One of my colleagues swears by Chinese medicine. She, and millions of other South Africans, use what we commonly refer to as alternative medicine. But, changing perceptions of mainstream and Western methods and the albeit slow transformation of the legislative environment governing indigenous medicines should cause a rising number of locals to use alternative medicines.
"A large proportion of the world's population is reverting to alternative medicines as there's some dissatisfaction with chemistry-based drugs. Their side effects are pushing people to use herbal methods," says Herbert Vilakazi, who is chairman of President Thabo Mbeki's task team on traditional African medicines.
WHAT IT MEANS
 Many South Africans use traditional healers
The medical schemes remain sceptical
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A majority of South Africans across the racial line have used traditional medicines "at some point or another", he says.
Phephisile Maseko, the national co-ordinator of the Traditional Healers Organisation, estimates that there are 250 000 African indigenous healers. Further, the Cape-based National Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine Association of SA has 140 members out of more than 200 Chinese and acupuncture practitioners across SA. These figures stand in telling contrast to the country's total 190 000 nurses.
In spite of its pervasiveness, traditional healing often draws ire and derision from some quarters of South African society. Unlike many medical-aid schemes, Sizwe Medical Fund is one of the few that funds visits to Asian and African healers.
"Though there's no framework governing this area, we recognise that some of our members use alternative methods, and we accommodate them," says Sizwe CEO Linda Gabela.
According to Vilakazi, not giving alternative healing methods the same status as mainstream medicine is "contemptuous", and tantamount to dismissing the existence of ancient practices. However, with the changing paradigm, he says, traditional medicine will soon enjoy the same benefits accorded to the mainstream.
Why are age-old practices so often belittled, and not given the same status as Western methods?
"Educated people accept the European paradigm, and look down upon traditional medicines. It's all part of the degradation that came with colonialism, but we're trying to reverse it," Vilakazi says.
Like other observers, he says the different "types of science can exist side by side" and even "learn from one other". He cites as examples India and China, where this is already happening.
Some modern doctors recognise the need for the different systems to co-exist. That explains why my colleague was referred to a Chinese doctor by a mainstream specialist. However, this occurred only after Discovery (her medical scheme) had paid thousands of rand to the specialist in question. All in vain. And in spite of several attempts to get a refund for the alternative treatment, Discovery refused to foot the bill. The scheme says it normally declines claims when there is no sufficient evidence that the treatment used is clinically appropriate.
"People should ask their schemes why they are willing to cover only some spheres of medicine. Why aren't they accommodating alternative medicine? You should revolt and demand that human resources incorporate alternative medicine as part of its wellness programme and employee benefits," says Maseko.
Kelly Long May, a Shanghai graduate, who has trained in Chinese and Western medicine, says medical schemes should come to the party to enable members to access alternative medicines.
"Financial reasons are keeping people away. It can be unaffordable for some, and we (the practitioners) have spoken to medical schemes several times. We've been waiting and waiting."
Acupuncture and Chinese herbs, May says, are used to heal a list of ailments and conditions, including headaches, bronchitis, depression, reproductive, respiratory and cardiovascular problems, asthma, sinusitis and insomnia.
Maseko, a practitioner herself, says African herbs and ideas are often "stolen" by large pharmaceuticals and other commercial entities, which patent the products and sell them at vastly inflated prices.
African herbs, Maseko says, are also used to heal a range of sicknesses. These include malaria, tuberculosis, cancer, gynaecological and skin problems.
"We have our own specialists," she says. "For anyone to ridicule our methods and demand that we modernise is utter arrogance. How myopic."
