TABLE 3.

Findings of the study.

Primal health care attributes	Application of attributes
Foundation in the African philosophy of Ubuntu and the belief system	With primal health care everyone is included in the healing process because an injury to one is an injury to all and with Ubuntu: ‘I am because you are and you are because I am’.
Uses holistic approach, not compartmentalisation	The healing process is not separated into mental or physical health but rather intertwined in a holistic approach. The healing goes to the extent of not only including the ill individual but also involving the family and, at times, the whole community.
Primordial system	Primal health care is the health care that originated in Africa and was practised in Africa prior to the colonisation era and introduction of the modern health care system.
Mobilises support from within the family and community	The family and community plays an important role in the healing process as the ill individual is nursed at home and not institutionalised.
Practised in the community	Indigenous African communities believe in the bond between the living and the ancestors and that indigenous practitioners have the calling or gift to connect the two. The connection process is done by the chosen community indigenous practitioners in the community for the community.
Validated and confirmed by the community	Before any use of a medicinal plan, the selected community members undergo an experimental journey where a sick animal eating that particular plant is observed and monitored for the healing process.
Based on an acceptable process of learning, approved and accepted by community	The indigenous student known as mathwasana undergoes intense training before he or she can start to facilitate any healing process. Not everyone can become an indigenous practitioner as it is a calling.
Uses natural resources available in the community	African indigenous community make use of natural resources such as medicinal plants to facilitate healing.
Supersedes primary health care and is cost effective	Consultation of the indigenous practitioner is more affordable (payment is usually in kind and not in cash) and often the ill person only pays after he or she has recovered.