World Health Organisation defines Traditional Medicine (TM) as health practices, approaches, knowledge and beliefs incorporating plant, animal and mineral based medicines, spiritual therapies, manual techniques and exercises, applied singularly or in combination to treat, diagnose and prevent illnesses or maintain well-being.

In Ghana, as in other African countries, it is estimated that more than 60% of the population uses TM in many instances to help meet some of the primary health care needs. Some people use both orthodox and TM treatments depending on what is wrong with them at a point in time. In fact it would be accurate to say that more than 90% of the population have used some form of TM at one point in their life.

Treatments with TM embrace all ailments from simple sores through fever, malaria, sexual weakness, piles and even preparations that combat rapid development of AIDs in HIV Positive people (some kind of anti-retroviral drugs). The influence and use of TM is so strong that the Faculty of Pharmacy in the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has started a degree course on Herbal Medicine. Use of TM from Ghana is becoming popular among Ghanaians abroad.

TM in popular demand by Ghanaians both in Ghana and in the West include:

• Living Bitters manufactured by Capital 02:  Used for colon cleansing
• Madam Catherine

 

Providers of Traditional Medicine in Ghana include:

ALAFIA BITTERS HERBAL CLINIC P. O. Box 389 , Madina, Accra Location: H/No. M2/4, Madina Zongo Junction APAAK TRADITIONAL MEDICINES P. O. Box 14088, Accra Tel: 225390 Location: H/No D552/4 Kojo Thompson Road, Adabraka, Accra ASOMDWOE HERBAL CLINIC P. O. Box 52 Teshie, Accra Tel: 712799 Location: Nungua near Police Station CAPITAL 02 NATURAL HEALTH SHOP P. O. Box 10744, Accra-North Tel: (28) 214502/304294-5/303773 GHANA COOPERATIVE HERBAL MEDICINE MANUFACTURERS & PRACTITIONERS LTD P. O. Box 32, Teshie, Accra Location: Abokyi Hanya, Accra LIFE CARE HERBAL & MEDICAL CENTRE P. O. Box K.89, Newtown, Accra Tel: 229456 Location: Caprice Hotel Area, Accra ADUTWUMWAA BITTERS Adutwumwaa Company Ltd Plot 38 Opposite Goil Filling Station, Kumasi – Sunyani Road Abuakwa Manhyia, Kumasi Tel: +233  20 816 1800; +233 27 877678

Providers among the Ghanaian communities abroad dealing in Traditional Medicine include:

Most Ghanaian Super Markets scattered abroad

Bumps Centre Limited,
125 Barking Road, Canning Town,
London, E16 4HQ
Tel: 0207 055 0063
Mobile: 0795 146 3901
Website: www.bumpscentre.com