Blessed with diverse climatic zones, Ethiopia is home to abundant biodiversity across its altitudinal difference ranging from elevated mountains to vast arid plains. Such climatic difference has also made the country botanic garden of numerous herbs. Ethiopians have a reputation in using herbs as a traditional treatment.
It is impossible to pinpoint the birth of medicine in Ethiopia, but certainly, the evolution of curative practices closely follows the path of disease. Traditional medical practitioners mostly implement herbs, spiritual healing, bone-setting and minor surgical procedures in treating disease.
Ethiopian traditional medicine is vastly complex and diverse and varies greatly among different ethnic groups. According to a study by Bishaw M, most traditional medical practices in Ethiopia rely on an explanation of disease that draws on both the “mystical” and “natural” causes of illness and employ a holistic approach to treatment.
Pankhurst R. noted that under the rule of Menelik (1865-1913), Western medicine became significantly more incorporated into the Ethiopian medical system. Numerous medical envoys from abroad, starting with the Italians and Russians, were influential in building hospitals, providing medical training and participating in vaccination campaigns. However, most medical establishments primarily served the urban elites and foreign missionaries and were concentrated in the major cities.
Despite Western medicine becoming more widespread in Ethiopia, Kassaye K.D’s paper showed Ethiopians tend to rely more on traditional medicine. Conventional medical services remain concentrated in urban areas and have failed to keep pace with the growing population, keeping health care access out of reach for most Ethiopians living in Ethiopia. Because traditional medicine is culturally entrenched, accessible, and affordable, up to 80% of the Ethiopian population relies on traditional remedies as a primary source of health care.
Moreover, according to another study, Western medicine has become more focused on preventative measures and people seeking curative practices still rely on indigenous medicine as the primary source for health care. The influence of traditional medicine is also seen in Ethiopian migrant populations. In countries with substantial Ethiopian immigrant populations, traditional herbs, medical devices, and practitioners are readily available.
Many herbal substances that are used in Ethiopian traditional medicine are also used as ingredients and spices in Ethiopian food. Consumption of these herbs and spices as part of a normal diet is not likely to cause adverse herb-drug interactions because they are consumed in relatively small quantities.
However, when these herbs and spices are utilized for medicinal purposes there may be an increased likelihood of adverse interactions with conventional medicines. There are several classes of medications that are at a higher risk for adverse herb-drug interactions, including anti-arrhythmic, anti-seizure, anti-diabetic, and anti-coagulant medication.
Health care providers are particularly attuned to these interactions because these drugs are typically monitored with serum levels and serum markers (e.g., warfarin, digoxin). The risk is increased because of the chemical composition of these medicines and because they treat some of the most common illnesses in the Ethiopian immigrant population according to the personal interview of Jackson JC with Medical Director of International Health Clinic on in 2008.
Ethiopian patients who use traditional medicine and do not inform their health care providers may do this for several reasons. They may be self-treating an unrelated illness and do not think that it is significant. For instance, a widespread Ethiopian remedy for the common cold involves the consumption of large quantities of garlic and ginger, which has the potential to interact with anti-coagulant, hypoglycemic, and cholesterol-lowering medications.
Patients may feel that they will be judged by their physicians if they disclose their use of traditional medicine as to Shenkute Z’s Personal interview with HMC Pharmacy Services pharmacist on the topic of Ethiopian traditional medicine use in immigrant patients.
Cultural differences in understanding and treating symptoms of illnesses may contribute to patients feeling misunderstood by their health care providers and being more likely to seek satisfactory treatment in the form of traditional medicine according to a journal by Hodes R.
The Ethiopian Herald February 20/2020
BY LAKACHEW ATINAFU
