Philological and Anthropological Analysis With Annotated Translation
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Date
2020-09
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The research explores philological and anthropological aspects of herbal medicine. As an
interdisciplinary project, the research employed philological and anthropological methods. It
aims at elucidating the Ethiopian medicinal system of knowledge based on the Ethiopian
medicinal manuscript of ʾƎṣä Däbdabbe. It gives annotated translation of the selected text
(NALA 489) and anthropological analysis on the five selected herbs (Qäbärǝččo ቀበርቾ Echinops,
Dädäho ደደሆ Eucleaschimperi, Kǝtkǝta ክትክታ Dodonae aviscose, Mǝsǝrǝčǝ ምስርች Clerodendrum
myricoides and ḥärägǝresa ሐረግሬሳ Zehneriascabra). It also gives the history of medicinal
manuscripts and distribution in and outside of Ethiopia. The study also tries to forward ways to
keep medicinal manuscripts of the country towards their revival and assessed Ethiopian policy
towards traditional medicine. Comparative and critical investigation were conducted on
manuscripts such as Mäṣḥafä Fäws, ʾƎṣä Mädǝḥanit and notes on medicinal prescriptions in
varia / marginalia folios of other medicinal manuscripts. The study explored Ethiopian
manuscripts and manuscript microfilm collections in Ethiopia, Germany and the United States of
America. In addition, it surveyed printed and online catalogues of Ethiopian manuscripts
worldwide; and conducted key informant interview with traditional medicine practitioners. The
research was conducted in two regions (Maychew and Assosa) and ten practitioners had
participated in focus group discussion (FGD). The findings of the research have shown the
similarity between the uses laid out in the studied base manuscript and the information obtained
from the oral sources.