Packet of Ngetwa 3 herbal medicine for 'the treatment of many diseases', Kyela, Tanzania, 2005

‘Ngetwa 3’ is a mass-produced herbal medicine consisting of 54 herbs local to the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania. The Tanzanian mganga (traditional healer) who formulated the combination, Mr. M. H. Ngetwa, is shown on the front. Users are instructed to drink a tablespoon mixed in half a glass of water three times a day to treat a wide range of diseases and symptoms ranging from allergies and skin conditions to malaria, epilepsy, diarrhoea, migraine, and hiccups. Sold across central and southern Africa, the product is foil-packed for a longer shelf life.

In many African countries, herbal medicines are used as primary treatment for symptoms caused by HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). The preparations are also widely used to relieve side effects associated with antiretroviral therapy (ART), a combination of drugs that suppress HIV replication.