Unit 1. Origins of TM & Alt M PDF

TRADITIONAL AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE Christian K Yekple PhD, MPhil, BA, RN.  Traditional and Alternative Medicine Unit 1: Origins of traditional and alternative medicine 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 2 ...

TRADITIONAL AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE Christian K Yekple PhD, MPhil, BA, RN.  Traditional and Alternative Medicine Unit 1: Origins of traditional and alternative medicine 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 2  Course objectives Describe the framework on traditional medicine practice globally, and in Ghana Explain the place of traditional and alternative medicine in health seeking behaviour Describe the basics in herbal medicine pharmacology Counsel clients on making informed choices from available treatment alternatives 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 3  Introduction Diseases existed since the origin of life and needed to be treated Prior to introduction of orthodox medicine, diseases were solely treated using traditional and alternative medicine This has continued even after introduction of orthodox medicine 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 4  Definitions The World Health Organization (WHO) defines traditional medicine as "the sum total of the knowledge, skills, and practices based on the theories, beliefs, and experiences indigenous to different cultures, whether explicable or not, used in the maintenance of health as well as in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement or treatment of physical and mental illness" 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 5  Traditional medicine /2 It is tagged traditional because, it is based on knowledge, practical experiences and observations handed down from generation to generation, either verbally or in written form, from African forebears 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 6  Traditional medicine /3 Traditional medicine includes use of plants and herbs, animals, and fungi 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 7  Traditional medicine /3 Traditional medicine also include the use components of nature such as minerals and rocks; as well as faith practices Herbal medicine, in its various forms, is the most popular and lucrative form of traditional medicine 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 8  Alternative medicine Alternative medicine is a term used to describe medial treatments or practices that are not part of that country’s own tradition or conventional medicine and are not fully integrated into dominant health-care system 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 9  Traditional vs. Alternative medicine Traditional medicine Alternative medicine 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 10  Origins of traditional and alternative medicine All cultures have their unique forms of traditional medicines they relied on for treatment of diseases prior to the emergence of orthodox medicine, e.g. Chinese traditional medicine, Indian traditional medicine, European traditional medicine, Japanese traditional medicine, African traditional 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 11  Chinese traditional medicine (TCM) TCM originated over 5000 years ago Its basic concept is that diseases are caused by an imbalance in Qi (chi) (Qi is a vital force of life that flows through the body) TCM treatment seeks to restore this balance through treatment specific to the individual TCM include Acupuncture, Acupressure, Moxibustion, Herbal medicine, etc 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 12  Chinese Traditional Medicine /2 Acupuncture: Involves the insertion of very thin needles through the skin at strategic points on the skin It is based on the concept that the blockage or disturbance in the flow of the body’s life energy or qi (chi) can cause illness 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 13  Chinese Traditional Medicine /3 Acupuncture /2 Calms the mind and nervous system, and increases circulation of oxygen and nutrients needed for healing of the particular situation It is most commonly used for the treatment of conditions such as allergies, chronic pain, hypertension, stroke, stress relief, etc 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 14  Chinese Traditional Medicine /4 Moxibustion: A form of heat therapy that involves the combustion of the dried leaves of the plant Folium Artemisiae (commonly known as moxa or mugwort) 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 15  Chinese Traditional Medicine /5 Moxibustion /2: The moxa or mugwort herb is burnt close to the surface of the skin Its aim is to stimulate the flow of qi (the body’s vital energy), and remove toxins from the body 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 16  Chinese Traditional Medicine /6 Moxibustion /3: An increase in the circulation of qi can help the body deal with a broad range of conditions Moxibustion is used to treat chronic pain, arthritis, headaches, migraines, muscle stiffness 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 17  Chinese Traditional Medicine /7 Acupressure: Acupressure involves exerting pressure on certain points (acupoints or pressure points) on the body It helps alleviate pain, improve quality of sleep, and provide other health benefits 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 18  Chinese Traditional Medicine /8 Acupressure /2: Pressure is applied by use of the fingers, palms, elbows or feet or special devices, to acupoints on the body’s meridians (channels in the body) 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 19  Indian Traditional Medicine Ayurveda It is a 5000-year-old medical system that uses natural and holistic approaches to keeping mind, body, and spirit healthy Ayurveda is derived from the words “ayur” (life) and “veda” (science or knowledge), thus, ayurveda means knowledge of life It is a system of medicine based on the idea that disease is caused by an imbalance or stress in a person’s consciousness 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 20  Indian Traditional Medicine /2 Ayurveda /2: Based on this idea of disease causation, ayurveda encourages certain lifestyle interventions and natural therapies to regain a balance between the body, mind, spirit, and the environment The treatment starts with an internal purification process: following a specific diet, fasting, drinking more water, use of supplements, use of colonic irrigation, enemas, or laxatives, reducing exposure to toxins in the environment) special diet, herbal remedies, massage therapy, yoga, and meditation. 