Title:   RELATING ORTHODOX PHARMACEUTICALS TO TRADITIONAL MEDICINE IN AFRICA: A CASE OF EBONYI STATE NIGERIA

Abstract
For quite some decades, people have looked at orthodox pharmaceuticals and African traditional medicine as opposing medical systems. Orthodox pharmaceuticals have always taken the upper hand when it comes to comparison of these isolated remedies relegating traditional medicine to almost a state of nothingness. This is partly because strides in orthodox medical practice trailed the industrial revolution which was seen as the overhaul of the world system of action. Any system not following this trend is widely regarded as obsolete and neglected. African traditional medicine falls into this category. But, there is something that keep it, making it resist change or transformation. It calls for investigation. This work examined these elements in Ebonyi State of Nigeria and related the findings to that of Orthodox Medicine. The result show that both systems are efficacious varying mainly in method. While African Traditional Medicine is deeply embedded in culture, Spirituality, and unverifiable techniques which the people cannot easily jettison, the Orthodox medical practice utilized scientific method that is more appealing and universal. Since both systems have been observed effective in healthcare, the authors suggest collaboration using both systems in spite of glaring challenges of integration.
Keywords: Orthodox medicine, Traditional medicine, Sickness, Collaboration.

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Publication Date: 2026-08-19