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African Traditional Medical Health Practices: Beliefs And Concepts
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CHAPTER ONE
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1.1BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
African is a large continent with many countries that have different tribes and cultures. Nigeria is one of the countries in Western part of Africa. In Nigeria, there are thirty-six states among which Anambra is one of them, and Ihiala L.G.A is one of its local government area in Anambra South Senatorial Zone. It is made up of nine (9) autonomous towns. Practice of medicine is an important part of indigenous religions in Africa. Disease in this part of the world is normally regarded as having some spiritual cause. African traditional medicine is a medicine known and practiced by Africans from time immemorial for the health need of her people. It has an important place in health care delivery among Africans. In Ihiala L.G.A, according to Obiaofo, it was believed that African traditional way of practising medicine have power to sustain the lives of every individuals in the community, it is used to counteract the powers of destruction and evil spirit. It is beneficial to man and important to the religious and social life of the people. Practice of medicine is important to any religion especially in the case of African traditional religion. In Ihiala L.G.A, many people seek out diviners on a regular basis. There are generally no prohibitions against the practice. Those who tell fortunes for a living are also sought out for their wisdom as counsellor and for their knowledge of herbal medicine. Practice of African traditional medicine is an important part of their religion. Healers are reputed to have professional knowledge of illness (pathology), surgery and pharmacology (roots, barks, leaves, and herbs). Some of them are also reputed to diagnose and treat mental and psychological problems. The healer advises in all aspects of life including physical, psychological, spiritual, moral and legal matters. They also understand the significance of ancestral spirits and the concepts of witches (hence the colonial term witch-doctor). Ihiala people believed that traditional African medicine is a holistic discipline involving indigenous herbalism and African spirituality, typically involving diviners, midwives and herbalists. Practitioners of traditional African medicine claim to be able to cure various and diverse conditions such as cancer, psychiatric disorders, high blood pressure, cholera, most venereal diseases, epilepsy, asthma, eczema, fever, depression and healing of wounds and burns. Traditional African medicine with its belief that illness is not derived from chance occurrences, but through spiritual or social imbalance, differs greatly from western medicine which is technically and analystically based. Diagnosis is reached through spiritual means and a treatment is prescribed usually consisting of an herbal remedy that has not only healing abilities, but symbolic and spiritual significance. 1.2STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS
Despite the importance and strong points of African Traditional Medicine, there are some problems associated with it especially as it is practised these days. These problems have almost discredited the very important heritage. First among these problems affecting African Traditional medical practices today is, there are misconceptions about the concept of African traditional medicine in African countries, even among the people in Ihiala L.G.A. An average Ihiala youth especially people who live outside the community or outside Africa, develop their idea of African traditional medical health practices from films or stories. These films or stories often portray the African traditional medical health practices as evil, diabolic and in human acts that should be done away as practiced by evil and primitive people. 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.
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 3]
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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---
