Ethnomedicine

History and Description
Ethnomedicine is a system that applies both art and science to help the human body to restore its health and well-being. It utilises natural remedies to activate the immune system. Herbs are used for cleansing, elimination and detoxification. Some are used to stimulate the body’s self-healing capabilities to counteract physical symptoms, whilst others may be used as a tonic to help the body’s immunity.

The human body easily assimilates nutrients, vitamins, minerals, antibiotics and hormonal substances from plants to obtain both food and medicine. Ethnomedicine is a healing modality for chronic ongoing problems. With the skillful selection of herbs, a profound transformation in health can be effected without the danger of the unpleasant side effects inherent in drug-based medicines. Plants have a direct impact on physiological activity and by knowing what body processes one wants to help or heal; the appropriate herb or plant action can be selected.

The Practical Significance of Ethnomedicine
Ethnomedicine is a specialist area that is not restricted to describing exotic healing practices, but actually offers concrete practical help in everyday clinical medicine. Thus, Ethnomedicine facilitates communication with patients from all walks of life. Moreover, an Ethno Medical practitioner’s observations and analyses within the scope of Ethnomedicine’s understanding of the inherent conceptions held by their patients, with regard to illness and therapy, has heightened the medical and nursing fraternity. Thus, these practitioners are better equipped to pinpoint and respond to their patients needs. This is of importance since if patients lose trust in the exponents of conservative medicine, they often turn to alternative medicine and may fail to receive adequate medical care. Ethnomedicine is considered to be an unbiased science by its proponents.

Consultation
Ethnomedicine practitioners treat the individual holistically and will consult at length with the patient to establish the root cause of their illness. Different herbal medicines are prescribed for each patient’s specific needs. Remedies can be taken in a variety of ways, such as tinctures, capsules or infusions, depending on which herbs are being used and what condition is being treated.

Doctors of Ethnomedicine or Ethnomedicine practitioners are accredited and registered with EPASA (the Ethnomedicine Practitioners Association of South Africa)