Traditional Healing in the Western Cape
Traditional healing has been shaped over many centuries. Discover how ancient knowledge and practices are preserved for generations and evolve through innovation.
Plants and Traditional Healing (2019) by Kgara Kevin Rack, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsDepartment of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Museum Service
Understanding traditional healing
Traditional healing practices and medicines are the oldest and possibly most varied of all therapeutic systems. Traditional healers offer people personal treatment, information and counseling while often having an understanding of their environment and lived experiences.
“Being a bossiedokter [‘bush doctor’] is not just about taking that bunch of herbs and selling it to the next person. It is about the connection between you, the healing powers of the herbs and the person wanting healing or knowledge. So, it is more a connection of [the] three…” Rastafarian Elder Neville (as quoted by the Sustainable Livelihoods Foundation).
“No one wakes up in the morning and suddenly gets initiated to become a traditional healer because it’s fashionable or because they are bored. Some of us have lost a lot during this journey: we have lost jobs, children, family members, and some are going through divorces because of the spiritual calling. It’s important to respect ubungoma [the gift of healing] as the gift that was given to you by your ancestors, to help people,” Tshegofatso Ngobeni, a traditional healer, whose ancestral name is Gogo Muhlavasi (as quoted by Health-e News).
Traditional Healing Practitioners (2017) by Mavis SmalbergDepartment of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Museum Service
Healing and spirituality
There are different kinds of traditional healers who perform different functions, including herbalists, diviners, faith healers and traditional mid-wives who use medicinal plants to provide pre- and post-natal care and to assist women during birth.
In many rural areas, medicinal plants prescribed by traditional healers remain the most affordable and accessible, if not the only, healthcare options available to local communities. Older people are often the carriers of knowledge about medicinal plants, which has been passed down over many generations. Their traditional medicines are used to treat their own families and other community members.
Traditional healing
Traditional healing has been used for centuries to improve well-being and has always incorporated cultural and religious beliefs. It not only addresses physical illnesses, but also focuses on psychological, spiritual, and social healing. Traditional healers are known as “dī-aob/s” and “#uru#uru- aob/s” (Khoekhoegowab) “ixhwele” and “igqira” (isiXhosa), “inyanga” and “isangoma” (Zulu), or “bossiedokter” (bush doctor) and “kruiedokter” (Western and Northern Cape).
“African spirituality allows a chain of communication between God, our ancestors, nature and the cosmos. When we are out of balance with any of these, the effects manifest themselves physically or mentally through illness or spiritual imbalances,” Philasande Mzamo, a traditional healer whose ancestral name is Bhekintaba, meaning custodian of the mountains (as quoted by Health-e News).
Colonists and Indigenous Traditional Medicines (2017) by Luc Ramsden, Museum ServiceDepartment of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Museum Service
Colonists and indigenous traditional medicines
Dutch colonists adopted indigenous traditional medicines after learning about them from local people. As more towns and chemists were established, commercial remedies known as Cape Dutch Medicine became more common. These have never replaced traditional medicine but instead supplemented it.
Traditional healing practiced by the enslaved
Enslaved people brought to the Cape as forced labour had their own traditional healing practices and medicines. Some of these traditional healing practices from South and South East Asia as well as East and West Africa were adopted by local people and colonists over time.
Preparation and use of traditional medicine
Medicinal plants are the most commonly used traditional medicine throughout Africa. They are often also the preferred treatment of the patients/clients of traditional healers. Plant-based medicines are made from roots, bulbs, bark, leaves, stems, flowers, fruits, seeds, gum, and nectar. Some plants are only used fresh while many are dried and stored.
Traditional Healing Practices (2017) by Kgara Kevin Rack, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsDepartment of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Museum Service
Traditional healing practices
San, Khoekhoe, and Xhosa healers have used a variety of medicines made from plant and animal parts in combination with spiritual practices, like trance and communicating with the ancestors, to treat physical and other ailments. Over time these different cultures shared their knowledge and adopted aspects of each other’s healing practices.
