Traditional medicine is an ancient medical practice that existed in human societies before the application of modern science to health. It has evolved to reflect different philosophical backgrounds and cultural origins. Although modern medicine is widely spread, traditional tribal medicine still exists in all the countries across the world. Interest in traditional medicine system has increased over the years. People in many countries are now prepared to look for alternative approaches to maintain their health.

1. BY;
SHREYA
HOSPITAL

3. Introduction: Traditional medicine is an ancient medical
practice that existed in human societies before the
application of modern science to health. It has evolved to
reflect different philosophical backgrounds and cultural
origins. Although modern medicine is widely spread,
traditional tribal medicine still exists in all the countries
across the world. Interest in traditional medicine system
has increased over the years. People in many countries
are now prepared to look for alternative approaches to
maintain their health.

4. Importance of Indigenous Medicines: Indigenous medicine can
be defined as the knowledge, skills and practices of holistic health
care, recognized and accepted for its role in the diagnosis,
preventive and curative aspects of illness and disease to promote
total wellbeing of the community. The approach is holistic and
blending of physical, mental, social and spiritual well being. Its
use is global. Even in the age of developed western system of
medicine the indigenous system of medicine has thrived as the
indigenous system of medicines are found to be positive,
beneficial and scientifically sound. The traditional adivasi
medicine men are regarded as the traditional healers in their
societies and they do not belong to any specific school, such as
Ayurvedic/Allopathic/Homeopathic etc. There is no written
document on the subject. The principle ingredients of indigenous
medicine are derived from plant source. Various types of plants
and herbs available in the nature are collected for medical
purposes by the healers themselves.

6. India has a great variety of traditional healing systems. Over the
centuries, adivasis have developed their own medicine system.
The indigenous Adivasi system of medicine based on indigenous
theories and beliefs has been handed down orally from
generation to generation. There are no written records on this
branch of medicine. All the ingredients for the medicines are
derived from nature. Besides herbs, seeds, roots and barks,
various minerals, metals and other natural matters in their
powdered form, are used for the preparations. The healers
themselves gather all the necessary plants and herbs that grow
wild in the forests intoning special prayers. There are
prescriptions prohibitions and taboos for collection of plants and
herbs on specific day and time. It is also believed that a particular
plant or herb or part thereof is not collected on prescribed date
and time, it looses its medicinal value.

7. Traditional adivasi healers are unlicensed but not
necessarily untrained. Like physicians, they pursue their
specialties, learning by observation and imitation. Often
healing is considered a gift that runs in a family and is
passed down from generation to generation. The ability
to set bones, for example, is thought to be hereditary as
is the power to stop bleeding. The Adivasi herbal
medicines have absolutely no side effects.

8. A large proportion of the population in a number of
developing countries still relies on traditional tribal
practitioners, including traditional birth attendants, herbalists
and bonesetters and on local medicinal plants to meet their
primary health care needs. Today indigenous system of
medicine is making dramatic comeback and scientists are
turning to natural products for answer to ailments like
cancer, AIDS, hepatitis and rheumatoid arthritis.

9. Indigenous medicine under increasing threat: The
traditional indigenous medicine system of late is facing a
new threat. The modern pharmaceutical companies are
plundering the herbal wealth of the forests for
manufacturing the modern medicines. This endangers the
very survival of the species and makes it more difficult for
traditional healers to find the herbs they need for their
medicines. Government must take steps to prevent this
before irrevocable damage has been done. Another great
danger is deforestation, and the adivasis have been
protesting against this practice as for them the forest is
their life.

11. Traditional knowledge is in demand as a source of information of
the possible properties of biological material. The traditional
adivasi knowledge is not protected within the patent system as it
stands today. The turmeric case highlights the problems faced by
India in preventing bio-piracy. The recording of traditional
knowledge seeks to reduce the possibility of bio-piracy, but looks
to future legislation to effectively protect the rights of the people.
Some important structural changes based on a sound legal
footing are proposed, which can be easily incorporated within the
present databases, and would go a long way in preventing bio-
piracy and protecting the interests of the knowledge-holders
footing. Realizing the potentiality of tribal medicines in curing
various of chronic diseases, Pharmaceutical companies are
trying their best to have the knowledge and register in their name
under intellectual property rights.

12. Need for promoting and protecting Indigenous Medicine
System: In developing countries like India where more than one-
third of the population lack access to essential medicines, the
provision of safe and effective traditional and alternative remedies
could become an important source of increasing access to health
care. One way to ensure this is to integrate traditional medicine
into the formal health system, thus ensuring better safety and
adequate follow-up for patients. As the modern medicine is costly
and the common people are not in position to buy it so there is
greater need for promotion of adivasi medicines. Since tribal
medicine is integrated in other cultural elements of a society, its
concept and practice are epistemologically transmitted from
generation to generation orally in the absence of written language
in non litrate and pre literate societies, there is strong need for
documentation of such languishing tradition and try them after
proper scientific study

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