African Traditional Medicine: South African Perspective

Abstract

African traditional medicine (ATM) has been used by African populations for the treatment of diseases long before the advent of orthodox medicine and continues to carry a part of the burden of health for the majority of the population. South Africa, as a member state of the World Health Organisation, has been set on the path of institutionalising African traditional medicine. This chapter outlines the processes and progress pertaining to the acceptance and acknowledgement of the role of ATM in health care. It sets out to describe the strides made with regard to the traditional health practitioners' Act and other laws, research in ATM, education of both health care and traditional health practitioners, including the role of collaboration. An overview of the practice of African traditional medicine is provided.

How African Countries Assisted the South African Liberation Struggle: 1963-1994

“…40 Lesotho, being an enclave within South Africa, was also a labour reserve for South Africa and heavily underdeveloped by the former colonial power, Britain. As, "no less than 20% of Lesotho's able-bodied men worked in South African mines and their cash earnings totalled almost three times the total wages and salaries paid within the country", 41 Lesotho was economically heavily dependent on South Africa, since all its food and almost all manufactured items came from its larger neighbour. Despite this harsh economic reality, the government of Lesotho under Leabua Jonathan supported PAC and ANC militants.…”

Collaboration between African Indigenous and Biomedical Health Practitioners: Perceptions Regarding Tuberculosis Treatment

“…The spread of TB and the use of traditional and biomedical medicine concurrently formed the basis for the establishment of collaboration between AIHPs and BHPs, in an effort to bring the disease under control. These collaborative relationships can benefit all patients and prevent TB from spreading (Mothibe and Sibanda 2019). Most South Africans believe in indigenous healing, and when they become sick, they prefer AIHPs to BHPs (Mothibe and Sibanda 2019).…”

“…These collaborative relationships can benefit all patients and prevent TB from spreading (Mothibe and Sibanda 2019). Most South Africans believe in indigenous healing, and when they become sick, they prefer AIHPs to BHPs (Mothibe and Sibanda 2019). According to Mothibe and Sibanda (2019, 31), "Traditional medicine has been used by humankind for the treatment of various diseases since long before the advent of orthodox medicine, and to this day, serve the health care needs of the majority of the world population."…”

“…According to Van Rooyen et al (2015), recognising the practices of AIHPs and integrating them with those of BHPs was controversial because of the many arguments for and against their integration. Van Rooyen et al (2017) and Mothibe and Sibanda (2019) further argue that the misunderstanding of AIHPs' practices have historical origins.…”

“…According to Mothibe and Sibanda (2019), the potential integration of AIHPs was crucial. It would greatly benefit the health system, and failure to do so would result in dangerous situations, including toxic drug interactions, a failure to administer the most effective treatment, and delayed treatment.…”