Indigenous Traditional Medicine Research Articles

Plant dehydration, alkaloid concentration, and cytotoxicity on ayahuasca traditional tea

Ayahuasca tea is a decoction prepared with leaves of P. viridis shrub popularly known as rainha, chacrona or chacruna and stems of B. caapi commonly known as mariri, ayahuasca, caapi, jagube (Callaway et al., 1999b; Miranda et al., 2020).The decoction of the plants together is the traditional way of preparing Ayahuasca. This tea has been used in traditional indigenous medicine of the Amazonian peoples for healing and also in spiritual rituals since pre-Columbian times (Estrella-Parra et al., 2019; Miller et al., 2019). In several countries, such as Colombia, Peru and Brazil it is the fundamental element of indigenous cultures (Gaujac et al., 2012; Labate & Feeney, 2012).

Phytochemically analysed extract of Ageratina adenophora (Sprengel) R.M.King & H. Rob. initiates caspase 3-dependant apoptosis in colorectal cancer cell: A synergistic approach with chemotherapeutic drugs

Ethnopharmacological relevanceAgeratina adenophora (Sprengel) R.M.King & H.Rob. has been used as traditional indigenous medicine all across the globe for its diverse therapeutic applications such as anticancer, analgesic, antipyretic, thermogenic, antiseptic, antimicrobial as well as astringent. The various ethnic groups of India use plant parts to treat cuts and wounds, venomous insect bites, skin lesions, blisters, scabies and other skin irritations, gastritis and indigestion problems, cough, stomach ache and dysentery. The Portuguese traditionally extract the juice from the plant and use it for cancer, diabetes, liver disorder, gallbladder and stomach ailments. Nigerian healers use different parts of the plant to treat diabetes, fever and inflammation. Aim of the studyThe aim of this study is to investigate the cytotoxic potential of A. adenophora hydroalcoholic leaves extract (AHL) on Colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines (HCT-116, HCT-15 and HT-29), synergistic potential with chemotherapeutic drugs 5FU and Cisplatin as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, based on the sample collected from Mao district of Manipur, India. Identification of bioactive phytocompounds in AHL was also performed by HRLCMS. MethodsThe AHL was evaluated for its cytotoxic as well as antiproliferative activities by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, clonogenic and cell migration assays. The total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were quantified by Folin-ciocalteu and Aluminium chloride assays respectively. Caspase 3 activation was evaluated using Caspase-3 Assay Kit. Apoptosis detection by flow cytometry was carried out using annexin V-FITC/PI apoptosis detection kit. The apoptotic cells were also visualized by Giemsa and 4′,6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining. The intracellular Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was also evaluated using fluorescent probe 2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein di-acetate (H2DCFDA) in flow cytometry. The combination effects of AHL with chemotherapeutic drugs 5FU and Cisplatin were also evaluated. The identification of phytochemical constituents of AHL were analysed by HR-LCMS. ResultsThe AHL induced cytotoxic activity significantly in HCT-116 with IC50 of 65.65 ± 2.10 μg/mL, but non-cancerous cell HeK-293 was least cytotoxic. Colony formation and cell migration were inhibited in a dose and time dependent manner. The cell morphology upon AHL treatment was significantly altered with apoptotic features. The extract was rich in total phenolic (82.09 ± 0.35mgGAE/g) and total flavonoid (58.31 ± 0.55 mgQAE/g) contents. AHL induced apoptosis as detected by AnnexinV/PI, via activation of caspase 3 and elevated production of Reactive oxygen species (ROS). AHL in combination with 5FU and Cisplatin acts synergistically and potentiates the therapeutic properties of the extract. Sesquiterpenes, phenolic as well as flavonoid derivatives with anticancer properties were detected in AHL by HRLCMS, and these phytoconstituents may be attributed for anticancer property of AHL. ConclusionThe present study evaluates the effectiveness of AHL against Colorectal cancer cell lines. AHL is cytotoxic and induces apoptosis in HCT-116 cells by caspase 3 activation and increased ROS production that can be attributed to sesquiterpenoids. Thus, the plant A. adenophora has therapeutic potential for Colorectal cancer and can be further exploited for developing anticancer drug.

