Traditional healing

Dr. Faiz Bux
Asst. Professor, Dept. of Botany,
Kalinga University.
Traditional healing, one of the oldest forms of medicine, is practiced around the world with methods grounded in cultural ideologies and beliefs. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines traditional medicine as “a sum total of knowledge, skills, and practices based on theories, beliefs, and experiences indigenous to different cultures, whether explicable or not, used to maintain health and prevent, diagnose, or treat physical and mental illness.” Rooted in cultural knowledge passed down through generations, traditional healers provide care by utilizing plants, animal products, minerals, and spiritual practices within their communities. Often respected as intermediaries with the “spirit world,” traditional healers are believed to possess powers that enable them to restore health in unique ways.

India, with its diverse tribal communities, is home to a rich variety of traditional healing practices. The country hosts around 84.4 million tribal people, known as Adivasi, including groups such as the Gonds, Santhals, Oraons, Mundas, Khasis, Angamis, Bhils, Bhutias, and Great Andamanese. Each tribe has unique healing traditions and cultural identities. For instance, the Santhals, primarily found in eastern states, and the Bhils, known as the “bowmen of Rajasthan,” possess healing knowledge particular to their regions.

The Baiga tribe of North Bastar in Chhattisgarh practices “ethno-healing,” a plant-based approach to health. They use Acacia catechu bark to treat gynecological issues, while plants like Shadawar, Jamun, Ashok, Imli, and Arjun address women’s health more broadly. The herb Bharand aids post-abortion recovery, Palas serves as a contraceptive, and Bharmi, Sadabahur, and Pitpappada are used for blood purification. Such practices highlight the depth of traditional knowledge among India’s tribes, offering insights into nature-based and community-centered healing.
Traditional healing as a deep-rooted and respected form of medicine, practiced globally with unique cultural variations. Traditional healers, often seen as possessing spiritual or supernatural abilities, use knowledge passed down through generations to treat physical and mental ailments. In India, home to a vast and diverse tribal population, traditional healing practices are particularly rich and varied, with each tribe contributing unique medicinal approaches based on local plants, herbs, and cultural knowledge.
References:
Mehta, R and Tiwari A.K.(2013). Ethno Phytoremedies Used For The Treatment Of Various Gynecological Problems By The Baigas Of North Bastar, Chhattisgarh, India, IJBPAS, 2(2).
Senthilkumar, K and Gopalakrishnan, C.(2013) Indigenous Health Care Practices among the Irula Tribes of Pannapatti Hamlet in Dharmapuri District, Tamil Nadu, GRA – Global Research Analysis, Volume : 2 (10).