Natural Science and Technology
for the Classroom 2
NST1502
Year Module
Department of Science and
Technology Education
NB PLEASE PARAPHRASE YOUR OWN WORK TO AVOID PLAGIARISM
SECTION A
Activity 1.1
How traditional healers and Western medical doctors discover their medicines
In the modern day and age there are many types of healing that takes place, amongst them are two
key types of healing, through traditional ways and through western medicine. The processes differ
from one another. In this brief write up I will discuss how these differ in the way they acquire their
medicines.
Traditional healers may use various diagnostic assessment methods to determine the problem of a
client. In some instances they may use herbs or perform some initial rituals. If the disorder does not
respond to these treatments, there is a re-diagnosis, and other assessment methods are considered.
Essandoh (1995) has described this practice as similar to the use of decision trees and differential
diagnosis in clinical practice in the West and has suggested that when traditional healers rule in or
rule out causes of disorders, there is the implication that something else (often supernatural) is
causing the disease. Essandoh, has suggested that some disorders do not respond to initial
treatment because traditional healers give instructions that are impossible to follow leading to a
high “patient relapse rate” which benefits the healer. Rediagnosis, according to Essandoh; involves
giving the client “a few simple post-treatment instructions to enable him to carry them out daily
with success, and less anxiety.
The methods used by traditional health practitioners are normally environmentally friendly.
Although traditional health practitioners cannot explain their procedures in scientific terms, their
methods have been found to be effective for generations. On the other hand, western medicines are
discovered in a totally different way. It has more to do with research and scientific methods.
Creating a new medicine is a long and rigorous process, and it can take up to 15 years to progress
LORA TUTORING 0734281553
, from a promising idea in the research laboratory through clinical development to a medicine
receiving approval from regulators.
Firstly they do research. They use growing understanding of biology to identify ‘targets’. A target is a
molecule or pathway in the body (for example, an enzyme) that contributes to the development of a
disease or its symptoms. Initially, it is important to build confidence that the target they select is
valid, meaning that it affects the disease process in the way that the science suggests. Once a target
has been identified and validated, the next step is to find molecules that might inhibit or enhance
the target’s activity. Current techniques allow many hundreds of compounds to be screened very
quickly for this activity. Compounds that initially show the effect they want are called 'hits’. Once
they have identified the hits, they narrow down the number of possible compounds by further
testing, to come up with lead compounds that they believe to be originators to the ultimate drug
they are looking for. At this stage the researchers do more detailed investigation of the lead
compounds. By testing with living cells, bacteria or tissue cultures in the lab, or in animals, their
scientists build an understanding of the effects of the compounds.
If the work has been successful, the research team will have identified a compound to consider
testing in humans. In this brief write-up we looked at the process traditional healers and modern
western doctors use to discover their medicines.
Activity 1.3
1. Atom- The smallest particle of a chemical element that can exist.
2. Chemical bond- A chemical bond is a lasting attraction between atoms, ions or
molecules that enables the formation of chemical compounds.
3. Compound- When two or more elements are joined together through chemical
bonds, they become a compound.
4. Covalent bond- Covalent bonds are bonds between two atoms that share electrons
in their outer electron shell.
5. Element- An element is a substance that cannot be broken down into any other
substance. Every element is made up of its own type of atom.
6. Hydrogen bond- Hydrogen bond is a partially electrostatic attraction between
hydrogen (H) which is bound to a more electronegative atom such as nitrogen (N), oxygen (O), or
fluorine (F), and another adjacent atom bearing a lone pair of
electrons.
7. Inorganic compound- Inorganic compounds do not have a carbon element and are
not derived from living materials.
8. Ionic bond- Ionic bonds are formed by passing an electron from one atom to
another. This means one partner becomes positive, the other negative, and they
attract one another.
LORA TUTORING 0734281553
for the Classroom 2
NST1502
Year Module
Department of Science and
Technology Education
NB PLEASE PARAPHRASE YOUR OWN WORK TO AVOID PLAGIARISM
SECTION A
Activity 1.1
How traditional healers and Western medical doctors discover their medicines
In the modern day and age there are many types of healing that takes place, amongst them are two
key types of healing, through traditional ways and through western medicine. The processes differ
from one another. In this brief write up I will discuss how these differ in the way they acquire their
medicines.
Traditional healers may use various diagnostic assessment methods to determine the problem of a
client. In some instances they may use herbs or perform some initial rituals. If the disorder does not
respond to these treatments, there is a re-diagnosis, and other assessment methods are considered.
Essandoh (1995) has described this practice as similar to the use of decision trees and differential
diagnosis in clinical practice in the West and has suggested that when traditional healers rule in or
rule out causes of disorders, there is the implication that something else (often supernatural) is
causing the disease. Essandoh, has suggested that some disorders do not respond to initial
treatment because traditional healers give instructions that are impossible to follow leading to a
high “patient relapse rate” which benefits the healer. Rediagnosis, according to Essandoh; involves
giving the client “a few simple post-treatment instructions to enable him to carry them out daily
with success, and less anxiety.
The methods used by traditional health practitioners are normally environmentally friendly.
Although traditional health practitioners cannot explain their procedures in scientific terms, their
methods have been found to be effective for generations. On the other hand, western medicines are
discovered in a totally different way. It has more to do with research and scientific methods.
Creating a new medicine is a long and rigorous process, and it can take up to 15 years to progress
LORA TUTORING 0734281553
, from a promising idea in the research laboratory through clinical development to a medicine
receiving approval from regulators.
Firstly they do research. They use growing understanding of biology to identify ‘targets’. A target is a
molecule or pathway in the body (for example, an enzyme) that contributes to the development of a
disease or its symptoms. Initially, it is important to build confidence that the target they select is
valid, meaning that it affects the disease process in the way that the science suggests. Once a target
has been identified and validated, the next step is to find molecules that might inhibit or enhance
the target’s activity. Current techniques allow many hundreds of compounds to be screened very
quickly for this activity. Compounds that initially show the effect they want are called 'hits’. Once
they have identified the hits, they narrow down the number of possible compounds by further
testing, to come up with lead compounds that they believe to be originators to the ultimate drug
they are looking for. At this stage the researchers do more detailed investigation of the lead
compounds. By testing with living cells, bacteria or tissue cultures in the lab, or in animals, their
scientists build an understanding of the effects of the compounds.
If the work has been successful, the research team will have identified a compound to consider
testing in humans. In this brief write-up we looked at the process traditional healers and modern
western doctors use to discover their medicines.
Activity 1.3
1. Atom- The smallest particle of a chemical element that can exist.
2. Chemical bond- A chemical bond is a lasting attraction between atoms, ions or
molecules that enables the formation of chemical compounds.
3. Compound- When two or more elements are joined together through chemical
bonds, they become a compound.
4. Covalent bond- Covalent bonds are bonds between two atoms that share electrons
in their outer electron shell.
5. Element- An element is a substance that cannot be broken down into any other
substance. Every element is made up of its own type of atom.
6. Hydrogen bond- Hydrogen bond is a partially electrostatic attraction between
hydrogen (H) which is bound to a more electronegative atom such as nitrogen (N), oxygen (O), or
fluorine (F), and another adjacent atom bearing a lone pair of
electrons.
7. Inorganic compound- Inorganic compounds do not have a carbon element and are
not derived from living materials.
8. Ionic bond- Ionic bonds are formed by passing an electron from one atom to
another. This means one partner becomes positive, the other negative, and they
attract one another.
LORA TUTORING 0734281553
