Inyanga medicine

An inyanga is a practitioner of traditional African medicine in South Africa. Izinyanga uses a variety of tools in the practice of their trade, such as herbal medicines, ceremonies, and traditional magic. They may be male or female, and receive training through apprenticeship with experienced providers.

Sangomas or inyangas are shamans, healers, priests, and prophets who have been the backbone of Bantu communities, especially in the rural areas of Southern Africa for eons. However, with rapid Westernization and the increasing allure of the commodity market, the old ways are rapidly eroding.

Although sangoma is a Zulu term that is colloquially used to commonly describe all types of Southern African traditional healers, there are differences between practices: an inyanga is concerned mainly with medicines made from plants and animals, while a sangoma relies primarily on divination for healing purposes and …

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Practices known as traditional medicines include traditional European medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, traditional Korean medicine, traditional African medicine, Ayurveda, Siddha medicine, Unani, ancient Iranian medicine, traditional Iranian medicine, medieval Islamic medicine, Muti, and Ifá.

How people are trained to become a sangoma or an inyanga

Not everyone can become a sangoma or inyanga. Healers believe that they are called by their ancestors to take on this important and respected position in society. Traditional healers speak of a sudden unexplained illness they had or they heard voices and saw visions. Many also talk about very bad headaches that would not go away.

What is traditional African medicine?

Traditional African medicine involves the use of herbal concoctions and traditional rituals to treat a patient. There are two main types of traditional healers in South Africa – the sangoma and the inyanga. Sangomas generally rely on rituals and traditional practices to treat a patient’s ailments while an inyanga uses parts of plants (herbs) and animal parts for therapeutic purposes. Both types of traditional healers may employ some methods of divination to diagnose the patient and decide upon the most appropriate course of treatment.

INYANGA - Mental balance

Traditional African Medicine – ‘Muti’, Sangoma, Inyanga

Traditional African medicine in South Africa has made great strides in the past few years. Now that traditional African healers are accepted as informal healthcare workers, there is talk of consultations and medicines being paid for by medical aids in South Africa sometime in the future.

What is African traditional medicine in South Africa?

Traditional African medicine is a holistic discipline involving the use of indigenous herbalism combined with aspects of African spirituality. About 80% of Africa’s population relies on traditional medicine for their basic health needs.