Traditional Medicine

Biography
Dr Mlungisi Ngcobo obtained his Masters in Medical Biochemistry and a PhD in Health Sciences from the University of KwaZulu Natal in South Africa. He is currently a Senior Lecturer at University of KwaZulu Natal’s School of Nursing and Public Health based at the Discipline of Traditional Medicine. His research work has focused on traditional medicines from traditional healers that are used as immune boosters. He has been published in numerous international and national peer-reviewed journals on various subjects ranging from the biochemical effects of traditional medicines to proposed regulations that will govern the practice of traditional healing and use of traditional medicines. Overall, he has published 23 peer reviewed research articles. He has successfully supervised 9 Honours, 7 Masters and 5 PhD students. He is currently supervising/co-supervising 3 Masters and 9 PhD students. As a Senior Lecturer in the Discipline, he is part of a team that is developing a traditional medicine curriculum that will be integrated into different programmes in the College of Health Sciences. He represents the Discipline of Traditional Medicine in the School’s Teaching and Learning and Research Committees. He is also serving as a language champion for the School of Nursing and Public Health with the aim of encouraging the implementation of multilingualism in teaching, learning and research in health sciences.He was previously part of the Agroprocessing Industrial Economic Hub project of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development and Tourism which was led by Prof Nceba Gqaleni. The project included formulating a strategy for the commercialisation of indigenous medicinal plants and traditional medicines. He has also served as a Senior Researcher at the John Langalibalele Dube Institute where he was involved in various programs aimed at resolving the land restitution challenges in South Africa.