DOI - Mendel University Press

DOI identifiers

DOI: 10.11118/978-80-7509-881-8-0166

The Intersection of Culture and Science in South African Traditional Medicine

J. F. Sobiecki

Traditional African medicine often carries with it a perception and stigma of being irrational and ungrounded in scientific method in academia. One reason for this common prejudicial view of traditional African medicine is the failure to effectively interpret African traditional medicine concepts, as these are often metaphorical descriptions of the biological and psychological effects of plants or combinations of them used in the traditional medicine preparations. When translated into other languages such as English, these metaphorical descriptions of medicinal plant use can seem to incorrectly reflect mysticism and/ or superstition with no scientific basis. This difficulty in interpreting cultural descriptions of medical phenomena, together with the fact that there are hardly any academic papers engaging the science of South African traditional medicine in the biological sciences, is an indication of the disconnection between the humanities studies and the biomedical studies of South African traditional medicine. This paper investigates some popular examples of spiritual plant use in traditional South African medicine using phytopharmacological studies together with anthropological fieldwork methods, demonstrating the empirical basis for use of some plants in divination (by producing clarity of thought or dreams). The examples also reveal the phytochemical and biomedical foundations of the South Bantu speaking traditional healers' explanations of why and how various spiritually used plants have medicinal value. The challenge for scientists (such as botanists) is to effectively translate and interpret cultural and language based descriptions of spiritual medicinal plant use made by indigenous people while recognizing and discarding cultural prejudices that prevent a more comprehensive and integrated understanding of the science that intersects and forms the basis of many, though not all, cultural healing practices.

Keywords: South African traditional medicine, African medicinal plants, science of healing, psychoactive plants, phytochemical synergy

