Health

Kinds of Illness

Health can also be explained in terms of its opposite state—illness. Illness is regarded as the absence of good health, an abnormal state that [Page 310]hinders an individual to perform his duties as expected by society, a form of deviance. A state of ill health or illness is not natural nor is it a matter of chance. Any occurrence has an explanation. Notions of probability and coincidence are foreign to the African belief system. There are natural and unnatural illnesses.

Chavunduka distinguishes between normal and abnormal illness. Symptoms of normal or natural illness disappear quickly with little or no treatment. Natural illnesses are headaches, coughs, and stomach aches. But illnesses that persist and resist cure by simple medicine are believed to have been caused by supernatural happenings. A diviner is consulted for diagnosis. The diviner may diagnose the cause of an illness as an ancestor spirit that may want to possess the victim and has to be honored by ritual sacrifice. The spirits may also punish their living descendents if they have committed an offense.

The diviner may also diagnose illness as caused by witchcraft or sorcery by an enemy or an avenging spirit, such as that of a person who died as a result of murder. There are preventive measures that are done to restore health. If illness is caused by a witch, the diviner will break the power of witchcraft; if it is spirit possession, the patient should accept the spirit possession in order to be well. Usually the diviner will prescribe medicine to restore health. Charms or amulets are also given by diviners.

There are also preventative measures that the diviner may apply. He may recommend performance of a ritual that involves pouring tobacco and libation in order to appease the anger of spirits so that they will protect the sick person from attack by supernatural causes of illness. Once the rituals are performed, health is restored. The individual recovers and attains full health. So the state of good health is holistic because it covers the physical, social, and spiritual well-being of the individual and society.

Positive Weil-Being

Health is also linked to a state of peace and serenity considered as well-being. A good state of health is naturally concomitant with stability that covers human beings and nature. This is experienced from culture, environment, and harmonious relationships with one's spiritual elders, which bring peace and happiness. This state of good health also relates to success and prosperity in all spheres of life, such as agriculture, hunting, and marriage. Health and well-being can also be experienced in the contexts of abundant rainfall, fertility of land and people, fields bearing fruits, flocks and herds multiplying, and bumper harvests. Such a state of good health of the land and people is desirable and healthy, free from its opposite states of misfortune, sickness, and death.

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