November 5, 2016

Indigenous Medicinal Practices of Different Tribes

By Pratyaksh Singhal (XI IB F)
Traditional Knowledge is essentially culturally oriented and it is integral to the cultural identity of the social group in which
it operates and is preserved. Tradition knowledge includes literary, artistic or scientific works; performances; inventions; scientific
discoveries; designs; marks, names and symbols; undisclosed information; and all other tradition-based innovations and creations
resulting from intellectual activity.

Different societies, across the world, have invented different ways of curing illnesses but all of them are chiefly based on
plants. With the development of human societies different medical systems have been evolved and developed according to the
need of the society. Almost each ancient civilization might have developed its own medical system that reflected not only the
specific philosophy but also has influence of the then existing social beliefs and practices.

Patalkot tribes are experts in curing various health disorders by using locally available herbs and trees. But, so far, just like
so many, biodiversity of Patalkot is also threatened. Thus, it is necessary to document the indigenous knowledge of the tribes and
conserve the medical plants there.

Patalkot is a remote area in India where traditional herbal practices are performed on a large scale. The herbal practitioners
are known as Bhumkas. These healers are expert in curing range of human health disorders with the help of medicinal plants
growing in their respective regions. This knowledge of herbs and their uses has been passed from generation to generations. Young
generations from these tribal groups are merely interested in knowing the secrets of medicinal plants. They are now influenced by
the modern world and they think that they can earn more money by doing labour work at farms or working as a waiter in any hotel.
Indeed, it is true that herbal healers are not paid enough for the creative and curative services they do for the society. The new
generation doesnt know the potential of knowledge of their elderly. Healers too are also not much interested in sharing their
knowledge with the new generation. They want to transfer this knowledge to safe hands so that the knowledge is safeguarded and
should be used for the welfare of the society.

Just like Patalkot, the use of traditional herbal medicine is still widespread in Kenya, especially in the rural areas. In some
instances, herbal remedies are combined with conventional medicine in Kenya especially when the subjects feel that the
prescription drugs are not effective. Despite this, most of the ethnobotanical information on herbal medicine and healing methods
largely remain undocumented. This is compounded by the fact that in most Kenyan communities, the information is passed on
orally, and only to very close relatives who might not necessarily be interested in practicing the art. The vicious destruction of
forests and use of modern medicine have also contributed to the risk of the information disappearing completely over time. There
is therefore urgent need to document the knowledge on herbal information used by different communities in Kenya.

Another example of indigenous knowledge includes Ayurveda. The word, ayurveda is composed of two words of Sanskrit,
ayur (meaning life) and veda (meaning knowledge). Thus, Ayurveda is a medical science of Ancient India. It is a traditional system
of medicine and medication, based on experience and observation. In Ayurveda, every plant on earth is a medicinal plant. Ayurveda
seeks to develop a method to identify and extract that medicinal power for appropriate use. This system of medicine and
medication is more than 3000 years old. Ayurveda is extensively used in modern India and is fast proliferating in its International
appeal.

I believe that with the increased globalization, the world has become more interconnected. Due to the increased regional
integration, several indigenous tribal groups around the world are on the verge of extinction. Tribal peoples are being illegally
evicted from these lands in the name of conservation. Now theyre accused of poaching because they hunt their food. And they
face arrest and beatings, torture and death, while fee-paying big game hunters are encouraged. Their lives and lands are being
destroyed by the conservation industry, tourism and big business.

Tribes are needed to be conserved and conservation should center on protecting the land rights of the peoples to whom
these vitally important areas are home. Tribal peoples are better at looking after their environments than anyone else and protect
immense indigenous knowledge with them. Therefore, uncontacted tribes should remain uncontacted and those on the verge to
extinction should be protected and their indigenous knowledge about medicinal plants etc. should be documented.