ABANYALA BA KAKAMEGA- Names of diseases and Ailments

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The Abanyala ba Kakamega have names for many diseases and ailments based on the symptoms. When juxtaposed with modern scientific names of diseases, the various 'symptomatic naming' can have approximate translations in English. Abanyala ba Kakamega had/have herbal medicine for most of the diseases administered to the sick basing on the symptoms exhibited.

The following is a list of the disease and ailments. The herbal concoctions used will be captured under another blog post.

A) GENERAL TERMS USED WITH DISEASES AND AILMENTS IN OLUNYALA (K)
  1. Amatekhere- general weakening of the body is characterized by lack of energy.
  2. Endiira- infectious diseases.
  3. Endwasi- general body immunity weakness making it prone to effects of opportunistic diseases leading to chronic illness that has backache as main symptom.
  4. Lumale- a disease outbreak that lead to mass death of people and livestock.
  5. Nabaaba- general epidermic outbreak of unknown any type. It was usually associated with a bad spirits and was evaded by turning to spiritual intervention.
  6. Okhuawula- to isolate a sick person from the for some few hours.
  7. Okhuchengama- to become unable to move but conscious.
  8. Okhukeria- to put a person into quarantine. Done to those suffering from leprosy.
  9. Okhuwulikha- to be under stroke and bedridden.
  10. Olumbe- general epidermic infectious disease with common symptoms that takes long to heal or causes many deaths.
  11. Owuleme- disability caused by diseases or accident.
  12. Owulwaye- general common failure in health not caused by accident.
2. NAMES OF PHYSCAL DISABILITIES IN OLUNYALA (K)
  1. Amakachwa- bow legs. 
  2. Amasiu- cross eyed. 
  3. Ebitusyu- dimples. At times considered as a mark of beauty seen during smiling.
  4. Ekacha- inablity to walk that starts in childhood.
  5. Etondo- albino.
  6. Esichiri- inability to cause an erection and sire children.
  7. Esiumo- excessively towering forehead.
  8. Esikufu- hunchback
  9. Masiru- dumb. Lacking the ability to hear.
  10. Nalusio- having one functional eye.
  11. Olukhong'o- excessive towering back-head.
  12. Olukoto- having one lame hand.
  13. Olukweri- protruding teeth.
  14. Onguye- extremely short with big head
  15. Omulema- having a problem with one or both legs.
  16. Omuofu- lacking the ability to see.
  17. Omutulienge- a child who is completely deformed at time of birth.
  18. Aw'esilimi- stammerer
  19. Owunyaola- irredeemable idiocy.
  20. Timbiti- lacking ability to see and hear
3. NAMES OF DISEASES AND AILMENTS IN HUMAN IN OLUNYALA (K)
Each ailment had a specific herbal cure hence the Abanyala ba Kakamega had specific names for specific diseases, ailments and symptoms. In fact, some symptoms were taken as diseases and ailments worth treating.
  1. Amachuuni-  a condition of the virgina contracting causing blockage during sexual arousal.
  2. Amaleengelenge- gum disease.
  3. Amakabia- painful cracked feet soles
  4. Amakachwa- rickets. Young children had the joints massaged using warm olwambuli herbs exposed to morning sun.
  5. Amakacha- rheumatism.
  6. Amakelo- bone cancer
  7. Amakhenie- tapeworm.
  8. Amalalu- madness, meningitis
  9. Amalolelole- Conjunctivitis.
  10. Amakere- leprosy.
  11. Amakhererie- itchthyosis. Characterized by rough cracked scale-patterns on legs or hands. At times this defect run in some families. Those with this defect were advised not to marry each other since it lead to a worse type. 

