Zulu Traditions of Health and Healing

The Merriam-Webster English Dictionary defines medicine as “the science that deals with preventing, curing, and treating diseases”. Throughout the cultures of the world, the study of medicine and its pragmatic application play an absolutely imperative role in how given societies operate. Amongst the Zulu of Southern Africa, ideas surrounding the notions of both health and healing find themselves deeply embedded into the over-arching culture. Traditional practices, which include those of medicinal nature, perform important functions in the maintenance of many indigenous African societies, including the Zulu (Washington 2010, 25). In fact, it is estimated that upwards of 80% of the black African population associate with traditional healers (Kelmanson et al 2000, 241). The Zulu hold traditional healing and medicine in high regard. Within the contexts of established Zulu healing, medicine takes two distinct forms: (1) medicine that concerns itself with physical conditions, dealing with physiological conundrums, and (2) medicine that is implemented magically and ritualistically to produce a result (Sithole and Beierle 2002). Through the analysis of the nature of illness in Zulu society, the examination of Zulu medical practitioners, and the investigation of the methods used for medicinal practice, one can obtain a better understanding of traditional Zulu medicine as a holistic entity.

The Zulu people associate some specific sorts of sickness with sorcery, some with strains of ceremonial pollution, and some illnesses, the Zulu say just simply occur (Ngubane 1977, ix). In regards to illness, health, and medicine, Zulu culture holds the concept “balance” in a place of significant importance. Balance between individuals and their surr...

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...e attributed to the increased influence of globalization, a force that the Zulu have been experiencing for over a century. Despite this increasing amount of global influence, the wisdom found within traditional Zulu healing remains integral. The broad variety of traditional Zulu medicines, which includes upwards of 1000 identified medicinal plants, offers an abundance of potential combinations for therapeutic regimens and remedies (Flint and Parle 2009, 320). With the HIV/AIDS pandemic that currently grips the heart of sub-Saharan Africa, medical researchers and scientists have begun turning to traditional medicinal knowledge for treatment possibilities. This “revival” of traditional healing is a testament to the effectiveness and validity of natural medicine. Perhaps Zulu knowledge harbours the key to a revolutionary pharmaceutical discovery. Only time will tell.