Yoruba Medicine has been practiced in the area where he settled this culture for over 4,000 years. The techniques used in diagnosis and treatment aimed at eliminating the negative forces of the disease in humans, and also to achieve spiritual and mental state healthy. Scholars in these techniques are called Ozainistas, being Ozain the Orisha of herbs. Yoruba medicine is based on the cult of Ifa religious text revealed by Orunmila in Ile Ife. His teachings focused on divination, prayer, dance, symbolic gestures, and passing both as human beings as parts of the community. Thus parts of Yoruba medicine are based on spiritual baths, meditation and spiritual herbal pharmaceutical.

The principles of Yoruba medicine based on ancient Egyptian medicine, which first broke the religious, magical and empirical, and where around 750 BC, the father of Western medicine, Hippocrates, the principles would and medical techniques that would lead to Europe. The Yoruba people are descendants of Egyptian, and migrated from the Nile valley, more than 4,000 years ago, brought with Egyptian medical science, his knowledge of traditional medicine, and were enriched with all its religious and cultural system.

Thus the herbalism is also a philosophy and science, also a religion. This seeks a balance between the health of body and spirit, which is intrinsically related to the Creator Oloddumare. In addition to traditional medicine is advised a righteous life, a balanced diet and performing certain rituals purifiers. That is why Ozain covers all aspects of our lives.

Explained from the religious point of view, the treaty Oloogun (Yoruba healer) is to help the patient to overcome the negative forces that affect their health. Thus, the Orishas, Olofin posted to maintain order and fight for the improvement and purification of human nature are confronted with the "Ajogun" negative entities, destructive forces of nature seeking to destroy humans, the chief is Ajogun Iku, death.

Among the many Orishas that serve different purposes, set forth below, the seven major Orisha.

(These seven Orishas have a clear correlation with the ancient Egyptian concept of the seven openings in the head.)

Obatala - Human Form Creator, identified with the pure white, help with deformities.

Eleggua - The Messenger, is the first negotiator between negative and positive forces of the body. Principal Assistant to strengthen the power of herbs.

Ogun - Orisha of Iron divinity that illuminates the path on the obstacles or termination or vital energy flow at various points in the body. It's liberating.

Yemaya - Mother of Waters, is related to sexuality, with the original waters. He identifies with the amniotic fluid in the uterus of the pregnant woman and her breasts to feed. It is the protective power of the female force.

Oshun - Identified with sensuality, beauty and kindness, symbolizes clarity and flowing motion, she has the power to heal with cool water, is also the god of fertility and being femenino.Protege of disorders in the body of women.

Shango - Identified with virility, masculinity, lightning and thunder. It has the ability to transform the poor elements in pure and valuable.

Oya - Related to storm cemetery guard, the Winds of Change, Storms, with progression, usually in the company of Shango, the god of rebirth. There are things that must die to arise and new principles are born.

Each of the Orishas is a force that enables or encourages another Orisha. Each Orisha is characterized by certain attributes and is in charge of the functions of specific body organs. Each has its strength dual Ajogun (negative force) and Orisha (positive force). Each of the Orishas is located in a specific place in the body. It is therefore important to use appropriate herbal treatment to correct the specific disease.

Obatala - Problems of the head, bones and body fluids whites.

Eleggua - Nervous system.

Yemaya - Uterus, liver, breasts and buttocks.

Oshun - circulatory, digestive organs, elimination system, female pubic area.

Ogun - Heart, kidney (adrenal glands), tendons, and nerves.

Shango - the male reproductive system, bone marrow, life force.

Oya - Lungs, respiratory system, mucous membranes.


EWES (Weeds  of the Orishas)

Obatala: Acacia, achicoria, campana, algodón, bledo blanco, artemisa, atiponlá, bejuco de la virgen, azafrán, azucena, canutillo blanco, coco, coquito africano, galán de día, galán de noche, incienso, malva, salvia, trébol, nuez de Kola, albahaca, hisopo, vervain Azul, sauce blanco, valeriana.

Eleggua: Todas las Hierbas.

Oshun: Amor seco, anís, añil, bejuco carey, bejuco péndola, boniato, bruja, calabaza, espinaca, canela, girasol, lechuga, acelga, malvaté, mango, manzanilla, guamá da costa, perejil, hierba de la niña, vetiver, pringa hermosa, hierba caimán, pomarrosa, geranio de olor, avellano de costa, melón de castilla, chayote, grosella, hoja menuda, burdock, damiana, anis, frambuesa, chamomile, loto, buchu, mirra, echinacea.

Yemaya: Itamo real, lechuga, peregun blanco, atiponlá, mejorana, mazorquilla, mora, flor de agua, meloncillo, hierba añil, berro, verbena, malanguilla, paragüita, prodigiosa, helecho, cucaracha, malanga, canutillo, albahaca, hierba buena, botón de oro, hierba de la niña, carqueja, diez del día, bejuco de jaiba, bejuco ubí macho, bejuco amargo, verdolaga, jagua, limo de mar, aguacate, ciruela, pichona, copalillo del monte    alga marina, cohosh, aloe, spirulina, mentas, flor de la pasión, raíz de ñame silvestre.

Ogun: Aguacate, algarrobo, almácigo, almendra, atiponlá, lengua de vaca, pata de gallina, ceiba, mora, hierba de la sangre, adormidera, albahaca, aroma, rompesaragüey, romerillo, cardo santo, jengibre, granada, pendejera, peonía, tabaco, siempre viva, peregún, maravilla, jagüey, verdolaga, hierba diez del día, yuca, hierba fina, galán de noche , eucalipto, alfalfa, majuelo, perejil, ajo.

Oya: Flamboyán, caimitillo, fruta bomba, yuca, granada, maravilla, mil flores, geranio, coralillo morado, mar pacífico, pepino cimarrón, verbena, flor de cementerio, espanta muerto, cambia voz, llantén, vergonzosa, artemisa, cordobán, alcanfor, curujey, croto, chirimoya, meloncillo, raíz de la pleuritis, elecampane.

Shango: Bledo punzó, atiponlá, platanillo de cuba, ceiba, paraíso, cedro, álamo, baría, zarzaparilla, bejuco carey, bejuco colorado, almácigo, camagua, combustera cimarrona, caña de azúcar, cebolla, caoba, flamboyán, guano blanco, guano prieto, laurel, maíz, palo amargo, mamey colorado, palo boma, hierba jicotea, piñón, piñón botija, quimbombó, rompesaragüey, ruda, tomate, travesera, yaya, palma, peonía, hierbabuena, trébol, canistel, filigrama, yaba, plátano, hibisco, zarzaparrilla, cayena.

Diagnosis and Treatment

The Oloogun (medical) Yoruba practicing medicine, in addition to analyzing the patient's symptoms, find emotional and spiritual causes of disease to appease the negative forces (ajogun) and only then propose the treatment that it considers appropriate and may include addition of herbs in an infusion, enema, etc.., spiritual baths, a symbolic sacrifice, songs, dances, prayers, and a change in the diet of the patient.

According to Yoruba medicine, whenever we listen to our bodies, it will give us the proper preparation and knowledge we need to regain our equilibrium. They believe that the only complete cure for a condition must include a change of "consciousness" (Ori) where the individual recognizes the root cause and want to delete. They criticize the Western medical healing surface, which eliminates the effect drugs through annoying pain but do not eliminate the causes of the symptoms of the disease, this one, but for now stop expression, it can re-create the very evil the patient who suffers.