  12. Amamiro (etondoosi)- tonsillitis
  13. Amanakasi- momentary numbness.
  14. Amatendeme- excessive phobia towards height.
  15. Amawuliesi- blurred vision making objects less precise for details to be resolved.
  16. Aswaka- common cold and flu.
  17. Embuunda- cancer.
  18. Embwa- stye. Small boil on the eye-lid. It was associated with denying a dog food.
  19. Embwi- swelling. hardened swelling after hard hit especially on forehead.
  20. Endabarwa-
  21. Endia- Bulimia nervosa. Usually small body sized but eat a lot of food at a time until they feel pain.
  22. Engunyi- psychotic stress
  23. Ebasa- blister characterized by pockets of body fluid within upper layer of skin due to friction, burns or chemical exposure.
  24. Ebichukuni- Ringworm symptoms as patches of hairless areas on head.
  25. Ebikhombamosi- ringworm symptoms on bare skin surface. 
  26. Ebikhundukunyu- Papilloma
  27. Ebikotikoti (ebiondo)- chicken pox
  28. Ebimba- boil that is deeper. Small boil is called esiondo.
  29. Ebitandanyi- mumps. Believed to be cured by dancing around omuchembe tree. 
  30. Efucho- White piedra. White substances found in women's hair.
  31. Ekhira- ailment believed to be arising from involvement in elicit sexual relation which affects ones children.
  32. Ekilimi- long uvula that causes air blockage, coughing and snoring. It was cured using herbs that made it to shrink.
  33. Ekonjio- Wound.
  34. Elino- toothache.
  35. Embaha- yellow frothy diarrhea in children being introduced to solid food.
  36. Embewo- fever
  37. Embiye- belching bad breath after eating a lot if food especially eggs, beans or meat.
  38. Embulu- Gingivitis
  39. Emongo- suffering consequences of poetic justice.
  40. Endeerwa-
  41. Endesi- cataracts. Characterized by pupil becoming opaque. 
  42. Endukhulu- rashes in newborn babies. Cured by tieing a small bead of oater skin on the child.
  43. Endulume- Epilepsy
  44. Endumbiri- Elephantiasis 
  45. Endwaye- Sexually transmitted diseases
  46. Engakha- Scabies 
  47. Engisa- marasmus. It was basically among children.
  48. Eng'oni- psychological slowness in doing thing.
  49. Enguliesi- blurred vision.
  50. Enjikulira- ear disease characterized by pus.
  51. Enjukha-munda- roundworms
  52. Enjumbi- Bilharzia. Chronic stomach swelling disease caused by dirty water.
  53. Enjulilisi- characterized by farting any moment one makes a bending movement.
  54. Enondabalayi- pimples
  55. Enuma- labour pains
  56. Enyende- jigger infestations.
  57. Esalire- pain that comes long after a cut such as circumcision.
  58. Esambafu- swollen lymph nodes.
  59. Esiasimulo- Sneeze
  60. Esichanda mang'isu- a type of veneral disease characterized by sore blisters on scrotum.
  61. Esichanda sikhomi- a type of veneral disease
  62. Esierekere- measles
  63. Esifwa (esibere)- prostrate of testis area
  64. Esikhololo- cough
  65. Esikubo- Dyspnoeia characterized by shortness and struggle of breath. Traditionally treated by piercing below the third rib.
  66. Esiondo- small sized boils.
  67. Esirikisa- hiccups. Cured by drinking water mixed with herbal ash.
  68. Esirumba- gonnorrhea. Treated using concoction from roots of omutachamalasire, jacaranda and omusangula.
  69. Esiungu- whitlow. The finger end swells without any visible cause. Treated by herbs concoction with enderema as part of the ingredients.
  70. Esiwaali- small pox. Characterized by flu, fever, rashes in mouth that spreads to other parts of the body leading to scaly skin. It belongs to the general category of okuyaka.
  71. Esiyungo- phobia for lonely places especially in children
  72. Esolomi- hard stuff felt in the stomach. At times used for appendix infection.
  73. Esolosi- This is a localized swelling on the body surface. The affected skin area become hard ans smooth.
  74. Esomisomi- Side stitch that become worse after exercise.
  75. Esomasomi chya emilisi- muscle cramps occurring as sudden involuntary contractions.
  76. Esomasomi chya olukumu- menstrual cramps. Easily cured by herbs.
  77. Esundo- Warts. Cured by using herbs
  78. Etakirisi- after-birth pains.
  79. Etole (emoni)- failure of foreskin to cover the glan of penis.
  80. Ewuche- skin allergy of the urticaria condition. Curable by use of herbs.
  81. Lumale- 
  82. Nalubiri- sicklecell desease 
  83. Namukhengo-
  84. Olukhochakusi- Periondontitis. Cured in early stages using akhasolola'mache.
  85. Okhuanda- Phimosis condition
