Traditional African medicine is not just an old pastime that
people used to use before they had access to western medicine. People still travel throughout the Kabale
region to visit the local traditional healer and today, our group was granted
the opportunity to visit him, learn about his practice, and ask questions. The traditional healing that he practices
stretches back through generations. The
healer that we met today introduced us to many of the herbs and remedies that
he uses in his small hut to heal the patients that seek his help.
The healer has lived in his current hut for the past 72
years.
To get there, we drove to Uganda’s
deepest lake and traveled by boat for 30 minutes until we finally arrived at
the island that he, his three wives, and 18 children resided on.
Situated on bright green terrain, this
island’s hills were covered with rows of organically grown vegetables and
endless vines of what I can only imagine are delicious squash.
When we arrived at the island, the
grandchildren of the healer pulled our boat up to land and handed us their
walking sticks to get up the steep hill.
They led us to the home of the healer, with its flooring covered with
the traditional grass carpeting that they save for special guests and
visitors.
The healer donned three
different animal skin pelts that were made and worn by his ancestors and are used
socially to signify the importance of the healer.
The title of traditional healer and the “powers” that he and
his predecessors were given to them by the gods and deities that their tribes
believe in.
Each healer undergoes a life
altering event that signifies to them, and their community, that they are
chosen to carry on the work of the man or woman before him.
Despite having only one official predecessor,
the healer takes it upon himself to teach many of his children and
grandchildren the purposes of each of the herbs that he grows, collects, and
dries.
He teaches them all about the
different ways that spirits can bring bad health to a family.
He prescribes remedies for many different
complaints including allergic reactions, long-lasting hiccups, nosebleeds,
generational curses, decreased sexual libido, and difficulty finding love.
He uses thorn apple seeds as a sedative
for patients who are in a deranged, rabid mental state so that the people can
safely transport them to the hospital.
His
wives are even actively involved in their ancient, traditional form of medicine
by acting as the local birth attendants for many women in the area.
They explained their process of “family
planning” consisting of tying the umbilical cord of a woman that has recently
given birth and hanging it above the doorway to her home so as to close off
their uterus and restrict their fertility.
Similar to a tubal ligation, this fertility can be restored by simply
taking down the umbilical cord and untying it.
My
favorite part of our visit was when he pulled his cell phone out of his pocket
to check it.
- Nicole
Header photo: Our CFHI student group with the Traditional Healer, his wife (left), and grandchildren.
Below: The healer posing with his assortment of herbs and love potion remedies. On the floor is a "carpet" of multiple layers of soft grass that the family puts down for special guests who come to visit their home.
Below: The healer's (very helpful) grandchildren posing for a photo at the top of the island.
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