Ethnomedicine and Tribal Healing Practices in India: Challenges and Possibilities of Recognition and Integration

Preface
Acknowledgements
Contents
Editors and Contributors
1 Introduction: Ethnomedicine and Tribal Healing Practices in India: Challenges and Possibilities of Recognition and Integration
	Background
	Indigenous Tribal People
	South Asian Medical Traditions
	Importance of Indigenous Healers and Healing Practices
	Erosion of Indigenous Health Knowledge
	IPR, Biopiracy and International Instrument
	Challenges and Possibility of Recognition and Integration
	Integration of Traditional Medicine in the National Health System
	Initiatives to Recognise Indigenous Traditions and Their Revitalisation in India
	Organisation of the Volume
	Concluding Remarks
	References
Part I Historical and Critical Perspectives to Understand Ethnomedicine and Healing Practices Among the Tribes
2 Practice and Praxis: A Critical Look at Medical Anthropology in India
	Researches and Teaching in India
	Development Agenda of Medical Anthropology
	Applied Anthropology
	Medical Hegemony
	Indigenous Systems of Medicines
	Indian Medial Anthropology Versus World Medical Anthropology
	Agenda for Indian Medical Anthropology
	Conclusion
	References
3 Ethnomedicine as Public Health
	Introduction
	Ethnomedicine as People’s Sector
	Rural Development and Health Care
	AYUSH in Public Sector
	Ethnomedicine and AYUSH Field Studies
	Geographical Area and Population Selection
	AYUSH Rajasthan Study by SEDEM
	Strengthening of People’s Sector: Ethnomedicine as Public Health
	Conclusion
	References
4 Biological Diversity Act 2002, an Implementation Challenges in India: An Experience Sharing from Sikkim
	Introduction
	Biological Diversity Act, 2002
		Salient Features of BD Act 2002
		Institutional Framework
		Exemptions Under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002
		Penal Provisions Under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002
	Sikkim State Biodiversity Board
	Biological Diversity Act 2002: Implementation Challenges in Sikkim
		Constitution of Biodiversity Management Committee
		Preparation of People’s Biodiversity Register
	Issues Pertaining to Jurisdiction
	State Policy, Biological Diversity Act 2002 and the Conflict of Interest
	Conclusion
	References
5 Chronicles of Exploitation: Practice and Practitioners of Ethnomedicine in Quagmire of Market Dynamics of Pharmacopoeia
	Tyrannies of Validation and Documentation
	Chronicle of Events
	Why Did It Happen?
	Paradoxes of Patenting Intangible Cultures
	Finding Answers in Theoretical Realignments
	Feasible Interventions
	References
6 Indigenous Healing Practices in the Himalayas: Use of Medicinal Plants and Health Development in Nepal
	Introduction
	Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in the Nepal Himalaya
	Trading Routes and Channels
	Actors Involved in Yarsagumba Trading
		The Collectors
		Village-Level Brokers
		District-Level Brokers
		National-Level Brokers
	Government Regulations
	Role of State to Promote Indigenous Healing and Medicinal Plant Resources
	Policy Options
	Conclusion
	References
Part II Healing Practices Among Various Tribes
7 Folk Healing Practices of the North-East States
	Introduction
	Arunachal Pradesh
		Process of Healing
		Result of the Sub-District-Level Survey
	Assam
	Manipur
	Meghalaya
	Mizoram
	Nagaland
	Sikkim
		Lepcha Medicinal Practice
		Bhutia Medicinal Practice
		Nepali Medicinal Practice
		Examples of Folk Medicine Practitioners in Sikkim
	Tripura
	Conclusion and Recommendations
	References
8 Understanding Aetiology of Diseases: Special Reference to Lepcha Communities of Dzongu, Sikkim
	Introduction
	Materials and Methods
	Study Area
	Indian Healthcare System
	Traditional Healing Practices of Lepcha Community
	Theoretical Concept of Illness Causation
	Perception, Beliefs and the Local Health Practices
	Community Perception on Natural Causes of Illness
	Conclusion
	References
9 Language and Traditional Healing Practice: A Study of Limbu Community
	Introduction
	Limbu: Their History, Culture and Language
	Traditional Healing Practice Among the Limbu
	Unification of Nepal
	Nepali Bhasa Andolan in India
	Situation of Limbu Language and Their Healing Practice
	Conclusion
	References
10 The Nongai Dawai Khasi Healers of Meghalaya—A Tribal Understanding of the Human Potential
	Method
	Results
	How Do They Become Healers? Ancestry
	Sap, Talent
	The Community and the Healer
	Experimenting, Empiricism, and Experience
	Elements Contributing to the Making of a Healer
	Discussion
	References
11 Amchi System in Ladakh: Challenges in the New World
	Introduction
	History
	Disease for Amchi
	Being Amchi in Ladakh
	The Practice
	Phase of Turbulence
	Challenges and Concern
	Conclusion
	References
12 Health Care Systems Among Broq-pa Tribe
	Introduction
	Alternative Healing Practices: Changed Scenario
	Research Methodology
	The Three Sectors of Health Care
	Use of Home Remedies
	Medical Facilities Available Among the Broq-pa
	Utilisation of Health Centres
	Amchi System of Medicine
	Declining Traditional System of Medicine
	Lhabanism Healing Practice in Ladakh
	Methods of Treatment of Lhaba and Lhamo
	Onpo (Astrologer) and Monk
	Performance of Rituals to Cure Illnesses
	Discussion and Conclusion
	Appendix: Case Studies
	Respondents from the Community
	Medical Practitioners
	Reasons for Acceptance or Rejection of Modern Medical System
	The Case of Amchis
	References
