Growing up in Ha-Mapila village in Limpopo, Dr Sharon Maphaha’s natural caregiving instinct was clear to her family from a young age. Her academic achievements led them to believe she would become a doctor, but instead of following the traditional medical path, Maphaha chose phytotherapy, a natural form of healing.
Today, she combines this practice with holistic health and education, dedicated to using nature’s healing power to shape healthcare solutions for future generations.
After school, Maphaha couldn’t go straight to university for medical studies due to financial challenges, so she studied metallurgical engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand and graduated in 2005.
Maphaha says she chose metallurgical studies because it came with a bursary. “After completing my degree, I went and worked at a mine.”
Discovering the world of natural healing
Her passion for healing was reignited during that time. “I stumbled upon a book that spoke about natural medicine.”
She explains that the book titled “Back to Eden” by Jethro Kloss went into detail about how natural resources such as water, herbs, and sunlight can be used to heal the body.
After working for 11 years as a metallurgical engineer at a mine, she enrolled for a five-year phytotherapy degree at the University of the Western Cape (UWC).
She notes that leaving her children behind was heartbreaking, but she had to chase her dreams. Fortunately, having a supportive family made it easier for her.
“Thankfully, my family is very supportive of my journey. They stepped in and took care of my children.”
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Integrating plants and health for holistic care
Maphaha explains, “A phytotherapist is a professional who uses the healing power of plants to treat and prevent illness. But what many people don’t realise is that phytotherapists are also trained to diagnose illnesses, just like other healthcare practitioners.”
She says phytotherapists undergo extensive training to understand how the human body functions, how illnesses develop, and how to recognise symptoms of various health conditions.
She further notes that when you visit a phytotherapist, they don’t just ask about your symptoms – they take the time to assess your overall health, lifestyle, and medical history to identify the underlying cause of your health concerns.
“Once they’ve diagnosed the issue, a phytotherapist creates a personalised treatment plan using natural remedies.”
Dr Sharon Maphaha
These might include herbal teas, tinctures (liquid extracts), capsules, or topical applications like creams or oils, she further explains. Because they’re trained in both plant medicine and human health, phytotherapists also understand how herbs interact with other medications you may be taking, ensuring their recommendations are safe and effective.
Maphaha is also a reiki practitioner. Unlike the mechanical approach of treating isolated body parts, reiki views the body as an interconnected energy system. She adds that reiki works across four key levels of healing: physical healing, emotional harmony, mental clarity, and spiritual growth.
Healing through nature
Maphaha says her biggest challenge is the fact that her profession is not widely recognised.
“A lot of people don’t know what a phytotherapist is, so people are not actively looking for a phytotherapist. And people generally don’t think they need to consult a doctor to get herbal prescription.”
She further adds that her profession is not currently integrated into the national health system, which means she can’t work in a hospital like a medical doctor.
This limits employment opportunities for people in her profession.
“I had to open my own practice in order to work as a doctor.
“My goal is to start hosting wellness retreats in the near future and to continue helping those who are suffering from pain because I know that lasting pain relief is possible.”
She now leads her practice, Dr Sharon Maphaha’s Pain Treatment Centre, based in Erasmusrand, Pretoria East.
“My role is to empower people to attain a state of healing by using natural methods of healing, i.e., herbs, nutrition, lifestyle adjustments, and reiki.”
Maphaha adds, “With a strong focus on pain management in my practice, I believe that a lot can be done to alleviate pain without causing harm to other body systems.”
She explains that the impact she strives to make is to see more people using food as medicine, as adequate nutrition can help both prevent and heal various illnesses.
Driven by purpose
For anyone looking to get into phytotherapy studies, Maphaha advises, “I’d say: do your research and be clear about why you want to work in healthcare. Let your WHY drive you through the ups and downs of your journey.
“I think chronic illnesses are our biggest health challenge currently. My approach involves facilitating the body’s innate ability to heal itself.
“I believe nutrient deficiencies are at the core of many chronic illnesses. My role is to nurture the body so that it can heal itself through food and herbs. I also look at the individual’s lifestyle with the aim of identifying any habits that are sustaining the illness,” she adds.
Maphaha also notes, “If I wasn’t a doctor, I would be a teacher. I’m passionate about knowledge transfer.”
That is why she would continue to shine a light on phytotherapy and help others to heal.
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