Faith healers could serve as HIV educators at the community level - African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines Vol.8 No.5

Today we are featuring the African Journal of Traditional vol.8 no.5. This issue includes "Trends and challenges of Traditional Medicine in Africa", an article by Abdullahi that details the changes in traditional medicine over the past few decades, as well as the new shift toward traditional medicine. 

This issue also includes "A Controlled Study of an HIV/AIDS/STI/TB Intervention with Faith Healers in Vhembe District, South Africa" by Mashamba et al. This article details a study conducted in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa. The study entailed the HIV/AIDS training of 58 faith healers from the United African Apostolic Church in two municipalities of Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa. The training was done over a period of two days. A group of 45 faith healers was used as a control group. Both groups were evaluated after two months. The results indicated that faith healers who received training had a greater knowledge of HIV/AIDS and some knowledge of TB. However, the management practices of HIV/AIDS such as risk behaviour counselling, testing referrals and community education of HIV/AIDS among other things were not significantly improved. The study concluded that faith healers could be useful in HIV prevention programmes and could serve as educators at the community level.

This issue also includes articles on the interactions and use of herbs and drugs. The first article, "Patient Counseling about Herbal-Drug Interactions" by Hussain comments on the complicated relationship between herbal medicines and medications when being taken at the same time. The second article, "Evaluation of Herbs as Potential Drugs/Medicines" by Odhiambo et al. looks at how 34 different types of plants could be used to treat human ailments, and which parts of the plant were most commonly used. The results indicated that Asteraceae and Leguminosae were among the plants most commonly used. The results also indicated that leaves and roots were the most common parts of the plant used.

You can find these articles and other articles from this issue here.

Featured Issue: African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Vol.8 No.4

Today we are featuring the African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines vol.8 no.4. 

This is the first time we are featuring the journal on the blog! African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines focuses on the latest advancements and research in medicinal plants, traditional, complementary and alternative medicines, and food and agriculture.


Vol.8 no.4 includes "Antioxidant Capacity of some Plant Foods and Beverages Consumed in the Easter Region of Nigeria" by Agbor et al. This article details a study done in eastern Nigeria to assess antioxidant properties in popularly consumed plant foods and beverages. Among the classes of food and beverages examined, the results indicated that coffee, star apples, thyme and raices (alcoholic beverage) could have antioxidant properties. Among these classes, vegetables and spices were found to have the most antioxidant properties.

This issue also includes "Investigation of the Antinociceptive and Anti-inflammatory Properties of Heteromorpha arborescens (Apiaceae)" by Nkomo et al. This article investigates the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties of the Heteromorpha arborescens, also known as the parsley tree. Methanolic and aquaeous doses of the root extract of Heteromorpha arborescens were administered in small quantities in rats with pain and inflammation. The results indicated that both root extracts reduced edema.

For the complete results of these studies and other articles from this issue, click here.