Trop Geogr Med. 1975 Dec; 27(4): 422-30.

The traditional basis of neuropsychiatric practice among the Yorubas of Nigeria.

Osuntokun BO.

The Nigerian, because of gross shortage of 'western-trained' health personnel, not infrequently resorts to traditional native medicine and the native herbalists. The training of these native doctors is an arduous one and lasts on the average of 8-10 years. The core of their practice is handed-down tradition learned by rote and memorised. Pharmacotherapeutics are based in part on observations tested through the ages, and not uncommonly on the cause and effect phenomena. They are excellent psychotherapists, and maintain good relationship with their patients. Neurology as practised among the Yoruba native doctors recognises several classical neurological diseases including epilepsy, cerebrovascular accidents, fever and headache, migraine and the tropical ataxic neuropathy. Several often compound prescriptions are available, but the scientific basis of most of the prescriptions is for the moment unknown to them or to modern medicine. It seems that further research into some aspects of traditional native medicine may yield some fruitful results.