workshop african medicine

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> WHO – Traditional Medicine <

”Health through cultural heritage“

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> HERBAL AFRICA <

Traditional medicine (also known as indigenous or folk medicine) comprises medical knowledge systems that developed over generations within various societies before the era of modern medicine. Practices known as traditional medicines include herbal, Ayurveda, Siddha medicine, Unani, ancient Iranian medicine, Islamic medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, Muti, Ifá, and other medical knowledge and practices all over the globe. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines traditional medicine as: „the health practices, approaches, knowledge and beliefs incorporating plant, animal and mineral-based medicines, spiritual therapies, manual techniques and exercises, applied singularly or in combination to treat, diagnose and prevent illnesses or maintain well-being.“

In some Asian and African countries, up to 80% of the population relies on traditional medicine for their primary health care needs. When adopted outside of its traditional culture, traditional medicine is often called complementary and alternative medicine. Herbal medicines can be very lucrative, generating billions of dollars in sales, but adulteration or counterfeit herbs can also be a health hazard. Read More: > HERE <

HISTORY OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINE – African Traditional Medicine is a mainstay of primary health care for the majority in Africa. About 80% of the population has relied on resources within their environment to survive since God’s creation.

Plants, minerals and animals constitute the major natural resources ever used by mankind for preventative, curative and rehabilitative health in Africa. Like any other continent, these resources have been used for over ten thousand years by traditional health practitioners (THP’s), who acquired their knowledge and skills through observation, spiritual revelation, personal experience, training and direct information from their predecessors.

THE ROLE OF EMERGED SCIENTIFIC TRADITIONAL MEDICINE SYSTEM: “ ETHNOMEDICINE “ – What is Ethnomedicine Science? Ethnomedicine is a multi-disciplinary field of study that draws on approaches and methods from both the social and biological sciences, culturally based biological and environmental knowledge, cultural perception and cognition of the natural world, associated behaviours and practices, concerned with the cultural interpretations of health, disease and illness, and also addresses the health care seeking process and healing practices.It is a study of cultural concepts of health, disease and illness, and of the nature of healing systems.

Ethnomedicine has turned it’s attention to laboratory research, which has been made possible by the auspices of the World Health Organisation (WHO). In fact, the traditional medicine programme of the WHO was precisely thought of as an answer to renewed interest for population therapies and remedies, in view of possible identification and utilisation within national health services.

African Medicine – the mother of medicines:

„If we accept that Africa is the cradle of mankind and that the use of herbs is as old as mankind itself, it then stands to reason that African medicine is the oldest, most tried and tested form of medicine known to mankind. Further, to call it an alternative is wrong, since it formed the basis for other types of medicine practiced today – conventional, herbal, Chinese, etc.“ T/Dr R de Carvalho.

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.

  • Vision – To manufacture and distribute an effective range of African herbal remedies and medicinal products that not only competes, but surpass its competitors.
  • To enhance and preserve the knowledge and wisdom of African herbal medicine.
  • To be a leader in the research and development of African herbal remedies and products.

PAXHERBAL, MAGAZINE:  The aim of Pax Herbal Magazine is to re-assimilate, re-understand and re-express ancient African philosophy [indigenous knowledge] in light of modern, scientific knowledge [exogenous knowledge]. African Medicine, that is, the science of life, is at the centre of African philosophy. Life, for the African, is indeed the ultimate value. By exploring the multi-faceted dynamism of healing in Africa, Pax Herbal Magazine is championing a medical revolution that is all-embracing, holistic, African and global.

The Science – After years of repudiating ancient wisdom, science is now validating the wisdom of the ancients.  Discoveries in quantum physics, radiology and electromagnetic force have changed the way scientists look at the world.

Pax Herbal products are currently a high-flying brand because they are efficacious, affordable and available. Recently, though, the monks of St. Benedict Monastery, Ewu, Esan, Edo State, the custodians of Africa’s most sophisticated, scientific and full-blown herbal pharmaceutical industry and their dedicated staff have been bending over backwards to meet a snowballing demand for their products.