African Concepts of Health, Disease, and Treatment: An Ethical Inquiry

Omonzejele, Peter F.

doi:10.1016/j.explore.2007.12.001

Cited by 77 publications

(69 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…A plausible explanation for this strong belief about spiritual causes of mental illness is that research into mental illness is quite recent in Africa. As there is a strong spiritual belief in Africans [4], any situation or event which is not clearly understood is attributed to spiritual explanations [7,15]. In Ghana, the first treatment of choice in seeking treatment for mental illness is the Spiritual practice, followed by the Traditional Herbal practice [2].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As children in Africa grow to exhibit this spiritual belief and the belief continues to run across generations, spiritual belief in Africa can be described as behaviour genetics. There are different kinds of beliefs-the belief in the Almighty God and belief in other spirits [4][5][6][7][8]. In Ghana, most herbalists prepare their herbs on the basis of spiritual belief.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The African Belief System and the Patient’s Choice of Treatment from Existing Health Models-the Case of Ghana

Asare¹

2017

Acta Psychopathol

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This paper presents a narrative review including a case study of the African Belief System. A strong belief in supernatural powers is deeply rooted in the African culture. In Ghana, there is a spiritual involvement in the treatment of illness and healthcare. The new health model in the African culture therefore can be considered to be the Biopsychosocial(s) model-with the s representing spiritual practice-compared to the biopsychosocial model in Western culture. The case study on dissociative amnesia illustrates that Africans consider spiritual causes of illness when a diagnosis of an illness is very challenging. The causes of mental health conditions in particular seem challenging to Africans, and therefore are easily attributed to spiritual powers. The spiritual belief in African clients should not be rejected but should be used by caregivers to guide and facilitate clients' recovery from illness. The spiritual belief provides hope. Therefore when combined with Western treatment, this belief can quicken illness recovery.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The African Belief System and the Patient’s Choice of Treatment from Existing Health Models-the Case of Ghana

Asare¹

2017

Acta Psychopathol

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“…The use of herbal medicine will continue to grow for many reasons: some people believe that herbal medicines are generally safe and carry no risk or side efect. This belief may be erroneous as many herbal medicines are comparatively more tolerable than orthodox drugsɤ however, they are not totally devoid of side efects, adverse reactions, and interactions with other products [39,40].…”

Section: Reason For the Continuous Sustenance Of Tammentioning

confidence: 99%

Wound Care: Traditional African Medicine Approach

Builders¹,

Builders²

2016

Worldwide Wound Healing - Innovation in Natural and Conventional Methods

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Wound care represents a major health burden in "frica. The types and causes of wounds in "frica are numerousɤ however, the interventions to these injuries are easily accessed in hospitals in the urban cities, while in most rural communities, the primary source of interventions is traditional medicine (TMɮ. In recent times, there are incidences of preferences to the use of TM in the management of especially challenging wounds even when conventional interventions are available. In some "frican communities, there are incidences of quasi integration of conventional and traditional "frican medicine (T"Mɮ in wound care. In the typical traditional "frican approach to wound care, diverse practices such as the use of herbal medicine, divination, and other physical interventions are common. There appears to be a favorable future for wound management using T"M with the increasing popularity due to various airmative reasons other than poverty. The recognition, patronage, and uses of T"M for wound care as an alternative or complimentary to the conventional approach is expected to continue, hence, the need for the diferent regional governments in consonance with the WHO to promote the standardization, regulation, and other factors that will assure the safety and eicacy of the various practices and products of T"M.

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“…Good health is therefore defined by means of a harmonious working and co-ordination of this integrated view (Busia, 2005;Okpako, 1999). Therefore it is within this world-view and metaphysics that appropriate and accurate African concepts of health, diseases and treatment can be derived and understood (Dlamini, 2006;Omonzejele, 2008). As the traditional concepts of health and illness are encompassing, the approach to management and treatment of illness is holistic (Omonzejele, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore it is within this world-view and metaphysics that appropriate and accurate African concepts of health, diseases and treatment can be derived and understood (Dlamini, 2006;Omonzejele, 2008). As the traditional concepts of health and illness are encompassing, the approach to management and treatment of illness is holistic (Omonzejele, 2008). Theoretical assumptions that traditional healers make about the origin of illness are consistent with the methods of treatment of the illness.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanisms of Action of Traditional Herbal Medicines Used in the Management of Diabetes Mellitus: A Review of the Literature

Japhet¹,

Ngcobo²,

Gomo³

2017

Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med

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Background: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is increasing rapidly in both developed and developing countries. There are various conventional medicines used for the management of the disease, but there is also increased interest in the use of traditional herbal medicines. Although the concepts of illness and diseases in traditional medicine may differ from conventional medicine the outcomes are similar. The antihyperglycemic effects of various herbal medicines prescribed by traditional healers in the management of diabetes mellitus have been proven scientifically using several in-vitro and in-vivo models as well as clinical studies in humans. Materials and methods: Literature search was done in several databases. Firstly, the search was conducted using the key terms: diabetes mellitus and traditional medicine, diabetes mellitus and herbs, diabetes mellitus and plants, traditional concepts of health and sickness and diabetes mellitus. After identifying the herbs or plants used in diabetes a search was then conducted by name of herb and efficacy in management of diabetes mellitus. Results: This review highlights the similarities and differences in mechanisms of action of various traditional herbal medicines and conventional medicines. The major observation is that, herbal medicines often have multiple mechanisms of action ideally making them combination therapies. The review further highlights the need to develop an algorithm of a minimum battery of in-vitro and animal studies that can provide solid evidence of the potential of traditional medicines as anti-diabetic treatments. Conclusion: Traditional herbal medicines often have multiple phytoconstituents and hence multiple mechanisms of action ideally making them combination therapies.

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African Concepts of Health, Disease, and Treatment: An Ethical Inquiry

Cited by 77 publications

References 2 publications

The African Belief System and the Patient’s Choice of Treatment from Existing Health Models-the Case of Ghana

The African Belief System and the Patient’s Choice of Treatment from Existing Health Models-the Case of Ghana

Wound Care: Traditional African Medicine Approach

Mechanisms of Action of Traditional Herbal Medicines Used in the Management of Diabetes Mellitus: A Review of the Literature

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