Someone once told me that traditional African medicine is pure superstition, without scientific base, that is rapidly disappearing from Africa.

Certainly George Washington University in the USA would not agree with that statement, and neither would over 600 institutions, physicians, researchers and health care workers who held the first major event on Traditional African Medicine this July. And I don’t suppose that the 2/3 of the central African population who still use traditional medicine as primary health care would agree with it. To tell the truth, African Medicine is far from just superstition: it is a complex system of medicinal plant usage and holistic therapies, combined with culture, arts and spirituality in healing. Western medicine, though no one doubts its obvious contributions to health, is still failing in several areas. It is too usually expensive to reach many in need, it often

brings serious side effects and becomes less effective with time. Most importantly, it addresses the illness without regarding the person as a whole, where body, mind and cultural heritage all play their part in physical and mental wellbeing.

So, what is the solution to address health needs of millions of people?
According to the World Health Organization, traditional medicine has a central role to play in the 21st century. It can be an invaluable tool for delivering safe, inexpensive and effective health care. African medicine, especially when properly combined with western medicine, can easily and effectively be used for a large variety of conditions. AIDS related symptoms, several infectious and chronic diseases, TB, malaria, children's health and mental illnesses can all be managed by traditional means.

It is certainly not difficult to find a traditional health practitioner. They are virtually in any corner of Africa, often people who learned all their medical art orally from their parents. Any remote area of Uganda will have a traditional doctor and, surprisingly, even in Kampala you can find them very easily. Just ask and someone will show you where to go.

Many of the practitioners use herbs in a sort of western way: they will ask you about your condition and prepare a mix of herbs. However, few of them - generally the most skilled and close to traditional African healing - will employ much more “exotic” techniques. My favorite practitioner is the doctor of Ssezabwa Falls between Kampala and Jinja. The doctor here cures only with water. He talks to the patient, listens to the problem and “feels” what is needed. He then collects some water from the river by the falls and performs a ritual consisting mostly of meditation and prayer. The water is then used on the body or drunk by the patient. He is very successful in curing people and very well known and respected by the locals.

It surprised me that this way of curing with water is similar to two fashionable therapies used in Western society: Water Therapy and Floral Therapy (Bach Flower Remedies, mostly Rock Water, if you know it). Both Water and Bach Flower therapies are based on the use of water and are effective in addressing emotional and physical distress. In particular, Bach Flower Remedies have been used by hundreds of thousands of people for seventy years and now the Rescue Remedy (a mix of Bach Flower Remedies) is the most used non-pharmacological remedy against stress.

A different destiny is in store for the traditional doctor of Ssezabwa Falls, who does not have an international exposure. No matter how brilliant his art can be, at the edge of healing, prayer and magic, he will not easily achieve notoriety and fame. But, if you have the chance to go there and talk to him, challenge him with questions such as “what is the origin of illness?” or “why do we suffer?” and even deeper questions like “what is life?” You will be shocked and touched to listen to him and his clear, logical and profound explanations.

Traditional African Medicine is not just pure magic and certainly is not dying. It is at the very base of our roots and it is a vibrant mixture of real medical knowledge, great understanding of the human nature, and an ancient culture full of complex spirituality. You may not ever use their mix of herbs or follow their rituals, but never forget about the power and importance of the magic healing art of the traditional African doctors. For more information you can email ivan@africadventure.net