The medicinal use of some weeds, problem and alien plants in the Grahamstown and Peddie districts of the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Dold, Anthony P, Cocks, Michelle L
- Authors: Dold, Anthony P , Cocks, Michelle L
- Date: 2000
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6514 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005942
- Description: A List of 33 medicinal plants of exotic or indigenous origin, listed as problem plants or declared weeds, is presented. The cultural uses of these plants should be taken into account when weed legislation in South Africa is considered. Of these species, six have no previous medicinal uses recorded in the literature surveyed and 21 species have additional, previously unrecorded uses. Nine previously unrecorded Xhosa names for plants are documented. Plant use categories and indigenous knowledge is discussed regarding the recorded species. The use of alien plants shows that African traditional healing is not static, but dynamic and adaptive.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2000
- Authors: Dold, Anthony P , Cocks, Michelle L
- Date: 2000
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6514 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005942
- Description: A List of 33 medicinal plants of exotic or indigenous origin, listed as problem plants or declared weeds, is presented. The cultural uses of these plants should be taken into account when weed legislation in South Africa is considered. Of these species, six have no previous medicinal uses recorded in the literature surveyed and 21 species have additional, previously unrecorded uses. Nine previously unrecorded Xhosa names for plants are documented. Plant use categories and indigenous knowledge is discussed regarding the recorded species. The use of alien plants shows that African traditional healing is not static, but dynamic and adaptive.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2000
The role of ‘African Chemists’ in the health care system of the Eastern Cape province of South Africa
- Cocks, Michelle L, Dold, Anthony P
- Authors: Cocks, Michelle L , Dold, Anthony P
- Date: 2000
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:7105 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1010675
- Description: Self-medication is documented as an integral part of health care therapy in developing countries such as Ethiopia, Cameroon, Uganda and Mexico. In South Africa the types of illnesses and health problems that are referred to both traditional healers and biomedical practices have been well documented. However, very little literature exists on self-diagnosis, self-medication or sources of the medicines used for self-medication. This bias in the literature has come about largely because anthropological studies have focused on the later stages of the illness referral system when treatment is sought from a specialist for symptoms which have not responded to forms of self-medication. As a result of this, health care studies have documented the more exceptional exotic healing rituals and culturally bound syndromes of a particular society or community, and not discussed the more ordinary practices of self-medication of everyday illness. Self-medication is however an important initial response to illness and many illnesses are successfully managed at this stage. Amayeza stores (singular-iyeza store) — or ‘African chemists’ — are an important source of medicines for self-diagnosed illnesses. The current discussion focuses on the types of medicines and treatments that are obtained from amayeza stores without professional consultation in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2000
- Authors: Cocks, Michelle L , Dold, Anthony P
- Date: 2000
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:7105 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1010675
- Description: Self-medication is documented as an integral part of health care therapy in developing countries such as Ethiopia, Cameroon, Uganda and Mexico. In South Africa the types of illnesses and health problems that are referred to both traditional healers and biomedical practices have been well documented. However, very little literature exists on self-diagnosis, self-medication or sources of the medicines used for self-medication. This bias in the literature has come about largely because anthropological studies have focused on the later stages of the illness referral system when treatment is sought from a specialist for symptoms which have not responded to forms of self-medication. As a result of this, health care studies have documented the more exceptional exotic healing rituals and culturally bound syndromes of a particular society or community, and not discussed the more ordinary practices of self-medication of everyday illness. Self-medication is however an important initial response to illness and many illnesses are successfully managed at this stage. Amayeza stores (singular-iyeza store) — or ‘African chemists’ — are an important source of medicines for self-diagnosed illnesses. The current discussion focuses on the types of medicines and treatments that are obtained from amayeza stores without professional consultation in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2000
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