Determining the Use of Traditional Medicines by Traditional Healers in the Bapedi Society to Prevent and Cure Different Health-Related Problems or Ailments

Conservation of farm and garden plants is important to traditional healers in Greater Sekhukhune District Municipality – Limpopo province in South Africa. These plants are used for ritual and medicinal purposes. The leaves, barks and roots of these plants are used to cure different health related problems or ailments. The present study investigated issues of interest and of historical meaning in the philosophy of traditional healing practice among traditional healers in the Bapedi society. The primary source for data collection was oral interviews. Secondary sources included observations, publications and records. Other methods included video recordings and photographing of different farm and garden plants, as well as traditional medicines used by traditional healers in their healing practice. The following interrelated research questions therefore guided this study: 1) Are Bapedi people sufficiently interested in traditional medicines and traditional healing processes? 2) Do traditional medicines benefit both traditional healers and Bapedi people?; 3) Do traditional medicinal plants have the potential to satisfy the varied health care needs of Bapedi people? and 4) What is the cultural relevance of traditional healing in contemporary Bapedi society? The results demonstrated that a large percentage of Bapedi people consult with traditional healers for survival and to strengthen their indigenous beliefs and practices, and to adhere to their traditional lifestyle. From this study, it appears that traditional medicines are seen to benefit both traditional healers and Bapedi people by encompassing their way of life and living environment. It was concluded that conservation of natural resources such as garden and farm plants should be taken seriously, as the use of some of these indigenous medicinal plants have proven to treat a considerable number of health related problems or ailments, and have the potential to satisfy the varied health care needs of Bapedi people.