13 Ethnomedicine in Question: The Case of Tharu Healers and Healing Practices
	Introduction
	Tharu and Context of Ethnomedicine
	Methods
	Types of Healers and Healing Practices
	Types of Patients and Their Problems
	Erosion of Ethnomedicinal Practices
	Importance and Strengths of Ethnomedicine
	Change and Continuity of Healing Practices
	Healing as Customary Practice
	Lack of Policy Interventions
	Conclusion
	References
14 Ethics, Morality and Healing: A Bhil Perspective
	Introduction
	Context
	Material and Methods
	Health Seeking
	Traditional Healers and Healing Systems in Ghodan Kalan
	Jaankaars—Herbalists and Bite Healers
		Jhada Specialists
		Dai
		Bhopa
	Aspects of Dharmi and Adharmi for Other Healers
		Truth
		Following Niyam
		Not Accepting/Demanding Money/Fees
	For Allopathic Practitioners
		Vishwas
	Discussion
	References
Part III Revitalization and Integration of Tribal Medicine/Local Health Traditions and Intellectual Property Rights
15 Systematic Documentation and Drug Development from Local Health Traditions (LHTs) and Ethnomedical Practices (EMPs): Challenges and Way Forward
	Introduction
	Need for Effective Documentation
	Challenges in Documentation of LHTs
	Systematic Documentation and Validation Studies by CCRAS
	Protection of the Biodiversity While Documentation of LHTs and EMPs
	Way Forward
		National Networking for Documentation of LHTs and EMPs (NNDL)
	Conclusion
	References
16 Climate Change and Protection of Traditional Ethnomedical Knowledge in India: A Critical Socio-Legal Reappraisal
	Introduction
	Indigenous Culture, Ethnomedicine and Climate Change
	The Indian Legal Framework for the Protection of Traditional Knowledge
	Alternate Model for Protecting Indigenous Ethnomedical Traditional Knowledge
	Conclusion
	References
17 Intellectual Property Rights in Indigenous Medicinal Knowledge: A Case of ‘Saikot Cancer Medicine’ in Manipur
	Introduction
		Spheres of Indigenous Knowledge
		Conflict Over Indigenous Knowledge
	A Case of Saikot Cancer Medicine in Manipur
		The Cancer Healer
		The Saikot Phenomena
		People’s Account of Being Treated
		Saikot Undergoes Miracle Change
		Cautionary Notes from Officials
		Identity of ‘Damdei Plant’, the Saikot Cancer Medicine
		Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Issues
	Conclusion
	References
18 Strengthening Capacity of Tribal Communities to Revitalise Tribal Medicine Through Research, Education and Outreach
	Traditional and Complementary Medicine
	Participatory Action Research, Education and Outreach Interventions for Prevention of Malaria
	Traditional Community Healthcare Practices
	Ethnobotanical Study in Odisha
	Pre-clinical Study
	Field Study TPMP74
	Conclusion
	References
19 Empowering Traditional Healers Using Modern Quality Management Tools
	Introduction
	Modern Quality Management Tool and International Standards
	Status of TCHPs in India and Pilot Project
	National Scheme for Certification of TCHP
	Progress Made Since the Launch of the Scheme in March 2017
	Conclusion
	References
20 Local Health Traditions and Preservation of National Heritage: Emphasis on Intellectual Property Rights Protection, Benefit Sharing and Mainstreaming
	Introduction
	Protection of the Traditional Medicinal Knowledge and Intellectual Property Rights of Customary Knowledge Holder/Traditional Healer
	Developing an Effective Model for Benefit Sharing
	Developing Sui Generis System for Protection of TK
	Distinctive Signs (Geographical Indications, Certification Marks)
	Suggested Approach for Protection of TK
	Mainstreaming of Local Health Traditions
	Suggested Approaches for Mainstreaming of LHTs in India
	Conclusion
	References
21 An Expanded Health Systems Perspective on Tribal Health Knowledge and Practices: Contemporary Relevance and Challenges
	The Context of Healthcare Policy for Adivasis/Tribal Populations in India
	The Contemporary Dominant Health Systems Perspective
	National and International Development of Formal Institutional Responses to Tribal Health Knowledge in the Twenty-First Century
	The Report of the Expert Committee on Tribal Health, 2018: An Excellent Product of Contemporary Health Systems Thinking
	The WIPO IGC Debate
	A Holistic Health Systems Approach
	Relevance of Tribal Medicine in a Systemic Frame
		Relevance for the Tribal Communities
		Relevance as Base Knowledge for the Development of Modern Pharmacology and Pharmaceuticals
		Relevance as Base Knowledge for the Development of Codified Traditional Knowledge
	Ethical Principles for Health Systems Development: The Democratic Structure of Knowledge Generation
		Relationship with Nature and the Ethics of Collection of Medicinal Plants for Sustainable Development
	Integrating Tribal Medicine into Contemporary Health Systems Development
	Creating an Integral System for Tribal Health Knowledge
	Conclusion
	References
22 Revival of Local Health Traditions from Healers Perspectives: Urgency of Recognition and State Support
	Importance of Traditional Medicine
	Ethnic Groups and Diversity of Medicinal Plants
	Sustainable and Equitable Health Care
	Introduction to the North East: Diversity in Flora, Fauna, and Tribal Populations
	Oral Traditions, Practices and Challenges of Herbal Healers
	The Isolated and Disintegrated Healers’ Association in Manipur
	Recognition of Folk Healers and Traditional Healthcare Providers
	The Making and Unmaking of NEIAFMR
	Issues of IPR, Training and Mistrust
	Recommendations to Revive Folk Healing Systems
	References