KHOST CITY (SW): Traditional medicine, which is generally extracted from various plants and herbs have long remained a constant element of healthcare in Afghanistan but the growing access to modern medicine has caught many Afghans wondering what to prefer.
In south eastern Khost province for instance, a large number of “hakeems” (experts on traditional medicine) continue to practice and treat patients for almost all sorts of diseases. Some Khost residents however, complain about the traditional healer. They believe though the herbal medicines have no side effects but the practitioners often prescribe the wrong medicine.
Mohammad Shirzad, one of the residents, said that the herbal medicine by nature was not harmful but using them inappropriately could cause problems. Qudratullah, another resident who preferred being treated by a traditional healer than a doctor, said that lately he took the traditional medicine for soothing the pain on his shoulder but it had no effect at all.
Delawar Khan, another resident also said that herbal medicine was getting effective and the healers’ prescription did not serve the disease.
On their part, a number of traditional healers accept the fact that the many herbal medicines would have little or slow effect compared with the modern medicine. Many other ‘hakeems’ blame crooks for defaming this ancient way of healthcare
Abdullah, a traditional healer told SW that he was in this field for years but no one ever complained about him. He said that he always ask several questions from the patients to initially diagnose their diseases and only then prescribe them the herbal medicine.
Hamidullah Hamidi, a doctor and deputy for health department in the province affirmed the fact that many Khost residents prefer to visit “hakeems”. He claimed the health department often inspects the clinics of these traditional healers to make sure they comply with the health standards.
Practitioners of the modern medicine however, believe the traditional way of treatment was obsolete. Padshahzaar Abdali, a local doctor in Khost city said that traditional medicine cannot be a replacement for the modern medicine. He claimed that herbal medicine were often kept in unhygienic and non-standardized stores that leaves it ineffective
ENDS
