African Healing Modalities That should not be overlooked in the West

A guide by: L P. Magaya,Martin G Magaya & Piwai

Shona Mbira & other cultures, african botanicals and ancient grains.

Summary

● Introduction ○ Team

● Performance by Piwai ● Workplace induced Diseases● Health? Care?

● Practices

● The Sacred○ Culture○ Ancient Grains

● Medicinal Plants

● Conclusion

● Performance by Piwai

● Thanks

Team

Spirituality

The role of orishas, midzimu, indlovu, orthodox christianity, African belief systems, American Healthcare system

PRINCIPAL, BIOMINUKA

Laina

Traditional healing mbira performance live performance By Piwai

“The Bira”

@piwaiofficial

African

Botanicals

@martinsgreenacre

LECTURER, Belvedere Technical Teachers College (BTTC), HARARE, ZIMBABWE

● Father & daughter - Martin & Laina/Piwai

● Piwai - Grammy Awardee (Last Days of Oakland by Fantastic Negrito)● Martin- 35 years at BTTC (Zimbabwe) - Agriculturalist, Horticulturist ● Laina - 14 Biotechnology scientist (Molecular cloning/bioengineering & in

vitro infectious diseases diagnostics

● Back & front yard farming advocates ● Food as medicine● Gardens not concrete

Robert Heirendt found mbira to be

dramatically effective in treating patients

with autism or thought disorders such as

schizophrenia.

Piwai Mbira (Thumb Piano)

Nhemamusasa ● Let me teleport you

● If you are hurting i hope this

heals you

● If you have had trauma i hope

you find restoration

Photo by Juliana Cottrell as modelled by Piwai

Health? Care?Where is the care?

a black woman is 22 percent more likely to die from heart disease than a white woman,

71 percent more likely to perish from cervical cancer, but 243 percent more likely to die from pregnancy- or childbirth-related

causes

...givingcompass.org

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Your tiny mistakes are the crack of

doom where for your white female

counterpart, it is a ‘teaching

moment’.

Black Women have been

traumatized in the

workplace and it seems

wholly acceptable.

We are made to feel invisible.

Credit: The Work Life

Workplace induced Diseases

Why?

-My own professional experiences

-discrimination, racism, mistrust=ULTRA STRESS

-mental space

-exacerbated gastric ulcers, depression

-father is a wealth of knowledge on botanical & practices

urban backyard farming

Personal Traumas

Car accidents

Workplace induced mental trauma

Intergenerational trauma

Microaggressions

Macroaggressions

Fibroids & Endometriosis

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Prescription➔ Primary Care Physician “30

min of sun every day”

➔ Primary Care & OB/GYN“Eat Beef”

➔ Gastroenterologist“I need you smoke some weed”

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My “Care” Plan

● Reconnecting with my 100+ year old Great Grandmother

● Food

● Herbs

● Grains

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My “Care” Plan ---------- music

Practices Mindfulness-Based Music Therapy (MBMT)

Mindful drumming

Rhythm & Numbers

Doulas

Gardening /Backyard farming

Traditional healers

Bira/ancient healing music practices

The SacredKnowledge of one’s history is knowledge of self:-culture

-Ancestry/Genealogy/Haplotyping(23 & Me, African Ancestry, etc)

-paternity testing

-oral tradition

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Photo by Juliana Cottrell

Grains Rapoko/Sorghum/Mhunga/Teff/

sorghum/millet & more!!!

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Colonizers forbade &

now selling ancient grains for high $$$ at the likes whole foods

for a “whole paycheck”

Traditional healers serve many roles which include but not limited to

custodians of the traditional African religion and customs, educators about culture, counselors, social

workers and psychologists.-Mokgobi, M G. “Understanding traditional African healing.” African journal for physical health education, recreation, and dance vol. 20,Suppl 2 (2014): 24-34.

Many plant medicines recommended by traditional

healers are correct even when judged by modern scientific

methods.

-Gordon L. Chavunduka

There is a need for dialogue between the leaders of Christian churches and the leaders

of African countries.There is a need for dialogue between the leaders of Christian

churches and the leaders of African religionand medicine

Just as Politicians go to the pulpit during elections, why hasn’t the American healthcare system approached the pulpit cultural healing norms?

- Said no one

African Healing ModalitiesMedicinal Plants

Martin Gift Magaya

The source for the presentations are from various interactions with contacts with

farmers in different communities, practitioners of natural medicines and publications

by Zinatha gurus such as Professor G. Chavunduka.

The secret of these medicines is to get involved in their usage as exemplified in the Biblical Garden of Eden.

The plants under are common arable land “weeds” that are expensive to eradicate

through use of various herbicides that pollute water sources and kill living organisms in

soils. The food chain is under surge. Let’s remember Only One Earth. Sir D.

Attenborough.

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Cultivation of these plants for their medicinal value without genetic

engineering could be of great beneficial to farmers through sustainable land use.

Production and sale of these plants could benefit peasant farmers two

fold,the sale of main crops and the medicinal weeds. This is a personal

observation and view.

Farmers can produce these weeds at elevated levels for on farm value

addition or sale to drug manufacturers.

