Ecological Change and Traditional Medicinal Practitioners belonging to Indigenous Community in Jharkhand, India

Abstract (English)

Traditional medicine includes diverse health practices, approaches, knowledge and beliefs incorporating plant, animal or mineral based medicines, spiritual therapies, manual techniques and exercises, applied singly or in combination to maintain wellbeing, as well as to treat, diagnose or prevent illness (WHO, 2002). The health system and medicinal knowledge of indigenous communities depends both on the herbal and the psychosomatic lines of treatment. While plants, flowers, seeds, animals and other naturally available substances formed the major basis of their treatment, this practice always had a touch of God, supernatural and magic, often resulting in specific magico-religious rites (Balgir, 1997; Shankar et. al. 2001).
The present paper tries to explain the intersectionality of traditional medicinal practices of indigenous community and ecological changes. It examines how traditional healing practices contribute to community health as well as procurement and preservation of medicinal plants in Jharkhand. The primary data has been collected through a semi-structured interview schedule and observation checklist. The casual interaction and informal discussions with the community members also helped to gain insights on the traditional medicine of Mundas in Khunti district of Jharkhand (India).
It has been found that Jharkhand's ecological landscape is undergoing change which is mainly driven by a complex interplay of industrialization, deforestation, climate change, and socio-economic factors. TP among Munda generally relate to ecology, forest and nature and has deep rooted linkages with their own culture and beliefs. Their unique traditional system of health care which has passed down from generation to generation is still the prevalent system. But there are serious constraints, which are posing threats to the age-old practice. They said that earlier herbal plats were abundantly available in the natural forest in the periphery of the village. They do not have to move to the deep forest to collect these plants, but now the resources are scarce.