“San shamans [healers] known as !gi:ten in /Xam use coloured ladders or threads of light to climb up to the journey [of the] first creation to heal the sick and make rain. We climb these ladders, only the strongest and most potent healers, men or women, are able to pull… disease out of patients,” Piet Berendse, San ‘bossiedokter’ (‘bush doctor’ or traditional healer as quoted by Kgara Kevin Rack).
Threats to Medicinal Plants (2015) by Abu ShawkaDepartment of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Museum Service
Threats to medicinal plants
Threats to indigenous traditional medicine include habitat destruction through environmentally insensitive development, climate change, and over-harvesting. There are various formal and informal conservation efforts to counter this, including traditional healers teaching others their knowledge of how to harvest medicinal plants sustainably.
Indigenous Knowledge (2019) by Kgara Kevin RackDepartment of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Museum Service
Indigenous knowledge
Indigenous knowledge about medicinal plants and traditional healing practices are vulnerable to exploitation through bio-piracy. The Protection, Promotion, Development and Management of Indigenous Knowledge Act of 2019 serves as legislative protection against this. Traditional healers preserve indigenous healing by sharing their knowledge, and through reviving and teaching its practices and customs.
COVID-19 (2018) by JMKDepartment of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Museum Service
COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has increased awareness of the potential value of traditional plant-based medicines. Traditional healers experienced an increased demand for umhlonyane (Artimesia afra), and other medicinal plants used for steaming as part of the traditional treatment of those battling the virus.
Umhlonyane (Xh. & Zulu) is known as African wormwood (Eng.) als, alsem, wildeals, bitterals or alsemkruid (Afr.) and lengana (Sotho and Tswana). It is one of the oldest and best-known traditional medicines and has been used by generations of traditional healers. On African Traditional Medicine Day – held annually on 31 Aug - Dr Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, reported that promising traditional medicine therapies are emerging as part of the COVID-19 response.
“Investing more in research and development will contribute to harnessing homegrown solutions to improve wellbeing on the [African] continent, and in other parts of the world,” Dr Matshidiso Moeti.
“During level 5 [hard lockdown], all rivers, beaches, and parks were closed to the public – this meant that we were not able to work or perform our rituals and ceremonies. It also meant that hunting for our medicine and herbs became impossible. We couldn’t even see our patients in the indumba (traditional healer’s sacred room) due to the restriction…” Gogo Muhlavasi (as quoted by Health-e News).
Innovation During a Challenging Time (2017) by Mavis SmalbergDepartment of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Museum Service
Innovation during a challenging time
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the livelihoods of traditional healers. Their clients’ access to their services and remedies were also negatively affected. This led to some innovative solutions to these challenges. Some traditional healers began doing online or telephonic consultations with clients.
Clients now receive their respiratory teas – for which demand increased – and other remedies via courier services. An online database for traditional healers was launched during lockdown. Clients can now search for traditional healing services in their area at GogoOnline.
“Traditional medicine has been used for centuries to improve well-being and it continues to play a central role in health care. It [continues to draw] on the continent’s rich and unique biodiversity of aromatic and medicinal plants. It is also a promising industry that African countries can do more to export internationally,” Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa
The Future of Traditional Healing (2017) by Luc RamsdenDepartment of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Museum Service
The future of traditional healing
Traditional healers continue to make a significant contribution to the South African healthcare system as their services and remedies are used by 60% to 80% of South Africans. Traditional medicinal products and services are currently covered by partial healthcare insurance.
However, more official recognition is needed to safeguard knowledge of traditional healing and its remedies for future generations as well as to fully integrate it into the national healthcare system when it has such a crucial role in the physical and mental wellbeing of so many South Africans. More research support is also needed to ensure that the full potential of traditional medicine and healing is unlocked, which could be to the benefit of people everywhere.
“As herbalists, we need to be afforded the same opportunity as Western doctors to come up with cures for illnesses,” Keagile Malatji, known as Gogo Kamo (as quoted by Health-e News).
Traditional healing remains a living and evolving practice in the Western Cape. Rooted in generations of indigenous knowledge, it continues to support the physical, emotional and spiritual well-being of many communities. As medicinal plants and healing traditions face pressures from environmental change and the loss of traditional knowledge, their preservation becomes increasingly important. Protecting this heritage will help ensure these practices endure for future generations.
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