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Some of the overlooked Plants:

Black jack---Bidens pilosa---Tsine, Mhuuwu(Shona),Ucucuza,Um’hlabangubo (Ndebele)

Rapoko grass---Eleusine indica

Bobbin weed---Leucas martinicensis--- Nyamutumwa(Shona)

Fleabane---Conyza albida---Gonzo(Shona)

Pig weed---Amaranthus hybridus---Bonongwe (Shona)

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Black jack---Bidens pilosa---

Tsine, Guku, Muhuku, Mhuuwu(Shona),Ucucuza,Um’hlabangubo (Ndebele)

● Medicinal Uses: ● Cardiovascular health-boosts heart health has high fibre that minimises

high rate of disease.● Lowers cholesterol levels● Minimises belly fat (Visceral fat surrounding heart and liver)● Healthy digestion due to high fibre● Prevents digestive disorders● Fights Cancer --cells-combat cancer at all stages● Slows down cancer growth● Anti aging capabilities● Treats urinary infections and (STIs) Sexually Transmitted Infections.● Prevents ulcers● Reduces belly fats (pottie)● Prevents memory loss● Helps in subduing hypertension● Capable of stopping heart attacks● Prevents gout by increasing the efficiency of the kidneys to excrete uric

acid from blood.

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These weeds are used independently for effectiveness. Bidens pilosa is cooked and eaten as relish or fresh as salad when raw its sour.

Rapoko ---Eleusine indica--- (contd)

Rapoko grass, goose grass, crowsfoot grass Vernacular---Sawi, Mombe, Shawi, Gwezere, Rutsa, Saramombe (Shona) Umnyankomo (Ndebele)

Known to treat:

● Diabetes----the plant has antidiabetic properties that slow down effects of diabetes. Administer control through drinking its tea regularly

● Parasites----it has laxative properties that fight parasites in the body ● Urinary tract infections(UTIs)----drink boiled leaves of rapoko grass to cure UTIs● High blood pressure----boiled leaves and stem help balance and lower the risk of hypertension● Fever-----drinking boiled roots lowers fever● Sprain-----apply minced leaves on affected area.● Dandruff----mix minced leaves and stem of Rapoko grass in coconut oil. Use it as a shampoo. It’s used for hair growth

and also stops falling of hair.

Some of the known cured diseases are:

● Cancer-----antioxidants prevent the growth of cancer cell in the body-tea preparations from roots and leaves● Ovarian cyst and myoma-----Ovarian cancer can be treated by Eleusine indica teas.● Kidney ailments ----the plant increases the amount of water in the body and expels the salt as urine because of its

diuretic property● Arthritis----apply the heated leaves of the plant with scraped coconut on the affected area.● Wound bleeding----stops wound bleeding by applying the mixture to affected area.

Other Considerations:

● Combats cancer at all stages through slowing down growth and destroying cancer cells.● Contains Vitamin E fat soluble nutrients● Palatable if eaten cooked fresh, in peanut butter or in butter● Drinking health herbal tea from fresh leaves or even dried leaves or flowers.● Bidens pilosa grows naturally in most soils if its kept in its natural state without genetic manipulation then its healing

capabilities are kept intact.

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FLEABANE

--- Conyza albida---Fleabane, Gonzo (Shona)

● The weed Fleabane is found growing in arable lands giving lots trouble eradicating it. ● If grown commercially it would benefit great benefit to farmers as a cash crop.● Its used in various ways as: repellent for gnats and fleas

Leaves contain caffeic acid known to have antioxidant and neuroprotective properties.● It’s used for curing digestive ailments● Leaves are beneficial antioxidant assists in curbing obesity. ● It is an antimicrobial- astringent● External liniment for musculoskeletal problems like rheumatism and gout.● It active against hemorrhage● Assists in proper digestion● It can stop diarrhea● Helps in abetting loss of appetite● Does help in kidney and bladder problems● Solve menstrual issues ● Does aid in stopping postpartum bleeding● Stopping uterine hemorrhages● It lowers fevers.

People have been assisted in chronic diarrheas, gonorrhea and bronchitis

The Earthwise Herbal states that ‘very intense stimulant that increases the action of kidneys can stop the flow of excessive urine from kidneys.’

...Matthew Wood

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Strides made in usage of these plants have been overtaken by giant conglomerates for profit.

Bobbin Weed

---Leucas martinicensis ---Nyamatumwa (Shona)

● The plant grows in arable lands in competition with grown crop.● It is used as a repellent in mosquitoes prone areas

● It is used to treat wounds through burning up the plant then smear the ash on wounds.● Epilepsy is treated using leaf extract

● Treatment of a variety of skin rashes● Cholera has been controlled by the herb in some areas of Zimbabwe.

● Some use it for ulcer treatment

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Take Away● Honest collaborative research research involving indigenous natives in on a fair scale

is called for.● Advocacy for natural healing methodological practices for sustainability to be

practised bay all.● Consider natural herbs for mental health since there may very few side effects.● Respect the use of natural herbs by black women successfully over centuries.● Natural herbs improves the health of blackmen in cases of reproductive issues such as

potency.● Drums-Mbira- Herbs are useful in appeasement, consultation with traditional healers

and believers, lets promote natural sciences.● Peer reviews of scripts have often frustrated scientific developmental advancement,● Peer reviews often create a great wall between the West and mighty Africa by

pretending to ignore gains made behind closed doors but shield stolen ideas through crafted patent laws and regulations.

● Respect of the “indigenes” is of paramount importance since they understand, know, use successfully what mother earth have bestowed on them.

● Lets remove the condemnation of Natural Medical practices as Black magic, Voodoo, Traditionalist or backwardness.

● Let's be protective of natural forests which are favoured natural pharmaceutical heritage

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Take Away

Music therapy

Gardens not concrete

Food as Medicine

Grains & Herbs

Cultural Connectedness/Therapy

Traditional Belief systems

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Piwai

Mbira(Thumb Piano) & Hoso

Tadzungaira/NeHondo

● It’s time to STOP patching things up

and start your transformation

● Mbira is portal open living music

practice

● If you have had trauma i hope you

find restoration

Photo by Juliana Cottrell

Tatenda!We thank you!

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