Main description:

This book examines various aspects of ethnomedicine and tribal healing practices, including its importance for inclusion and integration from a health systems perspective. Tribal healing practices is an under-studied component in healthcare system, health policy and health systems research. The book consists of original research papers based on empirical studies done by anthropologists, sociologists, public health practitioners and research scientists in various parts of India. It discusses issues of non-codified folk healing, with a focus on the therapeutic ideas and practices of tribal communities, located in anthropological theory and methods. It has a balance of empirical papers, review and theoretical papers, not only explaining 'what is inside the healing practices' but also touching upon the question of 'why' and delving into 'what should be' looking into the possibility to apply it for a larger good i.e., health care for all. This book discusses several important issues related to legitimacy, evidence and efficacy, recognition, certification and integration, protection and preservation, bio-piracy and bioprospecting, benefit sharing and intellectual property rights, sustainable use of medicinal herbs and conservation of nature and natural resources, biodiversity and possibilities of mainstreaming tribal healing. It is of interest to students and researchers from medical anthropology, medical sociology, cultural geography, liberal studies, tribal studies, ecology, sustainability and development and public health.

Contents:

Introduction

Sunita Reddy, Nemthianngai Guite, Bamdev Subedi

Section 1: Ethnomedicine and Public Health Perspective in Traditional Medicine

2. Ethnomedicine as Public Health R.K. Mutatkar

3. Critical Medical Anthropology and Ayushisation: Practices and Praxis P. C. Joshi

4. Tribal Health Knowledge and Practices: Contemporary Relevance and Challenges from a Health Systems Perspective Ritu Priya Section 2- Traditional Healing Practices in Himalayan Region

5. Indigenous Healing Practices in the Himalaya: Use of Medicinal Plants and Health Development in Nepal Madhusudan Subedi

6. Ethnomedicine in Question: The Case of Tharu Healers and Healing Practices Bamdev Subedi

7. Amchi system in Ladakh: Challenges in the New World Tashi Smanla, Shalina Mehta

8. Health Care Systems among Broq-Pa Tribe, District Leh, (Jammu & Kashmir) Diskit Wangmo, Rita Kumari, Nutan Kumari Jha, A. K. Sinha

Section 3- Traditional Healing Practices in North Eastern States

9. The Folk Healing Practices of the North East India Shailaja Chandra

10. Understanding the Etiology of Diseases among the Lepcha Community Tshering Lepcha

11. The nongai dawai Khasi healers of Meghalaya

Sandra Albert, John Porter and Judith Green

12. Traditional Bone Setters in Manipur: A Case Study among the Meetei in Thoubal District Asem Tomba Meetei