Abstract
Traditional medicine has deep historical linkages and cultural roots. In a rural community, it is practice based on the ethnological, medical and heritage of the practitioners. Temiar indigenous tribe of Orang Asli in Kelantan, have their traditional way of beliefs and healing practices. This study examines the remedies using medicinal plants and herbs among the tribe members in Kampung Pasik, Kelantan, Malaysia. A structured questionnaire and in-depth interviews were conducted with 250 respondents. A total of 18 species of medicinal plants was recorded preferably used by the tribes. Results indicate that traditional phytoremedies practices play an important role in helping their healthcare system with the help of the tribe healers. Cultivated medicinal plant species represent 94% of the source, whereas 4.4% were found wild in the forest and 1.6% grown around their settlement. This study revealed that five preparations methods such as boiling (27.56%), pounded (27.45%), squeeze (21.60%), drying (14.17%) or concoction of various part of medicinal plants (9.22%). The most applied were by drinking (35.29%), chewing (32.70%) and 19.89% rubbing, poultice (6.40%) and shower ingredients (5.72%).
Highlights
Medicinal plants are the local heritage in many developing countries (Igdir et al, 2013)
This study indicates that the Temiar tribes still practice traditional phytoremedies using medicinal plants
The traditional healers play an important role in helping the indigenous health care system
Summary
Medicinal plants are the local heritage in many developing countries (Igdir et al, 2013). Traditional medicine, known as indigenous or folk medicine comprises medicinal knowledge systems that developed over generations with various societies before the era of modern medicine (Gunjan et al, 2012). In Malaysia, traditional forms of Malay, Chinese and Indian medicine are used extensively (WHO, 2002). Malaysia has an abundance of species of flowering and non-flowering plants of medicinal value (Zaidah et al, 2006). Its play an important role among the rural community as medicine sources to cure common disease. The rural community normally lives in remote and difficult geographical areas in the country. They highly depend on flora and faunas for food and traditional medicine to survive
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