TRADITIONAL MEDICINE - THE MOTHER OF ALL MEDICINES

1. Introduction

2. The Case for Traditional Medicine

3. Famous Quotes

4. Arrogance and Ignorance leads to Stupidity

5. African Medical Tradition

Introduction

Traditional medicine is the oldest most tried and tested form of medicine. In a sense it is degrading to refer to it as an "alternative", since it forms the basis of all medicine - conventional drugs, homeopathic medicine, Chinese medicines, etc. It is the original medicine, the mother of all remedies used today.

If we accept the fact that Africa is the cradle of mankind and the use of herbs is as old as mankind itself, then, it stands to reason that African traditional medicines and practices are indeed the oldest, most tried and tested form of medicine.

Traditional medicine has been used by all cultures for centuries and is still the main form of medical treatment among 80% of the world's population. It is sad to hear some doctors describing traditional medicine as quackery since many of today's drugs (e.g. quinine, reserpine, ephedrine, ipecac) come directly from plants while most synthetic drugs are based on chemicals extracted from herbs.

It was Chinese traditional medicine that educated the western world on the art of inoculation, from which the practice of vaccination was born. We owe the eradication of smallpox directly to Chinese traditional medicine practices. Without its practice of inoculating the young, the world would have been a very different place today.

Traditional medicine is more holistic in its approach than allopathic medicine, which has been accused of emphasizing the cure of symptoms rather than the underlying causes, and of dividing illness too rigorously into "physical" and "mental" categories.

Why has the conventional medical profession not embraced traditional herbs in the same way it has synthetically-produced drugs? The answer has to do with money and power, although teaching methods in medical schools are also a factor. Conventional medicine practices a form of oppression by denying the acceptance, information and registration of traditional medicines making them almost illegal in "developed" countries. It enforces its will through institutions such as the FDA, Inframed, etc. which largely do not accept the concept of other medicinal practices and products and further threatens its practitioners if its will and laws are not obeyed. 

Conventional medicine misleads the public at large by claiming the sole right to medicinal knowledge and denying the efficacy and results of traditional medicines. Mainly due to financial greed, it projects itself as a custodian of healthcare, when more often than not has the interests of the shareholder at heart and not that of the patient. It uses the excuse of research to inflate its prices and profits to astronomical proportions and exploit the needy. 

Pharmaceutical companies are referred to as "governments onto themselves". Western pharmaceutical giants ignore the poor when it comes to developing or manufacturing medicines that could save millions of lives. Yet they are too happy to exploit the knowledge and herbal resources of Third World countries in developing drugs for the rich with no reimbursement to the exploited or regard for the environment. This amounts to nothing less than a new form of colonialism and is morally wrong.

Why do we turn to the pharmaceuticals, when many cures lie within our midst? The last truly new drug for Tuberculosis, which kills two million people a year, was invented more than 30 years ago. Yet, we know that there are medicinal plants in Africa capable of curing Tuberculosis and Malaria, amongst others. All it takes is political will and resolve. For much too long we have allowed ourselves to be brainwashed and lied to.

South Africa has the natural resources, finances and technical know-how to produce and develop novel cures and remedies. It is time that we stop begging pharmaceuticals and develop medicines which are affordable, non-toxic, effective and natural.

In South Africa, the medical industry is closely regulated by the MCC (Medical Controls Council). Was this body really interested in traditional, herbal medicines and solutions? Whose ethics did they run on? Who gave it the right to ignore 80% of the population and its traditional practices? Since its paymasters view traditional medicines as their enemy number one, can we trust the MCC? They have in the past dishonored our traditions and doctors and thereby disadvantaged the general public. Not until old attitudes and management changes totally within this council and similar institutions throughout the world, to be more representative and meet the will and needs of the public, will we see real health progress. Old laws designed to suit huge pharmaceutical interests are outdated and are a sin. Let's not look for treatments but seek cures. Righteousness and responsibility should be the motto for all institutions regulating the healthcare industry.

Rampant diseases and low budgets besiege the African, Asian and South American health sector. We have to move away from old attitudes and embrace a new thinking that respects and reveres human heritage and knowledge. Traditional medicines are an integral part of our past, present and future. It offers real solutions and progress.

