Bio77

Coral in traditional African healing

In olden days Africans regarded the sea with great reverence and worshiped it as the source of some of the most important and valuable medicines that they had in the unending war against bodily ills.

“AMATHAMBO OLWANDLE“ the bones of the sea” was the African name for coral. Healers believed coral to be the holiest substance to come out of the sea and thought it to be one of the seven pillars of longevity.

Most of the time coral was ground into a fine powder, it was swallowed with water by the king and his family once every four days. It was believed that powdered coral was not only excellent for bodily health but also had power to nourish and strengthen the soul itself. A warrior king recovering from wounds sustained in battle used to be given a daily drink of pure powdered coral every day.

Extract from an article by CREDO VUSAMAZULU MUTWA