  86. Okhubirukha- swollen limbs due to initial blockage of lymph nodes. It is usually the beginning of elephantiasis when the swelling is still soft. Also used to refer to obesity.
  87. Okhuchukha (khachoolo) - dysentery. It belongs to the general category of okhunyalala.
  88. Okhuchulucha- 
  89. Okhukhupwa amanakasi- stroke.
  90. Okhukhebwa nende Were- pariphoimosis. Characterized by failure of the foreskin being retracted over the penis glan causing swelling and pain.
  91. Okhulusa- Vomiting
  92. Okhukwa nende ekunia- general impotence.
  93. Okhunyalala- diarrhea
  94. Okhuserukha- mild acne. Cured using esikakha, nanjaka and omupera.
  95. Okhusimba- swellings on the body.
  96. Okuhere (esiyeera)- Tuberculosis
  97. Okukhololo kukali (okhuwukukha)- Whooping cough.
  98. Okuheecherero- Pnemonia. Cured by herbs that are boiled and vapour inhelled.
  99. Okhunyicha- be in comatose.
  100. Okhufwoba- froathing at the mouth
  101. Okhusanyalala (okhucheng'ama)- become paralyzed
  102. Okhusimbwa- constipation.
  103. Okhwibalalira- to have a sprain.
  104. Okhwitaba- Cholera
  105. Okhwoma- apnea condition characterized by cessation of breath for some minutes.
  106. Oluangalala- heart attack
  107. Oluchong'a- yaws 
  108. Olukumu- Ammenorrhea. Characterized by lack of periods woman of reproductive age.
  109. Olufuba- asthma.
  110. Olufuliero- Yellow fever
  111. Oluhalala- stiff neck
  112. Oluhemulo- 
  113. Olukholiolio- consistency in production of septum that requires clearing throat.
  114. Olukhune- 
  115. Olukhuni- guinea worm disease treated using elephant foot climber.
  116. Olukiro- post natal disease for mothers.
  117. Olukito- characterized by large amount of frequent urination. Treated using the tubers of Rumex acetosella that are boiled alone, or in combination with the bark of Sclerocarya birrea and guava leaves.leaves. In case of accompanying obesity cases, the the seeds of Boscia coriacea are boiled and administered to the patient.
  118. Olumbuuchu- dizziness. Treated by drinking a lot of water and licking salt made from reeds. Young leaves of guava plants of the bitter species were eaten.
  119. Olumirabichole- General body weakness that comes with excess appetite for food and mood swings. Treated using conconction of Vernonia amygadelina, quava leaves and mondia sp. Also, the tubers of Rumex acetosella are boiled alone, or in combination with the bark of Sclerocarya birrea and the concoction administered
  120. Olumiu- inflammation of penis glan. Treated by administering pot-soot on the glan after circumcision or upon infection. The firewood for the soot was specific.
  121. Olumululi- consistency in abortions.
  122. Olumusiu- halitosis. Characterized by breathing out fowl smell. Cured by use of akhasolola mache.
  123. Olung'era- asthma
  124. Olunomindo- 
  125. Olunwa- having cleft palate. 
  126. Oluse- kwashiokor
  127. Olusang'usang'u- goiter. Characterized by swelling at the kneck. 
  128. Olusimiisi- heart attack.
  129. Olutata- food poisoning
  130. Olutuli (olutumbi)- swollen painless belly usually filled with fluid water. 
  131. Oluwungukhira- inability to coordinate thoughts and speech.
  132. Oluwungule- sleeping sickness.
  133. Olwanda- unperforated hymen.
  134. Olweyuulo- ulcers. Treated inearly stages using olweeyo mixed with other ingredients.
  135. Olw'owute- varginal discharge with odour. Curable using herbs
  136. Olwiyako- itchy skin.
  137. Olwondera- 
  138. Omuchwe- headache.
  139. Omukhoba- Rectal prolapse.
  140. Omukongo- backache.
  141. Omumwi- anaemia
  142. Omuyaka- Malaria.
  143. Omwetabo- cholera. Belonged to broad category of okhunyalala.
  144. Omwololu- Nosebleeding. Cured using tobacco snuff and other herbs.
  145. Omwoyo okhusiukha- nausea
  146. Owaaka- athlete's foot
  147. Owiwo- sickeness that comes with giving birth.
  148. Owufulu- sickeness of the wound after circumcision.
  149. Owuluho- extreme thirst.
  150. Owusumwa- infectous skin desease characterised by rashes.
4. NAMES OF DISEASES FOR DOMESTIC ANIMAL. 
  1. Amang'wari- foot and mouth disease.
  2. Amaumba- East Coast Fever
  3. Ebanu- mastitis
  4. Endesi- cataract.
  5. Esipwakuli- foot rot
  6. Esolosi- swelling on the skin due to being hit.
  7. Etunia- peeling skin patches.
  8. Khaoya- rindepest
  9. Olumama-
  10. Olupuli- newcastle
  11. Omuyaka- general name for chicken deseases such as cockcidiosis




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