Ọsanyìn and the Living Power of Plants: Ritual Healing in Yoruba Historical and Cultural Contexts

This paper explores the role of Ọ̀sanyìn, the Yoruba deity of herbs and healing, as a central figure in ritual healing practices, emphasizing the living power of plants within historical and cultural contexts. Drawing on spiritual ecology, indigenous knowledge systems, and symbolic anthropology, it examines how plants serve as cultural agents embodying vital force (àṣẹ), integrated through divination (Ifá), incantations (ọfọ̀), and sacrifices (ẹbọ) in a holistic approach to health that intertwines physical, spiritual, and social dimensions. The analysis traces the evolution of these practices from precolonial cohesion, through colonial marginalization via biomedical hegemony and legal suppression, to postcolonial adaptation, hybridization, and commercialization amid globalization, Christianity, and Islam. Contemporary challenges include environmental degradation threatening plant resources, regulatory paradoxes, and gendered labor dynamics, while opportunities arise from policy recognition (e.g., WHO strategies) and epistemic pluralism. Comparative perspectives with Ayurvedic, Native American, and Amazonian traditions highlight shared emphases on ritual reciprocity and sustainability. Ultimately, the paper advocates for decolonizing health discourses, positioning Yoruba healing as a resilient cultural rationale offering insights into global heritage, ecological conservation, and integrative medicine