Odunsini

BONO MEDICINE

Odunsini(s.) nnunsifƆ(pl.) are traditional healers who work with herbs, roots, and different parts of plants. They are not Ɔkomfo healers, but may work with nsuman.

How the word odunsini came about is illustrated in a story. When all the trees were given names the odum tree asked all the others to add its name to theirs, but this they would not agree to. Later on, however, as the trees found themselves cut down for firewood, building, furniture and other things, the odum still stood untouched and even reverenced, it seems that they, when too late, took its name, i.e. dunsin = odum, the odum tree, and sin, a piece or fragment.

DISCLAIMER: The information given on these plants are not intended for diagnosis or treatment of diseases or any form of maladies. It only represents a cultural, spiritual/religious practices found among Akan/Bono people. The information is general and not a detailed analysis of the specific plant.

Akyeampon

Akyeampon

Part Used: Leaves and root

Functions:

  • Used for preserving the dead body.
  • Stops bleeding from cutlass wound.
  • Root is used for hemorrhoid.
  • Used as a bath to reduce fever.
Asesea

Asesea

Part Used: Leaves

Function:

  • Added to medicine like nunu, koko niso, sakrabremu, and dru plaintain leaves.
  • Used to heal stomach wounds after giving birth, cleanses the system and after birth pains.
Aya

Aya

Part Used: Leaves

Functions:

  • Added to Abunu with dry fish during pregnancy for 4-5 months.
Bomoguwakye

Bomoguwakye

Part Used: Entire plant

Functions:

  • Helps reduce calcium deficiency in children.
  • Added to spiritual baths for bosom and clients.
  • Ingredient added to making moto.
Bronsamkye

Bronsamkye

Parts Used: All

Functions:

  • Added ingredient in Kunkuma moto and other spiritual functions.
Damarabo - Akoko Ani

Damarabo/Akoko Ani

Part Used: Leaves

Functions:

  • Chewed for soar throat.
  • As a birth control helping to space the birth of children.
  • Added ingredient for making dufa (medicine blocks), nsuman (talisman) and shrines.
  • Chewed to make the voice sweet when singing to the gods.
Dua Batafo

Dua Batafo

Part Used: Root

Functions:

  • Dua batafo ni twa ye twa nna.
  • Be careful that when you cut this tree, you do not cut the innocent tree and make it suffer. This tree is known for strangling/wrapping around another tree eventually killing it.
  • This tree is also a proverbial tree, it represents if you ask the bosom to punish someone, the bosom should not punish the innocent person walking with the guilty. It encourages the bosom to think.
  • The medicine of this tree can overcome another medicine.
Dwannkyene

Dwannkyene

Part Used: Plant

Functions:

  • Used to soothe hoarse throat and coughs.
  • Rituals for opening the mouth of the bosom.
  • Ingredient used in making dufa (medicine ball) and kahire (bosom’s pad).
  • Used for purifying the bosom.
Elephant Grass

Elephant Grass

Part Used: Root
Kani mako, a ka aba mmo ba. (If it grows on a palm tree, it never bears fruit.)

Functions:

  • When a woman has a difficult time giving birth, this is used as a sacrifice asking the bosom to protect the child inside.
  • Added to Abenu (palm soup) with dried fish and other ingredients and eaten.
  • This plant acts as a hand to help deliver the baby. The plant Aya is used similarly.
Kokowa

Kokowa

Part Used: Root

Functions:

  • Gonorrhea and infertility.
  • Added to spiritual bath for children to assist them in walking.
  • Brings relief in cases such as Asanam (when child cannot suckle and grows lean).
  • Primarily used to heal most spiritual diseases.
Kwabena Tweata

Kwabena Tweata

When you pull try to pull it out of the ground air comes out your butt.

Part Used: Entire plant

Functions:

  • For healing boils, swellings and body aches.
  • As a bath for easy child delivery. A child assists in fetching the water for the bath and throwing it away when finished.
Moframofra Brodee

Moframofra Brodee

Part Used: Entire plant

Functions:

  • Used for healing many childhood ailments.
  • Prenatal care, fever in children, stomach complaints, sore throat and a host of other problems.
Nkogyame

Nkogyame

Part Used: Plant

Function:

  • Helps with healing eyes and ears complaints.
  • Added to moto (black powder) and spiritual baths for protection.
  • One of the ingredients used in Kasa Bi medicine for attracting anything to you.
Nofonofo

Nofonofo (fitaa)

Part Used: Plant

Functions:

  • For scanty breast milk, grind and add to abenu with salt to taste, drink until breast milk increases.
Nyame Wu Na Ma Wu

Nyame wu na ma wu

Part Used: Entire plant

Functions:

  • Ritual for easing chest pain.
  • Spiritual bath for protection and making moto.
Sanko Homo

Sanko Homo

Used in appellations to praise the gods.

Part Used: Threads

Functions:

  • Since the threads of the tree reaches down to the ground, it serves as a connection between heaven and earth.
  • Primarily used for spiritual work such as tying to chickens and drinks given to the bosom.

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