INDEGENIOUS HEALERS

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ROLE OF INDEGENIOUS HEALERS
BY
SHREYA HOSPITAL
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Introduction Traditional medicine is an ancient
medical practice that existed in human societies
before the application of modern science to
health. It has evolved to reflect different
philosophical backgrounds and cultural origins.
Although modern medicine is widely spread,
traditional tribal medicine still exists in all
the countries across the world. Interest in
traditional medicine system has increased over
the years. People in many countries are now
prepared to look for alternative approaches to
maintain their health.
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Importance of Indigenous Medicines Indigenous
medicine can be defined as the knowledge, skills
and practices of holistic health care, recognized
and accepted for its role in the diagnosis,
preventive and curative aspects of illness and
disease to promote total wellbeing of the
community. The approach is holistic and blending
of physical, mental, social and spiritual well
being. Its use is global. Even in the age of
developed western system of medicine the
indigenous system of medicine has thrived as the
indigenous system of medicines are found to be
positive, beneficial and scientifically sound.
The traditional adivasi medicine men are regarded
as the traditional healers in their societies and
they do not belong to any specific school, such
as Ayurvedic/Allopathic/Homeopathic etc. There is
no written document on the subject. The principle
ingredients of indigenous medicine are derived
from plant source. Various types of plants and
herbs available in the nature are collected for
medical purposes by the healers themselves.
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India has a great variety of traditional healing
systems. Over the centuries, adivasis have
developed their own medicine system. The
indigenous Adivasi system of medicine based on
indigenous theories and beliefs has been handed
down orally from generation to generation. There
are no written records on this branch of
medicine. All the ingredients for the medicines
are derived from nature. Besides herbs, seeds,
roots and barks, various minerals, metals and
other natural matters in their powdered form, are
used for the preparations. The healers themselves
gather all the necessary plants and herbs that
grow wild in the forests intoning special
prayers. There are prescriptions prohibitions and
taboos for collection of plants and herbs on
specific day and time. It is also believed that a
particular plant or herb or part thereof is not
collected on prescribed date and time, it looses
its medicinal value.
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Traditional adivasi healers are unlicensed but
not necessarily untrained. Like physicians, they
pursue their specialties, learning by observation
and imitation. Often healing is considered a gift
that runs in a family and is passed down from
generation to generation. The ability to set
bones, for example, is thought to be hereditary
as is the power to stop bleeding. The Adivasi
herbal medicines have absolutely no side effects.

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A large proportion of the population in a number
of developing countries still relies on
traditional tribal practitioners, including
traditional birth attendants, herbalists and
bonesetters and on local medicinal plants to meet
their primary health care needs. Today indigenous
system of medicine is making dramatic comeback
and scientists are turning to natural products
for answer to ailments like cancer, AIDS,
hepatitis and rheumatoid arthritis.
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Indigenous medicine under increasing threat The
traditional indigenous medicine system of late is
facing a new threat. The modern pharmaceutical
companies are plundering the herbal wealth of the
forests for manufacturing the modern medicines.
This endangers the very survival of the species
and makes it more difficult for traditional
healers to find the herbs they need for their
medicines. Government must take steps to prevent
this before irrevocable damage has been done.
Another great danger is deforestation, and the
adivasis have been protesting against this
practice as for them the forest is their life.
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Traditional knowledge is in demand as a source of
information of the possible properties of
biological material. The traditional adivasi
knowledge is not protected within the patent
system as it stands today. The turmeric case
highlights the problems faced by India in
preventing bio-piracy. The recording of
traditional knowledge seeks to reduce the
possibility of bio-piracy, but looks to future
legislation to effectively protect the rights of
the people. Some important structural changes
based on a sound legal footing are proposed,
which can be easily incorporated within the
present databases, and would go a long way in
preventing bio-piracy and protecting the
interests of the knowledge-holders footing.
Realizing the potentiality of tribal medicines in
curing various of chronic diseases,
Pharmaceutical companies are trying their best
to have the knowledge and register in their name
under intellectual property rights.
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Need for promoting and protecting Indigenous
Medicine System In developing countries like
India where more than one-third of the population
lack access to essential medicines, the provision
of safe and effective traditional and alternative
remedies could become an important source of
increasing access to health care. One way to
ensure this is to integrate traditional medicine
into the formal health system, thus ensuring
better safety and adequate follow-up for
patients. As the modern medicine is costly and
the common people are not in position to buy it
so there is greater need for promotion of adivasi
medicines. Since tribal medicine is integrated in
other cultural elements of a society, its concept
and practice are epistemologically transmitted
from generation to generation orally in the
absence of written language in non litrate and
pre literate societies, there is strong need for
documentation of such languishing tradition and
try them after proper scientific study
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