviners, midwives, and herbalists (Wikipedia, n.d.).

Therefore, African traditional medicine is a holistic form of health care system which seeks to address the physical and spiritual well-being of a person.

This can be attributed to the various faculties of Traditional Medicine which are spirituality and divination which address the spirituality on the other hand herbalism which usually addresses the physicality. Herbalism, which uses herbs or plant medicine is regarded as the linchpin of the practice as most treatments evolve around it.

The use of traditional medicines seemed to have waned with the wax of Western medicine during the colonial era. This can be a result of Traditional medicine with African Traditional religion and the rampant belief that traditional medicine practitioners double as witches. As Christianity supplanted African traditional religion, Western medicine also did the same to African Traditional Medicine.

During colonialism, some white governments went as far as outlawing the practice and/or re-educating practitioners. Uprooting the use of traditional medicine was impossible, especially as people discarded spirituality and focused more on the use of herbs. The fascination in herbs could be due to their perceived effectiveness, ease of accessibility, and low cost. Knowledge of plant medicines has been able to pass from generation to generation in Africa through oral tradition and through experiences. The elderly persons’ rich vein of traditional medicine has seen them being called in to effectively treat various ailments.

Where now?

The modern era has witnessed a rejuvenated fascination with African traditional medicines. As well as there is still the existence of diviners and spiritual herbalist: The practice has been greatly pruned in some circles especially urban areas, particularly with an attempt to do away with the spiritual aspect which many people take to be polemical.

Modern science has been incorporated to be at the forefront of evaporating the enigma of plant medicines as tools of healing and as well to bolster the argument for the application of herbal medicines as a viable treatment alternative.

Science has proved the efficaciousness of plants as medicines and has explicitly attributed it to the presence of active constituencies. Countries such as Ghana, South Africa, Tanzania, and Sierra Leonne have made significant strides in revolutionizing African Traditional Medicine with a focus on making Herbal medicines or botanical medicines a cornerstone of the practice.  

Ghana in particular has been integrating traditional medicine practice into its mainstream health care system.  And as such, herbal medicine knowledge has been blended with knowledge in human anatomy, physiology, and pathology to create a unique science that aims to satiate the demands of the modern world for treating.  Issues concerning quality and toxicity have been raised regarding herbal medicines. The previously held beliefs that herbal medicines are not toxic because they are derived from natural products are being side-lined. Widespread use has been shown to result in accumulations that cause side effects.

Some plants have also been shown to work antagonistically or in synergy with orthodox medicines which can be fatal. Calls have been made on the need to improve the quality of herbal medicine. This has seen many products undergoing microbiological assays before they are packaged into urbane products.

These changes all in a bid to revolutionize traditional medicine into a practice appropriate to the modern world.

Some plants and their uses (htt)

Madagascar Periwinkle: known for containing anti-cancer alkaloids and also for the fact that it cannot be synthesized in a lab, inhibiting its large-scale production and making the leaves of this plant the only source. Traditionally used by healers as a bitter tonic and emetic for rheumatism, skin disorders, and venereal diseases, it also has a significant effect on glucose and blood sugar levels.

Aloe Ferox (Cape Aloe)

Native to South Africa is depicted in San rock paintings. This bitter plant is used as a laxative medicine and also has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.  Ingesting or applying the bitter sap can also aid against arthritis, sinusitis, and conjunctivitis, and juice from the cut leaves can treat burns, detoxifying the damaged area, and promoting new tissue formation and filling the wound.

Acacia Senegal (gum arabic

Strongly aromatic, is native to North Africa and has been used in the region for thousands of years. Used to treat hypertension, diabetes, bronchitis, and neuralgias.

Rooibos

Native to South Africa where it is used to make its distinctive and naturally caffeine-free tea that is low in tannins and a natural antioxidant. After an infusion of rooibos was given to a colicky baby, it was discovered that it had an effect on the baby’s chronic restlessness, vomiting and stomach cramps, after which it became known as a medicinal drink

Prospects

As the world grapples with untreatable infections which beleaguer even great scientists, there has been a renewed call to seek solutions in Herbal Medicines. It is undisputed that there is an exigent need to invest more in comprehensive research into plant medicine.

The Madagascar remedy for the Covid19 pandemic which made waves can perhaps serve as a good example of how people view and treat herbal medicines. Applaud and berate. When the medicine showed promise of healing, it gained a lot of fans who dwindled as fast as they formed when they thought it had failed.

The same people were quick to point fingers. It startles the mind and engenders a cyclone of questions. Why are we quick to accept and quick to condemn? Why can’t we give time to herbal medicines? Are there any medicines orthodox or not, which have never failed?

As a scientist, I believe in science-based evidence, whilst on the other hand, there is an herbal medicine that has folkloric evidence. Should we be rigid and preach scientific evidence disregarding folkloric evidence? People have seen it to work and it’s difficult to convince them otherwise.

It’s high time we make an effort to align science with what is on the ground.

Usually, it’s a matter of policies that are handled as though they are cast in stone that hinder the development of traditional medicines.  Herbal Medicines are not the future now, they have been so. It’s the past, the present, and the future!

By Redemptor Jephias Zhou