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
Part Used: Leaves and root
Functions: for preserving the dead body.
Stops bleeding from cutlass wound. Root is used for hemorrhoid. As a bath for fever.
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
Part Used: Leaves
Functions: Added to Abunu with dry fish during pregnancy for 4-5 months.
Bomoguwakye
Part Used: Entire plant
Functions: Calcium deficiency in children. Added to spiritual baths for gods and clients. Ingredient added to making moto.
Bronsamkye
Parts used: All
Functions: Added ingredient to Kunkuma moto, and other spiritual functions.
Damarabo/Akoko Ani
Part Used: Leaves
Functions: Chewed for soar throat. As a birth control helping to space the birth of children. Added to making dufa (medicine blocks), and nsuman (talisman) and shrines. Chewed to make the voice sweet when singing to the gods.
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 god to punish someone, the god should not punish the innocent person walking with the guilty. It encourages the god to think. The medicine of this tree can overcome another medicine.
Dwannkyene
Part Used: Plant
Functions: Hoarse throat and coughs. Rituals for opening the mouth of the god. Ingredient for dufa (medicine ball) and kahire (god’s pad). Purifying god.
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 god to protect the child inside. Added to Abenu (palm soup) with dry fish and other ingredients and eaten. This plant acts as a hand to help deliver the baby. The plant Aya is used similarly.
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 in most spiritual diseases.
Kwabena Tweata
When you pull try to pull it out of the ground air comes out your butt.
Part Used: Entire plant
Functions: For boils,swellings and body aches. As a bath for easy child delivery, a child assist in fetching the water for the bath and throwing it away when finish.
Moframofra Brodee
Part Used: Entire plant
Functions: Many childhood ailments. Prenatal care, fever in children, stomach complaints, sore throat and a host of problems.
Nkogyame
Part Used: Plant
Function: 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 (fitaa)
Part Used: Plant
Functions: For scanty breast milk, grind and add to abenu with salt to taste, drink till milk comes.
Nyame wu na ma wu
Part Used: Entire plant
Functions: Ritual for chest pain. Spiritual bath for protection and making moto.
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 for spiritual work such as tieing to chickens and drinks given to the gods.
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