The status of tribal medical system and practices in the Jungle Mahals, Eastern India, 1947–2000

Abstract

This study deals with the collection, preparation and practice of medicine by the tribals (Santals, Munda, Oraons, Sabar and Birhors) of Jungle Mahals in eastern India. This study finds low levels of overlap in medicinal floras even in the case of tribal communities, who are linguistically, culturally, and ecologically very closely related. Thus, the knowledge about many medicinal floras of the healers is greatly local. This medical practice is very popular among the tribal communities who could not afford facilities of western medicine because of their poverty and the high cost of allopathic medicine.