What is Inyanga?
Inyanga is a practice of traditional African medicine in South Africa. Izinyanga uses various tools in the practice of their trade, such as herbal drugs, ceremonies and traditional magic. They can be men or women and take training through apprenticeship with experienced providers. Some organizations that work to increase access to medicine in Africa work with experts such as Izinyang to educate public members and provide them with a number of options for medical treatment. At the branch of traditional African medicine, which these health care providers practice, the disease is considered to be a result of imbalances in the spirit or social imbalances, and some experts may believe that diseases also have their roots in magic. Inyanga must consider the specifics of the case and proceed with treatment. Tisans and other preparations are available for patients. Inyanga can also perform rituals to solve spiritual imbalances. Patients can also consult a sangoma, a doctor who relies on VIfrom and divination to learn more about the health problem. These experts more often use ceremonies in the treatment of patients than herbs.
Inyanga can prepare a herbal drug known as Muti to treat the patient. It may be applied locally or accepted internally, depending on the circumstances of the case. In addition to herbs, Izinyang also uses animal products for medical treatment. They can components of wild vessels for medical treatments or members of the community contract to collect them for trade or fees.
Like other fields of traditional medicine, these practices are not necessarily incompatible with allopathic medicine. It is possible for a conventional physician to integrate aspects of traditional and allopathic care or work with Inyanga in the treatment of the patient. Scientists interested in the results of the patient and medical practices note that maintaining traditional practices may be important for psychological reasons in the treatment of diseaseseating. Patients who are free to seek treatment from providers who come from different environments can achieve better results than those who are forced to adhere to allopathic treatment, or who are only looking for inyanga treatment for fear of conventional doctors.