There have been several misconceptions and misinterpretations about African traditional medicine and African concept of health, wholeness and diseases. So many Western scholars and some ignorant Africans opined that traditional medicine is fetishism and that Africans do not have proper understanding of the concept of health and wholeness. This misconception, abuse and derogatory attitudes even from some notable Africans towards alternative medicine, as well as the all need of integrating both the alternative and orthodox medicine to bring about total wholeness, serves as the research problem.
This study seeks to correct these misconceptions and also to bring to limelight Africans’ proper view on health and
wholeness. Its study argued that the bio-psycho-socio-ecological model of health and wholeness is fundamental to the African Traditional Religion and Medicine. This model brings together the different aspects of human life and treats the human person as an integral and harmonious whole in perpetual relationship with the sacred, the human community and the environment.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1.1. Background to the Study
1.2. Statement of the Problem
1.3. Aim and Objective of the Study
1.4. Scope and Limitations of the Study
1.5. Research Methodology
1.6. Significance of the Study
1.7. Organization of the Study
1.8. Definition of Terms
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1. African Traditional Religion
2.2. The Concept of Heath
2.3. Heath and Wholeness in African Traditional Society
CHAPTER THREE
3.1. African Traditional Medicine in Nigeria
3.2. Types of Traditional Healer
3.2.1. Traditional Surgeons
3.2.2. Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs)
3.2.3. Traditional Herbalists
3.2.4. Traditional Healer– Medicine Men
3.2.5. Practitioners of Therapeutic Spiritism (Diviners)
3.2.6. Traditional Psychiatrists
3.3. Method of Traditional Healing
3.3.1. Spiritual Issues
3.3.2. Physical issues
3.4. Some Diseases and their Traditional Herbal Cure
CHAPTER FOUR
4.1. African Traditional Religion and Medicine and the Question of Health and Wholeness in Modern Time
4.2. Contribution of Traditional Health care Service
4.2.1. Remarkable Feats
4.2.2. Primary Source of Modern Medicine
4.2.3. Manpower Coverage
4.2.4. Reduction of Child Mortality
4.3. Challenge facing Traditional Medicine
4.4. Ways to Curbing Challenges Confronting African Traditional Medicine
4.4.1. Research
4.4.2. Curriculum
4.4.3. Collaboration
4.4.4. Protection
4.4.5. Training
4.4.6. Budget
4.4.7. Legislation
4.4.8. Documentation
4.4.9. Packaging & Marketing
4.4.10. Trade Fairs and Exhibition
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
5.1. Summary
5.2. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Key Themes
The primary aim of this study is to examine and evaluate the concept of health and wholeness within the context of African Traditional Religion. The research seeks to challenge prevailing misconceptions that categorize traditional medicine as merely fetishistic, arguing instead for a bio-psycho-socio-ecological model that integrates the physical, spiritual, social, and environmental dimensions of human well-being.
- Analysis of African perceptions regarding health, illness, and the causes of disease.
- Evaluation of the diverse roles played by traditional healers in Nigeria.
- Assessment of the significant contributions of traditional medicine to modern healthcare systems.
- Identification of critical challenges, such as lack of documentation, regulation, and government support.
- Proposal of actionable strategies to integrate traditional practices into contemporary health policy.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1. African Traditional Medicine in Nigeria
The origin and history of traditional medicine in Health Care Delivery as far as humanity is concerned is as old as the history of man himself. The Book of Beginnings recorded God as the manufacturer and originator of herbal medicine. And God Said, let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind and the tree yield fruit, whose seed was in itself after his kind and God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:10-11) (Onunwa 23).
Before the creation of man, the Holy Book recorded that the Creator did not permit rain to fall upon the earth because there has not been created the man that will utilize the herbs that the earth will produce. After creating man, God made him the Estate Manager and Caretaker after planting a botanical Garden in Eden. He told man that some of the fruits and herbs are good for food while others can be poisonous and are capable of causing death (Gen 2:5.7.8.9.15,16,17) (Onunwa 24).
Attesting to the above assertion, Ekeopara averred: It is quite probable that man as soon as he has reached the stage of reasoning found out through trial and error that plants can be used as food, that some might be poisonous and may even lead to death when eaten while some had medicinal value and power (52). The entire essence of traditional medicine revolves around the use of natural herbs in the bodily, spiritual, emotional and psychological healing of the total man. God is the source of nature and the manufacturer of the herbs. Therefore, God is the source of traditional or herbal medicine. King David in Psalm 104:14 stated thus: “He causes the grass to grow for the cattle and herbs for the service of man (Ekeopara 53).
Summary of Chapters
CHAPTER ONE: Provides the general introduction, outlining the background of the study, problem statement, research methodology, and definition of key terms.
CHAPTER TWO: Reviews related literature, focusing on the concepts of African Traditional Religion, health, and the idea of wholeness in African society.
CHAPTER THREE: Discusses African traditional medicine in Nigeria, detailing the types of healers, methods of healing, and common diseases treated with herbal cures.
CHAPTER FOUR: Examines the role of traditional religion and medicine in modern times, contributions to healthcare, current challenges, and potential ways forward.
CHAPTER FIVE: Summarizes the research findings and provides a final conclusion on the relevance and future integration of traditional medicine.
Keywords
African Traditional Religion, Traditional Medicine, Health and Wholeness, Herbal Cure, Traditional Healers, Nigeria, Primary Health Care, Bio-psycho-socio-ecological model, Indigenous Knowledge, Traditional Birth Attendants, Spiritual Healing, Medical Pluralism, Healthcare Delivery, Public Health, Cultural Practices
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The research focuses on the concepts of health and wholeness within African Traditional Religion and examines how these concepts inform traditional medical practices in Nigeria.
What are the central themes of the work?
Central themes include the holistic nature of African medicine, the intersection of spiritual and physical healing, and the integration of traditional and orthodox medical systems.
What is the primary objective of this study?
The primary objective is to evaluate the African perception of health and to debunk misconceptions about traditional medicine, highlighting its role as a fundamental healthcare resource.
Which research methodology is employed?
The study utilizes a qualitative research methodology, employing analytical, critical, and historical approaches based on primary and secondary data sources.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body covers the history of traditional medicine, the categorization of traditional healers (such as surgeons, herbalists, and diviners), and the specific challenges and future prospects of the field.
How are the keywords defined for this study?
The keywords relate to the intersection of cultural belief systems, traditional medical practices, and contemporary healthcare needs in an African context.
How does the author define "wholeness" in an African context?
Wholeness is described as a state of complete harmony between the individual's physical, psychological, social, and spiritual aspects, often involving a balance with the community and environment.
What is the significance of the "bio-psycho-socio-ecological model"?
This model is used to argue that African traditional medicine is comprehensive because it treats the human person as an integral whole, considering their relationship with the sacred and the environment.
What specific challenges do traditional medicine practitioners face in Nigeria?
Key challenges include a lack of formal government regulation, inadequate documentation of practices, poor communication with orthodox medical professionals, and negative colonial-era stereotypes.
What is the final conclusion regarding the future of traditional medicine?
The author concludes that traditional medicine should be formally integrated alongside orthodox medicine to enhance healthcare access and meet the diverse needs of African populations.
- Quote paper
- John Ebune (Author), 2020, Examination and Evaluation of the Concept of Health and Wholeness in African Traditional Religion, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/1157907
