Traditional medicine and the Nigerian society: a case for the development of traditional medicine

Abstract

“Health Is wealth" yet it is many miles away from the people due to the current developmental approach which is Western in nature. It is no longer news that the World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes that health for all by the year 2000 is impracticable without traditional medicine in the developing world. It is in this light that the paper examines some vital issues that should be considered in other to develop traditional medicine as an alternative health care in Nigeria. In this quest the paper analysizes the conception of disease in our society and by extension illness behaviours. Effort is also made to examine the forms of practitioners available and their role in the various community. Given the long standing history of the art among our people and consequently the familiar healing context, together with the high level of patronage the paper concludes that there is the need for the development of the system.