Amateurs are also helped to develop the principles of self-directed learning and life-long learning skills that will be necessary in private practice when the apprenticeship period is over between three to five years.
2.5.4 ]zinyangaas primary health-care workers
Common complaints seen byizinyanga include:
• Skin problems such as abscesses, boils skin eruptions such as acne and eczema
• Digestive disorders, ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome and indigestion
• Heart and circulatory problems such as high blood pressure and diabetes
• Gynaecological disorders such as menstrual pains, infertility, sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis and menopausal problems
• Other conditions include: arthritis, headaches, allergic responses, influenza, asthma, and hysteria
during the ritual of purification prior to their meeting with their families.
2.6.1 Astrology and herbal medicine
"Astrology is a study of the positions and relationships of the Sun, Moon, Stars, and Planets in order to judge their influence on human actions." {'The Lore of Astrology, '2002: I}
Astrology amongst African societies does not seem to be an aspect that attracts many researchers and scholars. It might happen that some researchers do not think that traditional African peoples have any idea about this field. According to Tyrrell (1983: 220) traditionalists were well aware of the link between astronomical phenomena and the regular cycle of the seasons and nature.
Forizinyanga the astronomical phenomena is an element of importance. They associate their medical practice with the knowledge of astrology because there are certain plants that have to be collected from the veld at specific times, such as at sunrise, at dusk, or during a particular phase of the moon. Some plants can fluctuate during the moon's cycle. A well-trained inyanga should also know the phase of the moon during which the majority of animals are involved in breeding so that he may not interfere with the former during this season. Such a season is not appropriate for killing animals for medicinal use.
Izinyanga have to know what phase of the moon or season of the year it is in order to tell people about the kind of both plants and animals that are available for medicinal use. Certain plants have to be avoided during a particular season due to allergies they inflict on humans.
Tradition has it that during the expedition to KwaSoshangana in 1828, many of Shaka's warriors died from umdlebe. This is a species of poisonous tree of the Eurphorbia family, Synadenium arborescens. It is said that many warriors died because they came at that place
when this fatal plant was blooming. It is said that its scent causes death. It appears that izinyanga of war were not sent to examine that environment prior to this expedition.
Dingane is one of the warriors who were in this expedition. But he returned home before reaching their destination to continue with his preparation for the assassination of Shaka.
About the death of warriors during this expedition, Dingane'simbongi proclaims:
Uqambi-lankom, ukuba zilahlekile,
Ziyakuj' umdlebe kwaSoshangana. (Rycroft etal., 1988:70 lines 19-20) (Detached drove of cattle, because the herd has strayed,
And will be poisoned by the synadenium tree in Soshangana's land)
2.6.2 Young women and the phases ofthe moon
The lunation or the age of the Moon which takes place between the New Moon and the Full Moon has an interval of about 29 ~, days. It means that the Moon celebrates its 'birthday' every New Moon. On the other side every woman who is at the age of receiving menstruation has to count about 28 days every month to know when her next menstruation is due.
This calculation indicates that both the Moon and young women count the duration of their cycles almost the same time. Probably, the Moon and young women start their new cycle or 'New Moon' round about the same time.
Let us look at the image of the moon from the Zulu perspective. Ifthe fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated decreases, it symbolises a misfortune.
The reflection of the dark side of the Moon tells the Zulu that the Moon has come across a certain tragedy. Therefore, the Moon disappears into hiding to mourn its misfortune. The dark side that faces the earth is a sign of mourning. According to the Zulu thought the period
between the Full Moon and the New moon is regarded as the time of mourning for the death of the moon.
Usibanibani usenyangeni (So and so is on the moon) is an expression that is used when a young woman is in her menstrual cycle. This expression gives us an allusion that for a woman to obtain her menstruation she has to be with the moon. What does this mean?
Normally, when there is death in an African family, women cry in a loud voice and weep for a long time to express their sorrow.Ifthe Moon 'dies' someone has to weep to express this loss.
Who could this be except young women who are seen by the Zulu to have a close relationship with the Moon?
According to Zulu thought young women weep every month for their Sister Moon that 'dies' every month too. For the death of their 'elder' Sister Moon, young women do not weep normal tears but they menstruate. Literally speaking, every month, young women 'weep' blood-tears which is a sign of mourning for the most severe tragedy which befalls their Sister Moon in the sky.
It is due to this myth of mourning for the moon tragedy that young women who are in menstrual period are not allowed to eat milk products or enter the kraal. People mourning death of a family member are also not allowed to eat milk products as eating milk products is a sign ofjoy.
Izinyanga who specialise in gynaecological disorders play an important role in the life of young women who still receive their monthly menstruation because this period comes with severe pains to most young women. Because of the pain that young women undergo during menstruation, izinyanga have to know all the phases of the Moon in order to prepare appropriate medicines to treat young women who might suffer from menstrual pains.
"Little know that Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, and the one that medical doctors take an oath from, said that no one should call themselves a doctor unless they were also an astrologer; for no diagnosis could be made without the help of astrological information on the patient." {'Medical Astrology,' 2002: 1}
According to Hippocrates there should be a close relationship between astronomical phenomenon and the medical practitioners. Such a suggestion might apply to izinyanga as they are also regarded as primary health-care workers.
2.7 Classification of Zulu traditional medicines
Izinyanga recognise the healing energies that are contained in both animal and plant remains which can be utilised to help their patients regain physical strength which has been impaired.
Because of their multiple constituents, most indigenous medicines have quite a broad spectrum of uses. Nevertheless, they can be classified according to the body systems over which they have the most influence. The choice of remedies within each group depends upon the individual case, since each remedy has a slightly different emphasis in its action upon the system. Herbal medicines are basically made from three sources:
a) Animal products:
• animal substances, such as izibiba (snake venom), udosi lwempisi (a single hair of a hyena).
" Mafutas are of medical value due to the fact that animals store excess foodstuffs, steroid hormones, toxins and other chemicals in their fat. The fat also contains photosynthesised compounds and pigments derived from chlorophyll, and this is what makes the mafutas such powerful biochemical agents with therapeutic properties. The fat discarded from glandular organs is different in that it contains phosphatides which are insulating and mainly used in the making of intelezi (a substance which has psychoactive virtues."
{' Animal cures,' 2002: I}
• Animals used for food and products
The hunting and gathering lifestyle of indigenous peoples resulted in almost all meat sources being obtained from hunted animals. Large animals were hunted by stalking them and killing them with weapons. Animal materials are very useful for a variety of purposes.
b) Plant products:
• plant substances, such as inhlaba (aloe plant), impepho (incense plant).
c) Mineral products
• Mineral substances, such as isibabuli (sulphur), umanyazini (manganese), salts and stones.