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6 AFRICAN HISTORY HISTORY OF MEDICINE 10 LESSONS

The History of Medicine
Healing plants

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Traditional healers use many different plants to make up their medicines. Even though there are more than 700 different plant species in South Africa some of them are endangered because more and more people are harvesting traditional medicines. Modern traditional healer’s responsibilities include conserving special plants by using them carefully and cultivating what has been used.

Many Western medicines are also derived from plants. Aspirin and codeine are medicine that come from plants.

Some examples of South African plants that are used in medicines:

Picture A: Cape Aloes (Aloe Ferox)
Source: www.sun.ac.za/consecol/students/ shiponeni/shiponeni.html

Aloes are used for upset stomachs, stress, bruises, burns, eczema, arthritis and pinkeye.

Picture B: Buchu (Agathosma betulina)
Source: www.viable-herbal.com/singles/ herbs/s145.htm

Buchu can be used for stomach ache, kidney and bladder problems, heartburn, flu, colds, rheumatism and feeling sick.

Picture C: Devil’s Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens)
Source: 216.55.141.125/ devils_claw.htm

In Africa Devil’s Claw has been used for hundred of years to treat skin cancer, fever, malaria and bad digestion. In the West it has been used for liver, kidney and bladder problems, allergies, arthritis, diabetes, stimulating appetite and digestive problems, headaches, heartburn, rheumatism, arthritis and nerve pains.


Picture D: Sutherlandia (Sutherlandia Frutescens)
Source: www.zandvleitrust.org.za/ art-Langevlei.html

Sutherlandia is used by nearly all traditional healers in South Africa and has many different
names. It is called “Phetola” (It changes) in Sotho, “Lerumo-lamadi” (The spear for the blood) in North Sotho, “Kankerbos”, “Unwele”, “Insiswa” and “Motlepelo” and "Cancer Bush".

Sutherlandia is used to treat fever, lack of appetite, stress, anxiety, bladder and kidney Infections, heart problems, rheumatism, liver problems, bronchitis, asthma, colds, flu, coughs, diabetes, cancer, stomach ulcers, infections in the intestines, swelling of the throat and swelling of the stomach’s lining.

Outcomes: The learner is able to use information from sources to answer questions about healing plants.

Exercise

  1. What are the plants in Pictures A, B, C, and D?
  2. What can these plants be used for?
  3. Why are some plant species in South Africa dying out?
  4. What can traditional healers do to keep useful plants from dying out?

 

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