Psychiatrist, TV personality, and spiritual healer, Dr. Melva Green speaks with SaharaTV about traditional medicines and how her experiences as a western trained doctor led her to implementing African traditional medicines into her own work.
The trade in traditional medicines in South Africa is estimated to be worth R2.9 billion per year, representing 5.6% of the National Health budget. With 27 million consumers, the trade is vibrant and widespread. There are at least 133 000 people employed in the trade, with a large percentage of rural women. The plant trade is a key rural industry and business incubator.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that as many as 80% of the world's more than six billion people rely primarily on animal and plant-based medicines. The healing of human ailments by using therapeutics based on medicines obtained from animals or ultimately derived from them is known as zootherapy.