Herbal Medicine 

Ethiopia is one of the oldest nations in the world and known to be the origin of human ancestry.  It is also endowed with a long traditional history in which plant-based medicines are practiced from ancient times. In Ethiopia, traditional medicine is a fundamental part of the society and culture and is a major part of public health system. Researchers have indicated that Ethiopia has the richest medicinal floras in Africa as well as in the world with more than 6200 plant species, of which around 12 % are believed to be endemic.  

Reports indicate that a predictable 80% of the population in Ethiopia depends on traditional remedies to restore good health in response to various health problems of which not less than 90% is from plant species. This long-term practice of traditional medicine, mostly in the rural and very remote areas of the country, is strongly associated with sociocultural appeal, accessibility, and less exposure to modern health.     It is prohibited for anyone to crush or squeeze the plants listed in this book for their own use or to give to others.

These are the plants we use for different ailments; seasoned and carefully prepared and given to consumers; Cultural medicine is prepared by people with many years of experience and adequate training. Traditional healing methods outlined in this book; is the wisdom inherited from our ancestors.  

Our ancient ancestors dug roots and cut leaves and tasted them. This wisdom was revealed to them spiritually through prayers. Traditional remedies listed in this book; To heal people who are bound by an evil spirit; were used to cure the sick during epidemics.  

These medical methods in Ethiopia, which exist in various churches and monasteries described in books made of animal skins; in Geez; were also written in Hebrew and Arabic.  

Mystery of Spiritual
Healing   

It is a blessing of God revealed to the ancient spiritual fathers in prayers to heal the diseases that cause the worst annihilation of mankind. According to the information obtained from historical records, it is written that Ethiopia is one of the 7 places visited by spiritual holy fathers. According to the belief of our spiritual fathers, explained in their books, those who find medicines to save human beings from perilous diseases were revealed to them through fasting and prayer.  

This means that the medicines that were used for medical purposes many thousands of years ago are still being used from generation to generation. It is believed that many pyramids built in three different colors, bigger than the Egyptian pyramids, and churches and cities built from rocks in Ethiopia, that were hidden from human eyes, through spiritual prayers of our forefathers were revealed to them as indicated in these ancient books.   

The reason Ethiopian remained a powerful country until the end of the 2nd century is because they understood and used spiritual secrets that were hidden to the present generation. These hidden secrets are believed to have the potential to change the balance of power in our world as they hold the heavenly secret. However, when we started to think in our own way, all the spiritual secrets were hidden from us.  

When we trace the ancient lineage of our ancestors to the six mysteries, they say that the path to the six spiritual mysteries is blocked.  

However, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church takes the biggest share in the development of literature and traditional medicine in Ethiopia and make it accessible to the society. It is the Ethiopian Orthodox Church that has preserved history as a museum in a time when technology was not widespread.  

Ethiopia, in one way or another, spread the ancient civilization in the country.  Ethiopian Orthodox church also made a great contribution by inviting scholars from abroad and bringing together scholars who were in the country.  

These scholars were teaching philosophy in Ethiopia introduced management systems; expanded religious education; spread the chronology and many other arts and passed them down from generation to generation.   According to the spiritual teachings of our ancient ancestors, to help and support each other, people went to every church and monastery and established a Sunday School and provided spiritual education. When a person died, they led a community gathering for funeral services, and taught that treating a guest in need with respect is of great value in the heavenly home. These spiritual fathers listed six spiritual mysteries with the wisdom revealed to them by the Spirit and wrote them as follows.

The six spiritual secrets to Good Health  

There are certain spiritual laws that contain the secret of good health, and if we try to discover these laws and obey them, our chances of remaining healthy through the years are greatly increased. Usually, a traditional medicine is related to spiritual beliefs, and it is believed that the medicines used for medical purposes are inspired by the Spirt of God.  

1.  Name  

First the name that is set explains the personal profile and identification by which a person is called. Whether he is honored or humiliated, he is defined and known by his name. Also, what happens to a person in horoscope is known by astrology based on his name and month of birth.  

 2. Blessing  

It is a spiritual mystery that our ancient spiritual fathers heard as a secondary blessing. This is the most important thing for us human beings living on this earth in our earthly life, health, humility, peace, and love. They also believe that the good deeds we have done on earth will bring blessings from God, and they also say that we will receive blessings in heaven. Therefore, the good deeds we have done on earth will inherit paradise in heaven. Then they say we will live in peace and happiness forever.  

3. Power  

Before our father Adam sinned and returned to this earth again, he was given power by God to be the ruler and administrator of twelve earthly and heavenly beings divided into four categories. However, later he displeased God and when he returned to the earth, the holy angels taught him the power and wisdom that is useful for all creatures on

earth.  

   4. Authority  

Our father Adam was born with the honor of rulership. He ruled and governed the twelve heavens on earth and in the heaven and the creatures in them. To show their submission, the creatures in the heavens worshiped Adam by going back to Paradise, but later on, even though Adam was stripped of his earthly and heavenly authority due to his mistake, the holy angels taught him the secret of gaining the glory of rulership. However, later he displeased God and when he returned to the earth, the holy angels taught him the power and wisdom that is useful for all creatures on earth.  

 5. Union   

From the time Adam was created, he had a very good relationship and fellowship with the holy angels. It is said that because of this good relationship, he crossed over to heaven and ruled over there.   

6.  Seek the Great Healer.    

In one of the most beautiful scenes described in the New Testament, Jesus was on a plain near the sea. A great multitude had gathered. The Bible says, “And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him and healed them all” (Luke 6:19). The Revised Standard Version renders this text: “…for power came from him and healed them all.”  

The Bible also says that Jesus Christ is “the same yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). He has not lost His ancient skill. The multitudes still gather today, you and I and all of us. And I tell you in His name that if we seek to touch Him, really seek to touch Him, power will come out of Him and heal us all.  

How does this healing power operate? It heals the body, but that is secondary. The real sickness of man is in his mind and in his soul. And this is the part that Jesus Christ makes whole. When you are whole in soul and mind and body, you live with power and with joy, and that is the true secret of radiant, lifelong health.