Creature Cures | National Geographic

here in South Africa doctors called

here in South Africa doctors called sangomas treat millions of people using

sangomas treat millions of people using

sangomas treat millions of people using creature cures meet Elliot in lovoo the

creature cures meet Elliot in lovoo the

creature cures meet Elliot in lovoo the Zulu sangoma from kannberg village in

Zulu sangoma from kannberg village in

Zulu sangoma from kannberg village in the mountains of kwazulu-natal Elliot

the mountains of kwazulu-natal Elliot

the mountains of kwazulu-natal Elliot doesn’t just use herbs in animal body

doesn’t just use herbs in animal body

doesn’t just use herbs in animal body parts arbitrarily all sangomas are

parts arbitrarily all sangomas are

parts arbitrarily all sangomas are guided by the spirits of their ancestors

guided by the spirits of their ancestors

guided by the spirits of their ancestors to become a traditional doctor it’s a

to become a traditional doctor it’s a

to become a traditional doctor it’s a calling that come from my assistance so

calling that come from my assistance so

calling that come from my assistance so I was been called before I come to this

I was been called before I come to this

I was been called before I come to this world it is the traditional African

world it is the traditional African

world it is the traditional African belief that most illness is caused by

belief that most illness is caused by

belief that most illness is caused by witchcraft or the spirits of displeased

witchcraft or the spirits of displeased

witchcraft or the spirits of displeased ancestors it is the job of the sangoma

ancestors it is the job of the sangoma

ancestors it is the job of the sangoma as a medium between the spirit world and

as a medium between the spirit world and

as a medium between the spirit world and our own to appease the ancestors or

our own to appease the ancestors or

our own to appease the ancestors or chase away the evil forces causing the

chase away the evil forces causing the

chase away the evil forces causing the ailment today Samson one of the older

ailment today Samson one of the older

ailment today Samson one of the older members of the community comes to Elliot

members of the community comes to Elliot

members of the community comes to Elliot for help he is having problems with

for help he is having problems with

for help he is having problems with pains in his legs instead of prescribing

pains in his legs instead of prescribing

pains in his legs instead of prescribing painkillers Elliot must make the

painkillers Elliot must make the

painkillers Elliot must make the medicine on himself fortunately he has

medicine on himself fortunately he has

medicine on himself fortunately he has the key ingredient on hand a baboon

the key ingredient on hand a baboon

the key ingredient on hand a baboon carcass it is a traditional African

carcass it is a traditional African

carcass it is a traditional African belief that animal qualities can be

belief that animal qualities can be

belief that animal qualities can be transferred to the patient the pop one

transferred to the patient the pop one

transferred to the patient the pop one is a strongest enemy because even its

is a strongest enemy because even its

is a strongest enemy because even its bones is too strong to capture the

bones is too strong to capture the

bones is too strong to capture the powers of the baboon a traditional

powers of the baboon a traditional

powers of the baboon a traditional medicine called a mu T is made from the

medicine called a mu T is made from the

medicine called a mu T is made from the skin and tail and mixed with herbs the

skin and tail and mixed with herbs the

skin and tail and mixed with herbs the limb of the baboon will also be boiled

limb of the baboon will also be boiled

limb of the baboon will also be boiled for drinking these mu T’s will allow Sam

for drinking these mu T’s will allow Sam

for drinking these mu T’s will allow Sam C’s legs to take on the strength of the

C’s legs to take on the strength of the

C’s legs to take on the strength of the baboon and ease his pains

baboon and ease his pains

baboon and ease his pains Samson inhales and licks the burning

Samson inhales and licks the burning

Samson inhales and licks the burning baboon mixture while waiting for the

baboon mixture while waiting for the

baboon mixture while waiting for the limb to boil the strength of Samson’s

limb to boil the strength of Samson’s

limb to boil the strength of Samson’s belief in the powers of the baboon parts

belief in the powers of the baboon parts

belief in the powers of the baboon parts already seems to be having an effect if

already seems to be having an effect if

already seems to be having an effect if this feels bad days feeling things going

this feels bad days feeling things going

this feels bad days feeling things going around sangomas have lifelong experience

around sangomas have lifelong experience

around sangomas have lifelong experience with medicinal plants and many are

with medicinal plants and many are

with medicinal plants and many are expert herbalists but the patient’s

expert herbalists but the patient’s

expert herbalists but the patient’s belief in the sangoma and his remedies

belief in the sangoma and his remedies

belief in the sangoma and his remedies is an important part of the cure

is an important part of the cure

is an important part of the cure dr. Conrad Jionni’s office in muttsy

dr. Conrad Jionni’s office in muttsy

dr. Conrad Jionni’s office in muttsy north of Johannesburg is a far cry from

north of Johannesburg is a far cry from

north of Johannesburg is a far cry from the rural beginnings of sangoma with

the rural beginnings of sangoma with

the rural beginnings of sangoma with computers copying machines secretaries

computers copying machines secretaries

computers copying machines secretaries and assistants

and assistants

and assistants he has brought traditional healing into

he has brought traditional healing into

he has brought traditional healing into the 21st century I feel we are not

the 21st century I feel we are not

the 21st century I feel we are not competing with that I’m one doctors I

competing with that I’m one doctors I

competing with that I’m one doctors I feel in some other instances that very

feel in some other instances that very

feel in some other instances that very much superior to us yet they miss many

much superior to us yet they miss many

much superior to us yet they miss many things out of us so I feel that we can

things out of us so I feel that we can

things out of us so I feel that we can supplement each other instead of

supplement each other instead of

supplement each other instead of reaching for a stethoscope to diagnose

reaching for a stethoscope to diagnose

reaching for a stethoscope to diagnose what’s wrong with his patients dr.

what’s wrong with his patients dr.

what’s wrong with his patients dr. Gianni throws animal bones through the

Gianni throws animal bones through the

Gianni throws animal bones through the bones dr. Gianni deciphers the message

bones dr. Gianni deciphers the message

bones dr. Gianni deciphers the message sent by the ancestors this is for lash

sent by the ancestors this is for lash

sent by the ancestors this is for lash in the stomach and we normally use a

in the stomach and we normally use a

in the stomach and we normally use a chicken doctor Jionni’s patient blows

chicken doctor Jionni’s patient blows

chicken doctor Jionni’s patient blows air into the chickens this method may

air into the chickens this method may

air into the chickens this method may seem unusual but there is a rationale

seem unusual but there is a rationale

seem unusual but there is a rationale it is believed Selby’s illness will now

it is believed Selby’s illness will now

it is believed Selby’s illness will now be inside the chicken

be inside the chicken

be inside the chicken dr. Gianni does not claim his methods

dr. Gianni does not claim his methods

dr. Gianni does not claim his methods will hold up to scientific scrutiny but

will hold up to scientific scrutiny but

will hold up to scientific scrutiny but we don’t address until available we are

we don’t address until available we are

we don’t address until available we are traditionally an uncertain