Professional Documents
Culture Documents
INTRODUCTION
that is put forward as having the healing effects of medicine, but is not based on
diagnoses and treatments which typically are not included in the degree
(FDA, 2007).
WHO (1976) defined traditional medicine as the sum total of the knowledge,
skills, and practices based on the theories, beliefs, and experiences indigenous
meditation, prayer, mental healing, and therapies that use creative outlets such
The acupuncture technique that has been most studied scientifically involves
penetrating the skin with thin, solid, metallic needles that are manipulated by
2008;NCCAM,2012).
(extracts or essences) from flowers, herbs, and trees to promote health and
well-being(NCCAM,2012).
Ayurveda (“ah-yur-VAY-dah”) is an alternative medical system that has been
includes diet and herbal remedies and emphasizes the use of body, mind, and
on the relationship between bodily structure (primarily that of the spine) and
function, and how that relationship affects the preservation and restoration of
flow of qi (an ancient term given to what is believed to be vital energy) in the
2004;NCCAM,2012).
Reiki (“RAY-kee”) is a Japanese word representing Universal Life Energy. Reiki
is based on the belief that when spiritual energy is channeled through a Reiki
practitioner, the patient’s spirit is healed, which in turn heals the physical body
hands. It is based on the premise that it is the healing force of the therapist that
affects the patient’s recovery; healing is promoted when the body’s energies are
in balance; and, by passing their hands over the patient, healers can identify
energy) and yang (positive energy). Disease is proposed to result from the flow
of qi being disrupted and yin and yang becoming imbalanced. Among the
human body by putting the right amount of pressure on strategic points on any
of the soles of the feet. Sometimes the palm of the hand is also used. The healing
method was discovered and used extensively by the ancient Egyptians before
the Christian era. In this scientific healing, the healer has mastered the specific
functioning, then its corresponding organ gets healed. It is estimated that there
are over seven thousand reflex points on the sole, each having corresponding
Herbal medicines
World
known that between 65% and 80% of the world’s population uses herbal
2007). The methods of health care system developed by the indigenous peoples
arose from the interaction with their peculiar environment and belief system.
propaganda who see it as being crude, unscientific and primitive, among others,
it has survived and thrived and has continued to meet the health care needs of
the people.
ethnic groups), of which 3 are major groups comprising over 60% of the total
was the system of health care delivery. Traditional healing and medical
Nigeria, traditional healing and medical practices remain a viable part of the
There has been a rapid expansion of allopathic health care in Nigeria over the
last three decades, including an increase in the number of allopathic health care
providers. At the same time, because the majority of Nigerians use traditional
was formed by the Ministry. In 1994, all state health ministries were mandated
traditional medicine to the nation's official health care delivery system (Sule,
2000) .
in 1997. Since then, the Federal Ministry of Health has been instituting
traditional medicine at all levels and in relevant forums, such as the National
Chairmen (in 1999), and the Presidential Think Tank Forum (in 1999).
In 2000, the Traditional Medicine Council of Nigeria Act was proposed. The
similar objectives within and outside Nigeria. The Nigeria Medical Council is
technological input, relative low side effects and growing economic importance
are some of the positive features of traditional medicine (WHO 2002). More
Dayo Oyekole, Quincy Sumbo Ayodele, Reverend Father Anselm Adodo, Dr. J.J
Abdullahi, High Chief Oladosu Ekunrin , Dr. M. Akinsanya, Alj. Rafiu Owolabi
Despite all the efforts to create adequate awareness about traditional medicine
in Nigeria, the fact still remains that enough awareness on the dosage,
evaluation, allergy and side effects of some herbal products are yet to be made
Afolaju,2011). The main thrust of these studies is that because of its peculiar
nature and characteristics, traditional medicines provide the bulk of health care
for Nigerian population. For instance it has been found that traditional
medicine enjoys a wider acceptability among the people than modern medicine.
This could be due partly to the inaccessibility of modern medicine. But more
importantly, the major contributing factor is the fact that traditional medicine
blends readily into the socio-cultural life of the people in whose culture it is
deeply rooted (Yusuf, 1994; Elujoba et al, 2005; WHO, 2005). Again, it was the
only form of health care available to the people before the advent of modern
medicine. Instances have been reported where people who are close to modern
According to Essential Drugs (2003), in the past decade, there has been
China for instance, traditional medicine is said to account for about 40% of all
Nigeria is not left out of this embrace. Traditional medicine is said to be popular
among 70% of the population (Abubaka, 2003; Maiwada, 2004; Adelaja, 2006;
Herbert, 2012).
China 80%
Chile 71%
India 65%
Australia 48%
Canada 70%
USA 42%
France 49%
Nigeria 70%
respectively on the use of TM. The result was 67.7% in Lagos and 66.8% in
Ogbomoso. WHO has recently estimated that about 80% of the world’s
population use herbal medicines for some aspects of primary health care and
the worldwide market for these products (between 2002-2004) approaches
health care. Typically for these countries, the availability and/or accessibility of
pattern is found in integrative systems such as in China, Viet Nam, and the
SYSTEM.
The present status of health care delivery in Nigeria is far from being capable
of meeting the basic health needs of Nigerians. The existing health care delivery
system does not meet the ever increasing health needs of the Nigerians
population because of the high cost of modern health care, its advanced
many people in the developing nations of the world, especially among those
living in the rural areas where modern medical services seldom penetrate. An
delivery system is therefore considered very important in the light of the above,
especially as the bulk of the population resides in the rural area where they
to the people.
• Reduced risk of side effects: Most herbal medicines are well tolerated by
drugs. Herbs typically have fewer side effects than traditional medicine,
home. In some remote parts of the world, herbs may be the only
and serious illnesses and accidents much more effectively than herbal or
of doing yourself harm through self-dosing with herbs. While you can
argue that the same thing can happen with medications, such as
• Poison risk associated with wild herbs: Harvesting herbs in the wild is
risky, if not foolhardy, yet some people try to identify and pick wild herbs.
They run a very real risk of poisoning themselves if they don't correctly
identify the herb, or if they use the wrong part of the plant.
• Medication interactions: Herbal treatments can interact with
medications. Nearly all herbs come with some warning, and many, like
the herbs used for anxiety such as Valerian and St. John's Wort, can
regulated, consumers also run the risk of buying inferior quality herbs.
The world health body in 2008 marked WHO’s 60th anniversary and, also
the 30th anniversary of the Alma –Ata Declaration adopted by WHO and
been used for thousands of years, and has made great contributions to
human health, the declaration was the first recognition of the role of
Primary Health Care as a practical approach that can make essential health care
universally accessible to individuals and families in a community in an
acceptable and affordable way and with their full participation (WHO, 1978).
The organization also issued a call for the promotion and development of
not also by desire, remain the major source of health care for most of the world
system the competition and diversity in Nigeria’s health care system must be
the health care system. This will bring a union between the western medicine
and alternative medicine leading to a better healthcare system as seen in China,
India, USA and some other countries (a bill sponsored by HON.GOZIE AGBAKO
in 2009).