African alternative medicine: our culture

Since the dawn of mankind, we have always sought to preserve our health. To achieve this, we use the resources of our environment. Indeed, African flora in general, and Beninese flora in particular, contains many plant species that biologists have not yet identified, and whose therapeutic virtues are perhaps still unknown. WHO statistics estimate that over 80% of Benins population turn to traditional medicine for their primary healthcare needs. The aim of this study is to examine how traditional medicine can be integrated into the official health system in Benin. This overall objective is broken down into five specific objectives: to investigate the foundations of traditional medicine; to study the bases of traditional medicine practice; to examine the framework of collaboration between traditional medicine practitioners and health workers; to identify the diseases treated by traditional practitioners. Finally, to assess the safety aspects of traditional health care offerings, particularly in terms of efficacy, safety and quality.