Therapeutic powers of medicinal plants used by traditional healers in Kavango, Namibia, for mental illness

Abstract

This paper examines the position, usage and healing power of medicinal plants in the treatment of mental illness in two regions in the Kavango, Namibia. It focuses in particular on three common, locally identified mental disorders, namely nyambi, kasenge, and ndjangura. These disorders are encountered in community settings and signal a breakdown in normal functioning. The paper is based on ethnographic data collected in 3 different phases over 12 months from 2014 to 2016. Twenty-five traditional healers were interviewed, three ethno-botanical surveys were conducted and extensive time was spent with five traditional healers. The study used accepted ethnographic methods.

Keywords:

• Kavango
• medicinal plants
• mental illness
• power
• traditional healers