Introduction
African traditional medicine is a holistic healthcare system divided into three degrees of specialization: divination, spiritualism, and herbalism. The traditional healer offers medical treatments based on the community's culture, religious background, common knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs. Since illness is believed to have both natural and supernatural origins, it must be treated using medical and spiritual methods, including divination, mantras, animal sacrifice, expulsion, and herbs. Traditional medicine's foundation is herbal therapy, although it may include minerals and animal parts.
What Is African Traditional Medicine?
The term "traditional medicine" refers to the theories, beliefs, and practices unique to certain cultures. It is employed to preserve health and to stop, cure, or lessen the effects of physical and mental sickness. Divination, spiritualism, and herbalism are all part of the three degrees of specialization that make up African traditional medicine; however, there may be times when they overlap. The history of the creation and application of traditional herbal medicine (THM) dates back to the stone age. Traditional healing and magic are substantially more prevalent than in Western medicine and are also significantly older than other traditional medical professions in Africa. Before prescribing medications, particularly medicinal plants, to address the symptoms, the traditional healer often assesses and treats the psychological root of a disease. There has been a persistent interest in traditional medicine in the African healthcare system for two main reasons. Most people in Africa cannot afford professional medical care either because it is too expensive or because there are no medical service providers, leading to inadequate access to allopathic medications and Western treatments. Second, although having a worldwide distribution, some diseases, like malaria and (human immunodeficiency virus) HIV/AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), disproportionately affect Africa more than other regions of the world, do not have access to effective modern medical treatments.
What Are the Types and Benefits of African Traditional Medicines?
Medicinal plants are the most widely used traditional medicine on the African continent. Medicinal plants are the community's primary readily available source of healthcare in many regions of Africa. Additionally, they are frequently the patients' first choice. For the large majority of these individuals, traditional healers provide information, counseling, and therapy to patients and their families in a personal manner while also being aware of their patient's environment. A few medicinal plants in Africa are described below:
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Acacia Senegal (Gum Arabic): The Arabic gum plant, or Acacia senegal, is indigenous to semi-desert and arid parts of sub-Saharan Africa but is found throughout the continent from southern to northern Africa. Parts of Northern Nigeria, West Africa, North Africa, and other regions worldwide utilize it as a medicinal herb. Since the first Egyptian period, gum Arabic, also known as gum acacia, which is made from the excretion of the plant, has been used. Various plant components, including the gum from A. senegal, have been used medicinally for centuries to cure illnesses, including leprosy, typhoid fever, diarrhea, gonorrhea (a sexually transmitted condition marked by inflammatory vaginal or urethral discharge), bleeding, bronchitis (the lining of the bronchial tubes, which transport air to and from the lungs, becoming inflamed), and upper respiratory tract infections. African herbalists use gum acacia to stabilize aqueous solutions and bind tablets. It is applied in aromatherapy as well.
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Aloe Ferox Mill (Cape Aloe): The most prevalent aloe species in South Africa is considered aloe ferox, which is endemic to both Lesotho and South Africa. In Africa and Europe, the bitter latex, also known as Cape aloe, is a stimulant with bitter tonic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anticancer effects. A. ferox is a highly prized pharmaceutical, natural health, food, and decorative plant. Its usage as a versatile traditional medicine has translated into various commercial applications. There are several conventional and established medical applications for aloe ferox. It is most frequently used topically on the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes and as a stimulant.
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Artemisia Herba-Alba Asso (Wormwood): Common names for Artemisia herba-alba include "wormwood" and "desert wormwood." Since ancient times, A. herba-alba has been utilized in traditional medicine by several civilizations. It is used to treat arterial hypertension (high blood pressure) and diabetes in Moroccan folk medicine. It is also used to treat diabetes, bronchitis, diarrhea, hypertension, and neuralgias (a sudden, excruciating pain that travels along a nerve and is brought on by irritation or injury to the nerve) in traditional Tunisian medicine. It has been proven that A. herba-alba significantly lowers blood sugar levels, in contrast to the plant's roots and aerial portions, which have essentially no effect on blood sugar levels when extracted in water or alcohol.
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Aspalathus Linearis (Rooibos): The well-known herbal tea, usual rooibos, is made from Aspalathus linearis, a native South African natural vegetation plant. It has been utilized as a tea beverage that is both refreshing and healthful. There are various traditional uses for rooibos in Africa. When the mother discovered that giving to a crying infant a rooibos infusion might relieve the symptoms of continuous restlessness, vomiting, and stomach cramps, rooibos got widespread recognition as a "good" beverage.
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Centella Asiatica (Centella): Since ancient times, Centella asiatica has been utilized as a medicine. It is widely employed in many healing traditions, including ayurvedic medicine, Chinese traditional medicine, Kampo medicine, and African traditional medicine. It is distributed over the whole tropical region. In addition to being consumed as a vegetable or used as a spice, C. asiatica is primarily used to treat wound healing, burns, ulcers, leprosy (a disease brought on by the slow-growing bacteria Mycobacterium leprae), skin disorders, eye illnesses, fever, inflammation, asthma, hypertension, epilepsy (seizures), diarrhea (motions), and mental sickness.
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Catharanthus Roseus (Madagascan Periwinkle): The well-known medicinal plant Catharanthus roseus, sometimes known as the "Madagascar periwinkle," originated in Africa. Vindoline and catharanthine, present in extremely minute concentrations, are discovered in the plant's abundance of bisindole alkaloids. They are central neurotoxic (chemicals, whether manufactured or natural, that harm, destroy, or impair the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system). Consequences include epileptic episodes and breathing problems, while their peripheral neurotoxic effects include neuralgia, depression, and headache.
What Are the Side Effects of African Traditional Medicine?
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There may be several benefits to using herbal medicines. It does, however, have certain drawbacks as well. For starters, herbal remedies take longer than prescription medications to start working.
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People must be very patient if they want to use herbs as a substitute for prescription medication.
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Self-administration of herbal medications is common. As a result, neither the dose nor the cautions are included. Herbal and pharmaceutical medications may interact negatively, harming the user's health.
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It is also crucial to know that herbal medicines made from plants may poison rather than heal. A plant's edible portions may differ from its inedible portions.
Conclusion
In African nations, medicinal plants are a significant part of the healthcare system. However, several significant obstacles must be solved before its full potential can be realized. The efficacy of treating illnesses with plant products has yet to be sufficiently established with strong scientific standards to rival currently available conventional medicines.
