Conventional medicine is most of the time not available to patients. Thus, patients refer to the village doctors, healers and shamans who use plant-based medicine in most of their treatment of aches and pains. Furthermore, in a classic case of demand exceeding supply, the number of western doctors is low compared to the large number of patients. Unlike the doctors, the traditional healers and practitioners of herbal medicine are available in every village. Medicinal plants deserve certain attention because they are of great value.
African cultures use a large number of medicinal plants in their everyday lives.
It can be said that the traditional doctors in Africa have effective remedies against rashes, skin ulcers, vomiting, convulsions, tumors, intestinal parasites, conjunctivitis, and various other complaints. The traditional healers of Africa claim that excessive fat in the body causes heart problems. To deal with these, the healers use a medicine made from acacia tree bark and root. The extract from the acacia does control the body's fat intake and promotes better blood circulation system. This plant comes from a family known for salicylic acid, which is the active ingredient in aspirin.