Herbalists, traditional healers and pharmacists: a view of the tuberculosis in Ghana

Amoah, Solomon Kweku Sagoe; Sandjo, Louis P.; Bazzo, Maria Luiza; Leite, Silvana Nair; Biavatti, Maique W.

doi:10.1590/0102-695x2014241405

Cited by 28 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Consequently, the knowledge of the standard healers regarding the utilization of medicinal plants is being diminished and will possibly be lost before being explored through systematic studies [ 27 ]. For traditional healers, there are high hopes that the information gathered by researchers from the local universities, on the plants and traditional methods they use, will result in affirmation and recognition of their practices [ 28 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ethnomedicinal Knowledge of Traditional Healers in Roi Et, Thailand

Junsongduang

Kasemwan

Lumjoomjung

et al. 2020

Plants

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Traditional healers in Thailand are a primary source of health care for the Thai people. Highly experienced traditional healers are generally older people and they continue to pass away without recording or passing on their knowledge. Consequently, the cumulative knowledge held by traditional healers regarding the use of medicinal plants is being eroded and could be lost. In this study, we aimed to identify and document the medicinal plants and associated ethnobotanical knowledge held by traditional healers in Roi Et in northeastern Thailand. Data and plant specimens were collected from four traditional healers of the Phu Tai people. They were selected by purposive sampling and questioned using a semi-structured interview. The interviews covered their training, the ailments treated, treatment techniques, method of preparation and in addition, several healing sessions were observed. During field walks, we searched for the medicinal plants with the healers to review and document the availability of medicinal plants at each locality and in different habitats around the villages. Use values (UV) were calculated to estimate the importance of each medicinal plant and informant agreement ratios (IAR) were calculated to understand how widely known the uses were. The four Phu Tai traditional healers knew 162 medicinal plant species in 141 genera and 63 families. The family with the most medicinal plants was Leguminosae with 15 species. The plant part that they used most commonly was the stem, which was used for 82 species (49%). The most common preparation method was decoction, which was done for 124 species (75%). The most important and widely used medicinal plants were Rothmannia wittii, which had the highest use value (UV = 1.7). Most medicinal plants were used for treating tonic (34 species (21%)). Jaundice had the highest informant agreement ratio (IAR = 0.5). The most common life form among the medicinal plants was trees (56 species (34%)). The medicinal plants were mostly collected in community forests (81 species (49%)). Considering the richness of the healer’s pharmacopeia, and the fact that their profession is not being perpetuated, this study points to the urgent need to document the traditional knowledge from the old herbalists before it disappears with the last practitioners from rural communities in Thailand.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ethnomedicinal Knowledge of Traditional Healers in Roi Et, Thailand

Junsongduang

Kasemwan

Lumjoomjung

et al. 2020

Plants

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“…Whereas some studies have acknowledged and explored the critical role of self-care in treatment-seeking behavior of patients in Ghana and sub-Saharan Africa, such studies usually do not emphasize this treatment avenue as part of the health care structure. In addition, the use of the dual approach skews reality about patients' preference and choice of treatment in favor of the alternative and/or traditional medicine (Amoah, Sandjo, Bazzo, Leite, & Biavatti, 2014;Anyinam, 1987a;Dahlberg & Trygger, 2009;Rutebemberwa et al, 2013). This misrepresentation is largely due to confinement of biomedical care to professional and institutional-based care, whereas indigenous/traditional medicine is loosely applied care in professional setting and self-care setting.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Assessment of Care-Seeking Behavior in Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District: A Triple Pluralistic Health Sector Approach

Amegbor

2017

SAGE Open

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Discussions and studies on Ghana's pluralistic health care system usually ignore or downplay self-care as a crucial sector in this system of care. In view of this, this study uses a triple sector approach of the pluralistic health care system as advocated by Kleinman to assess care-seeking behaviors of residents in the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District (Ghana). The results of cross-tabulation analysis demonstrate that respondents' general care-seeking behavior is different from the type of care sought for last illness before the study. Data for the study were obtained from 227 urban and rural respondents in the study district in 2013. The findings indicate that factors such as geographic location, health insurance, and perception of the cost of professional care had a bearing on residents' general care-seeking behavior. However, age, sex, relationship status, economic status, and proximity to nearest biomedical care service influenced the type of treatment sought for last illness. The approach use of the study demonstrates that self-care remains a general avenue of care for residents, whereas in times of severe illness, respondents often rely on professional biomedical care. The use of professional indigenous care services is generally low due to the financial burden associated with its use.

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“…As Mulaudzi ( 2001 :15) points out, missionaries were particularly negative towards traditional healers, viewing them as an impediment to repentance. However, failure to recognise the traditional health system can result in dangerous situations, including toxic drug-herb interactions, a failure to administer the most effective treatments (Guan & Chen 2012 ) and cases of delayed treatment (Barker et al 2006 :670, 672) or even abandoned treatment (Amoaha et al 2014 :92).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Allopathic and traditional health practitioners’ collaboration

Rooyen

Pretorius

Tembani³

et al. 2015

curationis

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BackgroundProfessional collaboration between traditional and allopathic health practitioners in South Africa is proposed in the Traditional Health Practitioners Act and could benefit and complement healthcare delivery.ObjectivesTo explore and describe the collaborative relationship between allopathic and traditional health practitioners regarding the legalisation of traditional healing, and these health practitioners’ views of their collaborative and professional relationship, as role-players in the healthcare delivery landscape in South Africa.MethodsA qualitative design was followed. The research population comprised 28 participants representing three groups: allopathic health practitioners (n = 10), traditional healers (n = 14), and traditional healers who are also allopathic health practitioners (n = 4). Purposive and snowball sampling was used. Data collection involved unstructured interviews, a focus group interview and modified participant observation.ResultsResults indicate both allopathic and traditional health practitioners experienced negative attitudes towards each other. Mutual understanding (in the form of changing attitudes and communication) was considered crucial to effective collaboration between these two health systems. Participants made suggestions regarding capacity building.ConclusionsConsidering realities of staff shortages and the disease burden in South Africa, facilitating collaboration between allopathic and traditional health practitioners is recommended. Recommendations could be used to develop strategies for facilitating professional collaboration between traditional and allopathic health practitioners in order to complement healthcare delivery.

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Herbalists, traditional healers and pharmacists: a view of the tuberculosis in Ghana

Cited by 28 publications

References 16 publications

Ethnomedicinal Knowledge of Traditional Healers in Roi Et, Thailand

Ethnomedicinal Knowledge of Traditional Healers in Roi Et, Thailand

An Assessment of Care-Seeking Behavior in Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District: A Triple Pluralistic Health Sector Approach

Allopathic and traditional health practitioners’ collaboration

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