Aspect of traditional Medicine in Igbo History: A Study of Traditional Orthopedic Practices in Izzi

摘要

This study explores traditional orthopedic in Izzi from earliest times. The region falls within the Igbo ethnic group in southeastern Nigeria. Like many indigenous societies, the Izzi people developed a sophisticated understanding of health and medicine long before colonial influences and Western medical practices. Their indigenous medical practices despite its effectiveness and usefulness, have received neither scholarly research for its documentation nor conscious innovation for it to meet with present healthcare realities particularly in the area of orthopedics. This research analyzes and documents the use of indigenous remedies in the treatment of bone fractures and dislocations. The methodology is qualitative; using primary and secondary sources. The method of analysis is historical, thematic, and chronological. Findings reveal that the indigenous medical system of the Izzi which addressed and still addresses their orthopedic issue was not only practical but deeply interwoven with their cultural and spiritual beliefs. Traditional healers and bone-setters, known as jibya/Jibya obvu mkpa-ekwo and Onye-agba iphe respectively, played crucial role in the community, using a blend of herbal knowledge, spiritual insight, and ritual practices to not only diagnose and treat ailments but also to address bone fractures and or dislocations. This research highlights the rich heritage of indigenous medical practices in Izzi particularly the knowledge of traditional orthopedic, developed by the people from time immemorial and passed down to present generations through oral history. The importance of preserving this knowledge can never be overemphasized. Understanding these traditional remedies, offers valuable insights into the culturally relevant healthcare practices of the people particularly in the area of traditional orthopedic which have the potential to complement modern orthopedic medical practices