pages: 166-178, Published: 2014, online: 2022



References

  1. Alomar, M. J. (2014). Factors affecting the development of adverse drug reactions (Review article). Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, 22(2), 83-94. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsps.2013.02.003. Go to original source...
  2. Brooks, K. B. & Katsoulis L. C. (2006). Bioactive components of Rhoicissus tridentata: A pregnancy-related traditional medicine. South African Journal of Science, 102, 267-272.
  3. Bruce, J. C. (2002). Marrying modern health practices and technology with traditional practices: Issues for the African continent. International Nursing Review, 49, 161-167. doi: 10.1046/j.1466-7657.2002.00109.x. Go to original source...
  4. Chevallier, A. (1996). The encyclopedia of medicinal plants. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley.
  5. Chinsembu, K. C. (2009). Model and experiences of initiating collaboration with traditional healers in validation of ethnomedicines for HIV/AIDS in Namibia. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 5(30), 1-13. doi: 10.1186/1746-4269-5-30. Go to original source...
  6. Crick, E., Griffiths, M. & Payne, C. (Producers) (2011). The witch doctor will see you now: Cameroon - goat blood bath [Documentary mini-series]. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic TV.
  7. Croucamp, A. (2001). Divination: Superstition or Technology? Unpublished colloquium paper, Graduate School for Humanities and Social Sciences at Witwatersrand University, Witwatersrand University, Johannesburg, South Africa.
  8. Dold, T. & Cocks, M. (1999). Imithi Yamasiko - Culturally useful plants in the Peddie District of the Eastern Cape with specific reference to Olea europaea subsp. africana. Plant Life, 21, 24-6.
  9. Dunbarr-Curran, T. (2012, April 5) Muti from the 'Witchdoctor'. Available from: http://www.iol.co.za/capetimes/ muti-from-the-witch-doctor-1.1270755#.Ua2ye-xA3No.
  10. Fennell, C. W., Lindsey, K. L., McGaw L. J., Sparg, S. G., Stafford, G. I., Elgorashi, E. E., Grace, O. M. & van Staden, J. (2004). Assessing African medicinal plants for efficacy and safety: Pharmacological screening and toxicology. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 4, 205-217. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2004.05.012. Go to original source...
  11. Frawley, D. & Lad, V. (1993). The yoga of herbs. An Ayurvedic guide to herbal medicine. Delhi, India: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers.
  12. Frawley, D. (2000). Ayurveda and the mind. Delhi, India: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers.
  13. Green, L. J. F. (2012). Beyond South Africa's 'indigenous knowledge - science' wars. South African Journal of Science, 108(7/8), 1-10. Go to original source...
  14. Hammond-Tooke, D. (1937). The Bantu Speaking Tribes of South Africa. London, United Kingdom: Routledge and Kegan Paul.
  15. Hammond-Tooke, W. D. (1998). Selective borrowing? The possibility of San shamanic influence on Southern Bantu divination and healing practices. South African Archaeological Bulletin, 53, 9-15. Go to original source...
  16. Hutchings, A., Scott, A. H., Lewis, G. & Cunningham, A. B. (1996). Zulu medicinal plants: An inventory. Pietermaritzburg, South Africa: University of Natal Press.
  17. Lewis, M. P. (Ed.) (2009). Ethnologue: Languages of the world (16th ed). Dallas, TX: SIL International.
  18. Liengme, C. A. (1983). A survey of ethnobotanical research in South Africa. Bothalia, 14(3/4), 621-629. Go to original source...
  19. Light, M. E., Sparg, S. G., Stafford, G. I. & van Staden, J. (2005). Riding the wave: South Africa's contribution to ethnopharmacological research over the last 25 years. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 100(1-2), 127-130. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2005.05.028. Go to original source...
  20. Mander, M., Ntuli, L., Diederichs, N. & Mavundla, K. (2007). Economics of the traditional medicine trade in South Africa. In Harrison, S., Bhana, R. & Ntuli, A. (Eds.), South African Health Review. Durban, South Africa: Health Systems Trust, 189-199.
  21. Moussaieff, A., Rimmerman, N., Bregman, T., Straiker, A., Felder, C., Shoham, S., Kashman, Y., Huang, S. M., Hyosang, L., Shohami, E., Mackie, K., Caterina, M. J., Walker, J. M., Fride, E. & Mechoulam, R. (2008). Incensole Acetate, an incense component, elicits psychoactivity by activating TRPV3 channels in the brain. The Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, 22, 3024-3034. doi: 10.1096/fj.07-101865. Go to original source...
  22. Petrus, T. S. & Bogopa, D. L. (2007). Natural and supernatural: Intersections between the spiritual and natural worlds in African witchcraft and healing in reference to Southern Africa. Indo-Pacific Journal of Phenomenology, 7(1), 10. Go to original source...
  23. Sobiecki, J. F. (2002). A preliminary inventory of plants used for psychoactive purposes in Southern African healing traditions. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa, 57(1/2), 1-24. Go to original source...
  24. Sobiecki, J. F. (2008). A review of plants used in divination in Southern Africa and their psychoactive effects. Southern African Humanities, 20, 333-51.
  25. Sobiecki, J. F. (2012). Psychoactive ubulawu spiritual medicines and healing dynamics in the initiation process of Southern Bantu diviners. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 44(3), 216-223. doi:10.1080/02791072.2012.703101. Go to original source...
  26. Stafford, G. I., Jager, A. K. & van Staden, J. (2005). Activity of traditional South African sedative and potentially CNS-acting plants in the GABA-benzodiazepine receptor assay. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 100, 210-215. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2005.04.004. Go to original source...
  27. Taylor, J. L. S., Rabe, T., McGaw, L. J., Jäger, A. K. & van Staden, J. (2001). Towards the scientific validation of traditional medicinal plants. Plant Growth Regulation, 34, 23-37. doi: 10.1023/A:1013310809275. Go to original source...
  28. Vanrenen, L. (2000). Power herbs. A practical guide to fifty healing herbs from the East and West. New York, NY: Penguin Putnam.
  29. Van Warmelo, N. J. (1935). A preliminary survey of the Bantu tribes of South Africa. Pretoria, South Africa: Government printer.
  30. Watt, J. M. & Breyer-Brandwijk, M. J. (1962). The medicinal and poisonous plants of Southern and Eastern Africa (2nd ed). Edinburgh, United Kingdom: E. & S. Livingstone.
  31. World Health Organization (2008). Fact sheet no. 134: Traditional medicine. Retrieved August 21, 2014 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_medicine.