Natural Illnesses Research Paper

It has long been recognized that traditional healing practices exist side-by-side with modern medical practice. A significant proportion of people seek care from traditional and spiritual healers whom they consult for a range of medical problems. Those dissatisfied with the results of orthodox medicine often take themselves to traditional healers and a significant proportion of these have psychiatric disorders. Illnesses and other life events are classified as "natural" or "unnatural." Natural illnesses result from the effects of cold, dirt and improper diet on the body causing changes in the blood. A number of beliefs about blood and its functions have important clinical implications for the treatment of hypertension and venereal disease and …show more content…
In most instances it is believed that the fix or hex is administered in a victim 's food or drink, and it is often referred to as "poison." Snakes, frogs or lizards may be introduced into the body in the form of eggs or powder, which hatch or reconstitute themselves and take up their abode in a victim 's blood, stomach or head. The thought of eating or drinking something evil that can then literally exist in the body must be psychologically devastating. Many blacks who believe in witchcraft are very careful about where and with whom they eat, and in extreme cases may eat no one 's cooking but their own. Loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, food that does not taste right, diarrhea or "falling off" (weight loss, especially unexplained weight loss) -any sort of gastrointestinal problem that does not quickly respond to treatment-may be interpreted as unnatural, especially if there is conflict in a victim 's personal …show more content…
Nowadays it is accepted that only the modern medicine cannot solve all the health problems because the medical system is expensive, and it depends on the medical supplies and appliances from other countries, and these resulted the medical services to be limited especially to those who reside in the remote area. Since African countries are still developing and the majority of citizens are very poor, many African citizens cannot afford modern health care, despite its availability. In addition, after building hospital and clinic infrastructures, many countries found that they could not afford medical equipment and supplies or even their health care providers. Therefore, the predominant health care practice of most Africans still involves folk healers, native doctors, or cultural, magical, and religious ethnic healers. the ravage of poverty, drought, and disease and the shortage of Western doctors have unfortunately resulted in the continued use of folk healers in Africa. Many traditional healing practices, including those of Africans, involve the use of rituals. However, African folk healers are erroneously referred to as shamans or shamanic practitioners. Rather, these practitioners should be viewed as herbalistic, spiritual, and ritualistic