Indigenous Healing In SA Flashcards
What is medicine?
Medicine has two meanings:
1. Medicine means the practice of healing people. The illness of a sick person is diagnosed
2. Medicine can also mean a substance that is used to treat diseases. Medicine is prescribed for the sick person to take
Define diagnose.
Find out what kind of illness someone has by examining them
Define prescribe.
To suggest medicine for a sick person to use
Define indigenous.
Having always been in a place, rather than having come from somewhere else
Define origin.
The place where something begins
When and by who is/was indigenous medicine used?
Indigenous medicine was used in SA long ago by hunter-gatherers, herders and African farmers. Indigenous medicine is still used in SA today
Why is western medicine called ‘western’?
It is called western because it originated in western Europe
What part of a person is treated by western medicine?
The physical body
What is another word for indigenous medicine?
Traditional medicine
List some of the differences between indigenous healing and western healing. (4)
Western healing originated in western Europe - Indigenous healing originated in South Africa
Western healing treats the physical body - Indigenous healing treats the whole person and not just the physical illness (holistic healing)
Western medicine is based on science and is studied at universities - Traditional ways of healing are passed from one generation to the next
Western medicine is used by more South Africans today but has not replaced indigenous healing practices and beliefs (many use both)
What are ancestors?
The spirits of people who have died
What are the two main kinds of traditional healers?
Diviners/Sangomas
Herbalists/Nyangas
What are diviners/sangomas?
A healer who communicates with the ancestors to diagnose the problems. They can also prescribe medicine
What are herbalists/nyangas?
They use herbs to cure different diseases. They have a deep knowledge of the medicine contained in indigenous plants
How do people become sangomas?
They are born with a gift. They are called by the ancestors to help people. They learn to be sangomas from experienced people. The training takes place for years