The Case for Traditional Medicine.

v         The practices of traditional medicine date back many centuries and have therefore been as "tried and tested" as many of the scientific medicines which are often more harmful and with a higher degree of side-effects. Traditional doctors are generally paid by results and recognize the essentials of culture, which should never be scorned because of ignorance and or arrogance.

v         The apprenticeship training of traditional doctors is extensive and arduous, subject to protocols and disciplines similar to bio-medical approaches.

v         The holistic approach adopted by traditional medicine is one being increasingly followed by scientific medicine. Modern lifestyles require even greater attention to the psycho-social aspects of healing, which has been a fundamental tenet of traditional medicine.

v         The use of herbs and other organic substances by traditional medicine is another practice now increasingly followed by western medicine. Modern medicine itself has proved the value of "unsophisticated" diets, and the use of herbal remedies is generally less invasive or aggressive than the scientific preponderance of scheduled drugs and frequent surgery.

Famous Quotes

Arrogance and Ignorance leads to Stupidity

Comments by western institutions such as "Momordica balsamina L. is toxic" are nothing short of irresponsible and stupid. Such sentences are similar to: "since there are toxic mushrooms, all mushrooms are therefore toxic and unfit for human consumption." or "since apples are sweet, the whole tree is therefore sweet." 

Momordica balsamina L. is used by local populations in Africa, India, the Philippines, etc not only as a food supplement throughout the year, but also as  a staple food during the dry season for prolong periods of time that can last four months. If the plant was toxic, its side effects would have been felt by now and there would be thousands or even perhaps millions of intoxicated people suffering with side effects - which is not the case. Besides its use by local populations in Africa, India and other parts of the world, the Portuguese extensively used and are still using Momordica balsamina L. as a medicinal plant and culinary delight. This plant has been used for medicinal purposes and as a staple food for thousands of years. 

Let's take the example of the plant which is presently being developed as an insect repellant by the CSIR. After years of study, identification by the proper western institutions, scientific research and the isolation of its active ingredients, The CSIR and its partners entered into clinical trials only to find failure. After much debate and scratching of heads, they eventually approached the Traditional Doctor who forwarded the initial plant samples. 

Much to everyone's disbelief, the Traditional Doctor told them that they were using a different plant and showed that, although the plant looks the same and is recognized by the western community as one, it has a "sister". The only way to identify the difference in the field between them is by the sense of smell. Westerners and their institutions don't recognized this behavior as being scientific and it is therefore discredited. However, the facts show a different picture. The plant species used by the CSIR was a different species to the original one and in reality there are two different species of plants with different properties.

What was proven is that western scientific institutions have much to learn and there is a great difference between their perceptions and the reality of African medicinal plants. 

Who gave pharmaceuticals the right to judge and dictate what the rest of the world can or cannot use or do with their plants? Are pharmaceuticals and their partners simply trying their own version of colonialism and exploration? Traditional Doctors don't see them running and offering their medicines at affordable prices. If Africans are barred from using such medicines because of affordability and simultaneously told not to use traditional medicines because they are so-called "untested", should they just die? African Traditional Doctors often discuss how history will judge such corporations interests and under-hand methods. Pharmaceuticals claim that they are just protecting the interest of the patient. African Traditional Doctors say that pharmaceuticals and their partners are protecting their own interests much to the disadvantage of the patient.

There is little a western scientists can teach an African Traditional Doctor. The western scientific community can only verify in laboratory conditions claims made by Traditional Doctors. In turn, the Traditional Doctor can teach the Western scientist the properties of medicinal plants, the different species, the synergy between these plants and possible side effects. With respect to African medicinal plants, the Traditional Doctor has more to offer the world than western scientists. 

The African Traditional Doctor feels a great injustice is being done by pharmaceuticals with deep pockets who make use of African products and knowledge while simultaneously discounting the Traditional Doctors as unsophisticated, old fashioned and through their institutions trying to stop them from practicing and selling their medicines.

No one in the Traditional African medicinal field denies the huge progress made in the surgery, diagnostic and genetic fields. On the contrary. African Traditional Doctors marvel at such sophistication and precision.

African Traditional medicine should be overseen by African herbalists that know and understand such medicine. Western institutions should stay clear and stop interfering with subjects they do not understand and know little about. They should listen instead of dictating their perceptions and forcing their will on others.

Note: Bionatural believes that conventional, alternative, traditional, herbal medicines are compatible. A deeper understanding of other treatment methods should be adopted by conventional medicine and their partners. Research has been pointing out the flaws of conventional medicine and this type of medicine uses drugs of which over 80% are based on herbal extracts. War between the different medicinal practices only disadvantages the patient. 

African Medical Tradition

Natural medicine has been practiced for centuries by indigenous Southern African people. Africa has different categories of practitioners mainly the sangoma, inyanga and witchdoctor. Each category specializes in its own field.