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 21  African traditional medicine African traditional medicine is a form of holistic health care system organized into three levels of specialty; namely divination, spiritualism, and herbalism It was the main medical system used by Africans prior to the emergence of orthodox medicine It is estimated that about 80% of Africans still rely on traditional medicine for their primary health care needs The categories of African traditional medicine include herbalists, diviners,, traditional birth attendants, priest healers, and traditional surgeons 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 22  The categories of African traditional medicine practitioners Herbalists (general medicine men) They have extensive knowledge and experience in the medicinal properties of various herbs They prepare various medicines with plants, roots, barks, leaves, flowers, seeds, fruits, and parts or the whole of animals 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 23  The categories of African traditional medicine practitioners /2 Herbalists (general medicine men) /2 The herbalists prepare and offer medicines in various forms: e.g. powders that the patients can either mix with foodstuff or drink, mixed with native soap, and used for bathing, usually against skin diseases, or rubbed the powder into cuts made with a sharp knife on any part of the body 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 24  The categories of African traditional medicine practitioners /3 Herbalists (general medicine men) /3 The plants are also chopped and soaked for some time either in water or in local gin or boiled in water and then left to cool 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 25  Categories of African traditional medicine practitioners /4 Diviners They use supernatural or magical means to identify the causes of diseases They treat diseases by prescribing sacrificial remedies where necessary 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 26  Categories of African traditional medicine practitioners /5 Traditional psychiatrists They specialize in the treatment of mental problems They combine strategies herbs, and chaining, confinement, manipulation of spiritual forces (exorcism) to treat the patients with mental disorders 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 27  Categories of African traditional medicine practitioners /6 Traditional Surgeons and Bonesetters: They perform various procedures, including incising and draining abscesses, and circumcisions ,They also fixing fractures and dislocations They apply herbs to the site of the fracture, pull the broken bones into alignment and immobilise 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 28  Categories of African traditional medicine practitioners /7 Traditional birth attendants TBAs assist with the delivery of babies The members are predominantly women Their other roles include caring for the women during pregnancy, labour, and post- natal periods, and advising on nutrition They massage pregnant women, putting their foetuses in the proper place to ensure safe delivery 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 29  Categories of African traditional medicine practitioners /8 Priest Healers: They prescribe herbal medicine, and offer sacrifices and prayers on behalf of individuals, and even the community in times of need (illness, calamities - drought, famine and wars) The function as priests, and healers 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 30  Origins of Traditional Medicine in Ghana The indigenous people of the Gold Coast (Ghana) practised traditional medicine prior to the introduction of orthodox medicine into the country by the colonial government in the year 1844 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 31  Traditional medicine in Ghana Just like African traditional medicine, traditional medicine in Ghana involves the use of plants (roots, bark, leaves, fruits, seeds, flowers, herbs), fungi, animals or other components of nature (minerals, rocks etc.) as well as faith/spiritual healing practices for therapeutic reasons 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 32  Forms of traditional medicine in Ghana Traditional medicine exists in various forms e.g. concoctions, tinctures, infusion or inhalation, ointments, faith/spiritual healing strategies etc. 1. Concoctions: involve boiling of plants in water for the liquid to be strained, and the patient is made to take it either warm or cold 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 33  Forms of traditional medicine in Ghana /2 2. Tinctures: involves the soaking of herbs in alcohol for the patient's consumption This kind of medication is popularly referred to as "bitters" 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 34  Forms of traditional medicine in Ghana /3 3. Infusion or inhalation: the addition of the herbs to boiling water and leaving it to infuse the patient A cloth is normally used to cover the patient, so that the vapour from the concoction pass through the pores of the skin into the patient’s body, or is inhaled by the patient 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 35  Forms of traditional medicine in Ghana /4 4. Ointments: The herbs are prepared into a powder, the powder is mixed with oils such as palm kernel oil or shear butter The mixture is then strained and cooled, and applied on the skin The ointment is applied over the affected part of the body, or is used as a pomade The ointments could also be used for protection against evil people or evil spirits 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 36  Forms of traditional medicine in Ghana /5 5. Faith/spiritual healing: Use of prayers (traditional and or christian) to God, gods/deities, deliverance sessions, exorcism, sacrifices etc. 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 37  Forms of traditional medicine in Ghana /6 5. Faith/spiritual healing /2 Prayers, deliverance, exorcism etc. 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 38  Forms of traditional medicine in Ghana /7 5. Faith/spiritual healing /3: Wearing of amulets or talismans for protection, healing, prevention 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 39  Forms of traditional medicine in Ghana /8 Bone setting 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 40  Evolution of herbal medicine preparations 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 41  Evolution of herbal medicine preparations /2 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 42  Incidence of traditional medicine usage in Ghana Traditional medicine is widely utilised in Ghana; an estimated 60% to 70% of the population depend directly on traditional medicine for their primary health care Traditional medicine serves as the first line of healthcare among most Ghanaians 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 43  Incidence of traditional medicine usage in Ghana /2 Traditional medicine is used concurrently with orthodox medicine 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 44  Incidence of traditional medicine usage in Ghana /3 Most Ghanaians use traditional medicine concurrently with orthodox medicine 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 45  Incidence of traditional medicine usage in Ghana /4 Most Ghanaians use traditional medicine concurrently with orthodox medicine 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 46  Incidence of traditional medicine usage in Ghana /5 Reasons for increased traditional medicine usage in Ghana 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 47  Incidence of traditional medicine usage in Ghana /6 Reasons for increased traditional medicine usage in Ghana Availability or ease of accessibility Affordability / cost-effectivenes (Cheaper compared to orthodox medicine) Traditional knowledge Increased advertisement 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 48  Incidence of traditional medicine usage in Ghana /7 Are there challenges associated with traditional medicine usage? 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 49  Challenges associated with traditional medicine usage in Ghana Proneness to inaccuracies in diagnosis Lack of formal education and professional training for some of the practitioners Lack of quality standards and quality control Lack of documentation and health records 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 50  Challenges associated with traditional medicine usage in Ghana /2 Superstition and the supernatural aetiology of diseases Lack of registration of herbal medicines Non certification of practitioners Lack of clinical trials to confirm safety and efficacy Scientific research and development 21/08/2024 Christian Yekple, PhD 51