– Zelna’s stand
Using centuries of indigenous knowledge along with modern health care could benefit more people.
Traditional medicines are part of the cultural heritage of many Africans. About 80% of the population of the African continent uses these drugs for treatment.
Other reasons include affordability, accessibility, patient dissatisfaction with conventional medicine, and the common misconception that “natural” is “on“.
The growing recognition of traditional medicine resulted in the first establishment of the World Health Organization. world summit on the subject, in August 2023, with the theme “Health and well-being for all”.
Traditional medicines are widely used in South Africa, and it is estimated that up to 60% of South Africans rely on traditional medicine as a means of healing. primary source of healthcare .
Conventional South African healthcare facilities are struggling to cope with high number of patients. The inability to respect the basic standards The quality of healthcare, with increasing morbidity and mortality rates, poses a threat to the South African economy.
In my opinion, as a qualified pharmacist and academic with a research Focusing on the use of traditional medicinal plants in South Africa, integrating traditional medicine practices into modern health systems can harness centuries of indigenous knowledge, increase treatment options and provide better health care.
The recognition of traditional medicine as an alternative or concurrent source of health care to that of standard conventional medicine has proven to be a challenge. This is due to lack of scientific research establish and document the safety and effectiveness of traditional medicines, as well as the absence of regulatory controls.
What are traditional medicines?
Traditional medicine encompasses a number of health care practices aimed at preventing or treating acute or chronic conditions through the application of Indigenous knowledge, beliefs and approaches. It integrates the use of products of plant, animal and mineral origin. Plant-based products make up the majority of treatment regimens.
Traditional medicine practices also have their place in ritual activities and in communication with ancestors.
South Africa is rich in indigenous medicinal flora and fauna, with approximately 2,000 species of plants marketed for medicinal purposes. In South Africa, the provinces of KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga and Limpopo are commercial “hotspots”. The harvested plants are most often sold in traditional medicine muthi markets.
Uses of medicinal plants
Medicinal plants the most widely traded in South Africa include buchu, bitter aloe, African wormwood, honeybush, devil’s claw, hoodia, African potato, fever tea, African geranium, African ginger , cancer bush, pepper bark, milk bush and the very commonly consumed South African drink. , rooibos tea.
The most commonly traded medicinal plants in South Africa are listed below along with their traditional uses:
Buchu – Urinary tract infections; skin infections; sexually transmitted infections; fever; respiratory tract infections; high blood pressure; gastrointestinal disorders.
Bitter aloe – Skin infections; skin inflammation; minor burns.
African wormwood – Respiratory tract infections; diabetes, urinary tract disorders.
Honeybush – Cough; gastrointestinal problems; symptoms of menopause.
Devil’s Claw – Inflammation; arthritis; pain.
Hoodia – Appetite suppressant.
African Potato – Arthritis; diabetes; urinary tract disorders; tuberculosis; prostate disorders.
Tea against fever – Respiratory tract infections; fever; headache.
African geranium – Respiratory tract infections.
African ginger – Respiratory tract infections; asthma.
Cancer Bush – Respiratory tract infections; menstrual pain.
Pepper Bark Tree – Respiratory Tract Infections; sexually transmitted infections.
Milk Bush – Pain; ulcers; skin diseases.
Rooibos – Inflammation; high cholesterol levels; high blood pressure.
Traditional medicine can be used in many ways used. This may be a drop in the eye or ear, a poultice applied to the skin, a boiled preparation for inhalation, or a brewed tea for oral administration.
The roots, bulbs and bark are used most often, and the leaves less frequently. The roots are available all year round. There is also a belief that the roots contain the highest concentration of “medicine”. Harvesting the roots, however, raises concerns about the conservation of these medicinal plants. The South African government, with the draft policy on traditional African medicine, Notice 906 of 2008, sets out considerations aimed at ensuring the conservation of these plants by combating unsustainable harvest practices.
Obstacles to the use of traditional medicine
Limited research into interaction The problems posed if a patient uses both traditional and conventional medicine are of concern.
During the Covid-19 pandemicmany patients used traditional remedies to prevent or treat the infection.
Understand which traditional medicines are used and how, their therapeutic effects on the human body and how they interact with conventional medicationswould help determine the safety of their combined use.
Some combinations may have beneficial interactions, increasing the effectiveness or potency of drugs and allowing doses to be reduced, thereby reducing potential toxicity. These combinations could help in the development of new pharmaceutical formulations.
Share information
The WHO in its Traditional medicine strategy for 2014-2023 The report highlights the need to use traditional medicine to improve health care.
Key players in both health systems must be able to freely share information.
The need for policy development is essential. Practitioners of conventional and traditional medicine should know all the medicines they take and communicate with their patients.
Understanding the whole patient
Patients often seek treatment from conventional and traditional sources, which may result in side effects or duplication of medications.
A comprehensive understanding of a patient’s health profile facilitates care.
It could also prevent treatment failures, promote patient safety, prevent unwanted interactions and minimize risks.
A harmonious health landscape would combine the strengths of both systems to provide better health care for all.
Zelna’s Standpharmacist and lecturer (Division of Pharmaceutical Practice, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of the Witwatersrand), University of the Witwatersrand
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