Benefits of Documentation of Indigenous Health Knowledge

According to Masango & Mbarika (2015:47), it was discovered in the United States of America in 1990 that out of 198 approved conventional drugs released for sale to the public from 1976 to 1985, 102 had serious side effects and had to be taken off the market and labelled as dangerous. Had such drugs not been documented, it would be very difficult for the authorities to take action, hence documentation is of vital importance. According to Clement et al. (2006:109), one of the reasons for consumers to turn to CAM is to avoid the side effects of some conventional medical drugs. Wong (2013) opines that it was reported that the hoodia plant used by San Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert for weight loss had limited side effects as compared to conventional diet pills. Other herbal products need further investigation. Had there been no recording and documentation, such knowledge would have been unknown to the general public and the users. This adds value to the benefits of documentation once the health knowledge of Vhomaine is documented. This supports the IKS Policy (2004) that has been

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prescribed by the government in ensuring that documentation and recording is the only possible solution for the preservation of indigenous health knowledge, while on the other hand protecting the vulnerable and the poorest of the poor who rely on the practices of Vhomaine for their health purposes and needs.

According to Phondani, et al. (2010:195), aged individuals, especially in remote areas who have more knowledge of and experience about CAM, only transmit such knowledge from one generation to another by word of mouth as stated by the IKS Policy (2004). Lewis (2009:1) maintains that knowledge and experience of old people in remote areas on CAM is fortified because these people are knowledgeable of the culture, the local languages and local tradition. This may suggest that when such knowledge and practices of Vhomaine are documented, their culture and tradition need to be taken into account. This augments the reason for documenting health knowledge of the knowledge holders and practitioners. Okello et al. (2010:1-9) posit that the oral transmission of CAM by old people may be detrimental to its existence as the passing down of customs from generation to generation is in imminent danger of disappearance as this knowledge is without written records, and the old age healers are dying, hence, the passing away of these old people with their knowledge may be problematic if the knowledge is not documented or recorded.

The aforementioned view is supported by Weldegerima (2009:400) who opines that old people are the keepers of CAM of generations as the plants they utilize in their practice are the storeroom of potential medicines. Old and indigenous health practitioners were both healers and pharmacists. With no written instructions, they were in the position to dispense medication after diagnosis for treatment. The mechanisms for recording and documentation need to be researched and documented for future use. Although the benefits of documentation of the practices of Vhomaine cannot be undermined, the question is how possible does the information that is said to be from the ancestors and ancestral spirits could be documented. This becomes more difficult when such knowledge is acquired through dreams and seeing visions while Vhomaine are in trance –like state. This may suggest that only Vhomaine could advice as to how this

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knowledge could be documented for future use. Without collaboration of the Euro-West and Vhomaine based on mutual understanding, the preservation of the practices of Vhomaine will never be possible. If Vhomaine are still undermined it will not be possible.

There is a need to understand the concept of preservation. The researcher thinks therefore that such does not necessarily mean written down. The practices were there since time immemorial, how were they preserved?

According to Phondani, et al. (2010:195), most CAM are unique and are often known to a few persons and communities and some CAM products are on the brink of extinction due to over exploitation. Okello et al. (2010:1) aver that overgrazing and exploitation of plant resources have already led to a decline of medicinal plants available. Okigbo et al.

(2008:128) maintain that due to deforestation, several medicinal plants and other generic materials were destroyed before they could be documented. This suggests that all available strategies that will assist in arousing interest for the indigenous health knowledge holders and practitioners need to be explored and investigated. This may also bring the advocacy of green economy and the dangers of global warming to protect our natural resources.

According to Kasilo & Trapsida (2010:25), CAM should be documented because it is a major source of health care for about 80% of the population in rural settings because of its cultural acceptability, affordability and accessibility as proposed by the IKS Policy (2004). This notion is supported by Odhiambo et al. (2010:53) who concur that about 80% of rural masses in Africa use traditional medicine, mostly plant preparations for their primary health care. Lewis (2009:1) maintains that mostly, rural people rely on traditional healers as they are the health labour resource. These findings are further supported by Galabuzu et al. (2010:12) who opine that majority of African people in rural settings rely on herbal medicines for treating a variety of diseases due to a high cost of conventional medicines and the inaccessibility of modern health care facilities in most areas. Because the study area is Vhembe which is entirely rural, the methods and practices of the indigenous health knowledge practitioners (Vhomaine) need to be documented for future use and referrals. As the rural people are also migrating to the

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suburbs and the townships, their reliability to traditional medicine cannot be underestimated. In Africa, the migrants who move to the townships still need help from their parents who rely on traditional medicine and traditional healers or Vhomaine.

Masango & Mbarika (2015:48) avow that another reason that calls for the documentation and promotion of CAM is its ability to cure chronic health problems. They purport that CAM can be promoted through recording and documentation as it will make more people aware of it and enable them to exercise more control over their care other than what conventional medicines allow. There is no problem for documenting the use of herbs as practiced by Vhomaine who are herbalists, the problem is encountered when it comes to Vhomaine who are the diviners. How do Vhomaine who are the diviners document the secret health knowledge from the ancestors. This needs further investigation from Vhomaine who are practitioners in this field. Gilbert (2004:547) and Okigbo et al. (2008:218) affirm that the demand for and recognition of CAM by majority of the populace of Africa and beyond is another reason why CAM should be documented. Yes, CAM can be documented, but what about the practitioners who are Vhomaine, the diviners? How to document their CAM knowledge relating to their practices? Are they willing to share what they have dreamed and the visions they saw?

These are the challenges that need to be resolved maybe before an attempt for documentation is undertaken.

Masango, et al. (2012:3) argue that another reason for documenting CAM is its cost effectiveness. According to Ventegodt et al. (2009:243), CAM was found to be 100 times cost effective than pharmaceutical drugs for most clinical conditions. Aburahma et al. (2010:117) argue that CAM is generally perceived as less invasive and safer than conventional medicine. Furthermore, according to Weldegerima (2009:401), another reason for documenting CAM is to generate income for local communities. From the knowledge that comes from the ancestors to a chosen individual, how possible would then the community benefit? Magoro (2008:45) maintains that THPs are unable to find medicinal plants within their surroundings and many traditional medicinal plants are under threat of over exploitation and extinction where they used to be found, and this

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compounds the reason for further investigation on documentation strategies of Vhomaine. It also compounds the avoidance of deforestation of medicinal plants.