Angelah Nothando Mlotshwa
The use of traditional herbs in the African culture can be traced way back before the white man set foot on the “dark continent”.
But as Westernisation continues to erode and eradicate African cultures, many people are abandoning their traditional means of healing through herbal medicines for the scientific proven means.
Long ago African women used such herbs as umganu, intolwane, isihaqa, umgugudu, imbiza and many others for certain ailments and it is widely believed that these herbs prevented women from suffering from diseases such as womb cancer, fibroids, breast cancer and many other diseases and conditions.
“Izihlahla zesintu ziqakathekile kakhulu emzimbeni yethu njalo kazila maproblems lawa afana lawamaphilisi awesikhiwa ngoba lamaphilisi sefakwe izinto ezinengi. Isihlahla uyabe usiqonda direct ungafakanga into ezinye yikho zingcedisa kakhulu empilweni. Uyabona njengomganu uyancedisa kakhulu labo ntolwaleni ikakhulu ngemva kokuthi umama esebelethile.”, said Patricia Ncube
“Traditional herbs are very important to our bodies unlike modern medicine, these pills have many things added to them. But with traditional herbs you use the tree direct without any additives, that is why herbs assist to cure many ailments . Umganu helps a lot, especially after a woman gives birth”
“Kumele sisebenzise ingqondo sibuyele esintwini sakithi sisebenzise okwakusetshenziwa ngabokhokho. Imikhuhlane yonke le abo cancer besibeletho kwakungekho kodwa senelisa ukungena emaphilisini okuzivala ukuthi ungazithwali saqala ukungena kuma troubles. Okufanele sikwenze kuphela yikusebenzisa izihlahla ngendlela eqondileyo”, she added.
“Let’s just use common sense and go back to our traditional ways and use the skills that were used by our ancestors. All these diseases, the cancer of the uterus were not there, but we were convinced to use contraceptives and we started having problems. All we have to do is use traditional medicines”
Another interviee stressed that she at one time used umganu after miscarrying and was healed and returned to good health.
“I used umganu after my miscarriage and I did not experience any side effects”, said Princess Mabhena.
Men used to drink and eat traditional medicines such as vuka-vuka, chifumuro, nheura, as well as mixture of mazondo and other herbs.
Herbs that were used to strengthen sexual abilities are isando, vusamuzi and gondolozi.
In Karanga something different was used. When a donkey died the back bone of the diseased animal would be crashes and rubbed onto the back of a male belief being that a donkey’s back is strong therefore the concition would strengthen the back of a man.
” Indukuzabafa yisihlahla esingceda nxa ubulawa yisisu esitshilayo. Umvagazi yisihlahla esengezelela igazi. Isagenama esibomvu sisebenza ukugezisa phakathi kwesisu nxa singcolile. Intakubomvu iyancedisa nxa iqolo libuhlungu. Yonke leyi imithi isebenza nxa indawonye. Umthwenthwe unceda omama abalezibeletho ezingasayamukeli”,said Newman Sibanda a traditional healer.
Makers of modern medicine argue that traditional medicines come with dangers as there has not been any scientific data analytics on them. As such there are no prescription rules that go hand in hand with these traditional herbs.
“Herbal medicines are lethal and can cause complete kidney shut down…..”, said the Mpilo Hospital CEO Doctor Narasius Dzvanga.
Therefore, one needs to be carefully of what they take when using traditional medicines.