Herbal Medicine: Definitions and Terminologies II Flashcards
Prof. Ajayi
Mention 4 different names of TM
- Indigenous Medicine
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine
- Native Medicine
- Folk Medicine
What are the methods by which TMPs are trained in African ethnomedicine?
- Apprenticeship
- Divine selection or in answer to a call by a deity
- Family inheritance
Discuss and compare the terms CAM, native medicine, folk medicine and indigenous.
- The term CAM is used interchangeably with
TM in some countries. It refers to a broad set of health care practices that are not part of that country’s own tradition and are not integrated into the dominant health care system - Native medicine is a derogatory version of traditional medicine passed down from colonial
era (the word native meaning any thing
not foreign or not introduced by the
colonial masters) - Folk medicine is a more acceptable reference to the knowledge, the mode of treatment or traditional beliefs that are common to a group of rural people.
- Indigenous medicine is the extended definition of traditional medicine in Africa which includes a phrase such as “while bearing in mind the original concept of nature which includes the material world, the sociological environment, whether
living or dead, and the metaphysical forces of the universe”.
What is Juju?
This is a term applied to the kind of TM which includes some supernatural or magical implications.
E.g. few palm leaves placed on a bundle of firewood laid beside the road by the owner while he fetches some more fire wood is a sign that juju (a curse) has been placed on that bundle. The curse will not affect the owner or other authorised persons.
- the term is commonly used in the eastern states of Nigeria to refer to any form of medicine that casts an evil spell.
What is the botanical source of the small gourd (calabash) often associated with juju?
Lagenaria siceraria Seringe
What are ritual rites?
These are procedure and/or sacrifice necessary
to appease gods in particular form of
treatment or situation. Could include dances, sacrifices, eating only a certain kind of food etc.
What are incantations?
Incantations are a form of play on words written or delivered orally in poetic form to conjure up forces (efficacies) into a medicine.
Example of incantation and translation…
Ohun ti a ba wi fun ogbo ni ogbo ngbo
Ohun ti a ba wi fun ogba ni ogba ngba
Ohun ti a ba wi fun iwo lagbaja ni ki o ngba
Translation:
Whatever we tell ogbo (the leaf of Parquetina nigrescencs Baill), it hears
Whatever we tell (a fenced compound) it accepts
Whatever I tell you (any individual named here), you must accept
An example of tradiction recipe that does not require incantations is
Azadirachta indica for Fever
Zanthoxylum xanthoxyloides for toothache
Mention 5 methods of preparing herbal remedies.
- Concoction
- Decoction
- Infusion
- Tisane
- Tinctures
- Maceration
Explain concoction.
It is a preparation (soup or drink) usually made from many ingredients
Explain decoction.
Prepared by placing the plant drug in cold water, bringing it to boil, simmering for about 15mins or longer (up to 1 hour) and then allowing the mixture to stand for a further 15 mins.
The aqueous extract is decanted or filtered when it is needed.
The preparation is often left in the pot and reheated before use in traditional preparations at home. As a result it gets darker and probably more concentrated with prolonged contact with the plant drug.
This type of extraction may result in the alteration of many active constituents, which are readily decomposed during boiling e.g some glycosides
Explain Infusion.
An infusion is prepared by pouring boiling water on a specified quantity of plant material and allowing the mixture to stand for 10 –15 minutes.
Explain Tisane.
An aqueous preparation or tea made by decoction or infusion.
Explain Maceration.
This is prepared by placing the plant material with the whole of the menstruum (extraction liquid) in a closed vessel and allowing to stand for 7 days, shaking occasionally.
It is then strained before pressing the marc (plant material). The liquid extracts thus obtained are mixed.
The preparation is clarified by subsidence or filtration. In the traditional way subsidence followed by decantation is more common.