80% of the Zimbabwean population use traditional medicines, according to Medical Research Council of Zimbabwe (MRCZ)
By Kovedzayi Takawira
MRCZ’s Chairperson of the complimentary and traditional medicines, Professor Charles Nhachi made the revelations during the Annual Health research ethics forum hosted by Medical Research Council of Zimbabwe (MRCZ) in Harare recently.
“Despite our beliefs, we have somehow and always use traditional medicines from time to time and I can say that about 80% of the Zimbabwe population is using traditional medicines,” he said.
Professor Nhachi however noted that Zimbabwe still had challenges in scientifically proving medicinal properties in most herbs as most herbalists use rituals which are difficult to prove.
He added that that only 10 percent of the 5000 plants species tested in Zimbabwe have medicinal properties.
“One of the challenges we are facing is that most herbalist use rituals which make it difficult to scientifically prove, as some go to an extent of saying that they have been shown a certain herb in a dream,” said Prof Nhachi
He called for the standardization of herbs and guard against ritualistic prescriptions that dictates how they should be taken.
“We are not stopping the use of traditional medicines but they should be standardized everywhere and scientifically proven not that some are supposed to be taken while looking at the east for them to work,” added Professor Nhachi.
According to Professor Nhachi, besides Zimbabwe other countries that have a high uptake of herbs includes Belgium 31%, USA 42%, Australia 48%, France 49% and Canada 70%.
