True Traditional health practitioners in South Africa

The traditional South African practitioner culturally still plays an important role in 70 percent of patient's in South Africa especially through the use of Traditional Surgeons.

True Traditional health practitioners in South Africa Explained

A traditional South African practitioner, also known as a sangoma or inyanga, is a practitioner of traditional African medicine in South Africa. These healers are highly respected members of their communities and are believed to have the ability to communicate with the spiritual world to provide healing and guidance to their clients.

Sangomas are known for their use of traditional herbs, rituals, and divination techniques to diagnose and treat physical and spiritual illnesses. They are also believed to have the ability to connect with ancestral spirits, who can provide wisdom and guidance to the living.

Inyanga, on the other hand, specialize in herbal medicine and are known to prescribe various plant-based remedies to their patients. They may also use divination methods to diagnose illnesses and determine the most effective course of treatment.

Traditional South African practitioner are an important part of the country's cultural heritage and are recognized by the government as important contributors to the health and well-being of their communities.

Men and women take up the Traditional practitioners profession after a long training period. The Traditional Healer may act as a therapist for issues of health, luck, love, dreams, sexual problems, or business ventures.

Traditional healing African techniques, principles, theories, ideologies, beliefs, opinions and customs and uses of medicines come from the ancestors.

They all carry on their persons charms of numerous kinds to have power over the demons of disease. Some Traditional Healers use good magic as a cure because they believe that illnesses including psychological issues have supernatural origins. South Africa's Traditional Health Practitioners Act, 2007 established accredited Traditional Healing institutions, certifies Traditional Healers.

A true healer cannot take part in any action that can harm or negatively influence another person and believes God has the ultimate power, it is a spiritual calling. Traditional healing is linked to wider belief systems and remains integral to the lives of most Africans. People consult Traditional Healers whether or not they can afford medical services.

Definition of Traditional Health Practices.

Traditional health practice means the performance of a function, activity, process or service based on a traditional philosophy that includes the utilization of traditional medicine or traditional practice by the maintenance or restoration of physical or mental health or function, the diagnosis, treatment or prevention of a physical or mental illness, the rehabilitation of a person to enable that person to resume normal functioning within the family or community, the physical or mental preparation of an individual for puberty, adulthood, pregnancy, childbirth and death.

Traditional health practitioner in South Africa

Categories of Traditional health practitioners in South Africa.

Traditional practitioner medicine - an object or substance used in traditional health practice for the diagnosis, treatment or prevention of a physical or mental illness or any medicinal or therapeutic purpose, including the maintenance or restoration of physical or mental health or well-being in human beings.

Subcategories of Traditional Medicine are:

Igqira elokuqubula—Massage therapist Traditional Healer

Igqira elokuqapula—Traditional Healer who vaccinates

Traditional healing philosophy- indigenous African techniques, principles, theories, ideologies, beliefs, opinions and customs and uses of traditional medicines communicated from ancestors to descendants or from generations to generations, with or without written documentation, whether supported by science or not, and which are generally used in traditional health practice.

Subcategories of Traditional philosophy are:

Igqira elemiciza—Traditional healer of herbs.

Isanuse—Traditional Healer Diviner of secrets.

Igqira elemishologu—Spiritual Traditional Healer

Igqira eliligogo—Traditional Healer who can see into the future

Igqira elamatambo—Traditional Healer who uses bones

Igqira elilicamagu—Traditional Healer faith healer

Traditional healing surgeon- healthcare practitioner at registered initiation schools who performs the circumcisions and other cultural practices.

The practices of traditional African healing are rooted in the techniques, principles, theories, ideologies, beliefs, opinions, and customs passed down from ancestors. Traditional African healing involves using medicines and healing practices that have been used for generations, often passed down through oral traditions and cultural practices.

The principles of traditional African healing are deeply rooted in the belief that all aspects of life are interconnected, and that the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of an individual must be balanced in order to achieve overall health. Traditional African healing practices incorporate the use of natural remedies, such as herbs, roots, and barks, as well as spiritual practices, such as prayer, meditation, and ritual.

The use of traditional African healing practices varies across different regions and communities, reflecting the diversity of the African continent. Some practices, such as the use of herbal medicines, are common across many African cultures, while others are unique to specific communities.

Traditional African healing practices have faced challenges from modern Western medicine, which has often been seen as more advanced and effective. However, in recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of traditional African healing practices, particularly in the areas of mental health and holistic healing.

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