An Italian woman has caught the attention of residents in Malindi after developing an unconventional method to treat health ailments.
The technique, which involves natural healing elements and is coined ‘The Beginning of Yourself’, has attracted a multitude of area residents who have spoken highly of her methods.
The remedy begins with ‘patients’ lying on their backs in a circle, leaving a space at the centre that the woman later occupies.
She then moves around each ‘patient’, placing her hands on their head, chest, or sometimes their back, applying pressure in an attempt to release built-up tension and emotions.
By doing so, those who are ailing can supposedly recover and feel better without having to go to hospital for medical treatment.
“Imagine a container; every day, the container is filling up with your (negative) experiences. Then one day, the container becomes full, and these experiences become sickness, disorder, and depression,” the woman stated.
It is unclear whether ‘patients’ pay for the service or whether the woman is legally permitted to conduct the unconventional practice. Other details regarding the scope of ailments she can treat also remain unclear.
However, doctors in the medical profession have dismissed the foreigner’s healing abilities, advising those suffering from illnesses to seek professional medical help.
The woman’s patients have disputed this, citing numerous instances where her methods have reportedly led to their ‘healing’.
“Every time there was something I felt was holding me back, blocking me, but after the liberation, I started feeling light. Before, my body was feeling heavy,” one of her ‘patients’ noted.
Using non-medicinal methods of healing, often referred to as Traditional, Complementary, and Alternative Medicine (TCAM or CAM), is significant and on an upward trajectory in Kenya.
Historically, traditional medicine faced significant stigma and was even outlawed in colonial times, often termed "witchcraft."
Even so, there is growing recognition by the Kenyan government and health bodies of the widespread use and potential value of alternative forms of healing.
The Health Act No. 21 of 2017 is a significant step in this regard. Section 75 mandates the establishment of a regulatory body to oversee the practice of traditional and alternative medicine, maintain registers, and set minimum standards. Sections 76 to 79 address documentation, standardisation, charges, and referral mechanisms.
However, past cases have shown that some forms of alternative healing have been used as conduits for cults, often centred around religion.