Curanderismo in Argentina: a view to diversity

Healing practices have existed worldwide in different cultures since ancient times, have influenced throughout history, and are rooted in different cultures, demonstrating their importance in wellness and health care. “Curanderismo” it is a set of practices exercised by healers in a ceremony; it is an ancestral custom perpetuated over the centuries, combining traditional indigenous medicine and folk medicine. Its anthropological position may also incorporate the traditional roles of the healing man and the shaman. The curandero in Argentina country has a deep spiritual and cultural meaning. However, with the advance of the current medina, it is still a valid option, respected by communities or individuals seeking comprehensive care or an approach to healing from the spiritual. Encouraging interdisciplinary contact between healers and traditional practitioners is relevant for exchange, collaboration, and mutual respect to better understand the healing practices and their effectiveness. The curandismo acquires relevance due to the connection of beliefs of social groups because health is understood as a balance of nature and its elements. It is seen as an intermediary between the real and spiritual world. However, it should be appropriately regulated, promoting a regularization to prevent and guarantee the patient's health, promoting and eliminating barriers with a responsible, ethical approach that can play a valuable role in health care and well-being.

Investigation of Kelussia Odoratissima and Angelica Sinensis Similarities in Zebrafish-based In-vivo Bioactivity Assays and Their Chemical Composition.

Kelussia odoratissima and Angelica sinensis are two medicinal plants commonly used in Iran and China, respectively. They have been used in their indigenous traditional medicine, for various diseases including, blood refining, inflammation, cold, flu, stress, cardiovascular diseases, and nervous disorders. This study was conducted to evaluate the volatile oil composition of K. odoratissima leaves (KVL) and A. sinensis root (AVR); we also examined the biological activity of essential oils (EOs) and hydroalcoholic extracts of both plants using two different transgenic zebrafish (Danio rerio) models: angiogenesis and pancreatic beta cell (pBC) regeneration models. Both EOs were isolated by hydrodistillation and analysed by GC and GC/MS. For viability tests, larvae were treated with different concentrations of extracts to determine an appropriate starting concentration. Hydroalcoholic extracts and EOs have been tested in a dose-dependent manner for their biological activity using tissue-specific transgenic zebrafish Tg(fli-1: EGFP) and Tg (ins: GFP-NTR) embryos and larvae. One-way ANOVA was used to compare the mean of pBC area and intersegmental vessels (ISVs) outgrowth between the treatment groups. Eleven compounds were in common to both oils, comprising 51.3% of KVL and 61.7% of AVR, of which 39.3% in KVL and 37.6% in AVR were phthalide structures. Results revealed that both EOs blocked ISVs formation in the Tg (fli-1: EGFP) embryos increased to 10% of the control value, while both hydroalcoholic extracts did not show any anti-angiogenesis effects in these embryos. In addition, AVR has been shown to significantly induce PBC regeneration following ablation in the Tg (ins: GFP-NTR), but its regenerative activity was lower than that of 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA) as a positive control. Taken together, the anti-angiogenesis activity of both EOs could be attributed to the phthalide structures while for the PBC regenerative activity, other compounds including β-Thujaplicinol, exclusively existing in AVR, might be effective. Although the genera, organs, and origin of these plants are different, their similar chemical composition and biological activities make them valuable resources for further investigation in basic medical and pharmaceutical science.

Phytochemical Composition and Antibacterial Activity of Barleria albostellata C.B. Clarke Leaf and Stem Extracts.

Barleria albostellata (Acanthaceae) is a shrub located in South Africa and is relatively understudied. However, plants within this genus are well known for their medicinal and ethnopharmacological properties. This study aimed to characterise the phytochemical compounds and antibacterial efficacies of B. albostellata. Phytochemical analysis, fluorescence microscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis were performed to determine the composition of compounds that may be of medicinal importance. Crude leaf and stem extracts (hexane, chloroform and methanol) were subjected to an antibacterial analysis against several pathogenic microorganisms. The qualitative phytochemical screening of leaf and stem extracts revealed the presence various compounds. Fluorescence microscopy qualitatively assessed the leaf and stem powdered material, which displayed various colours under bright and UV light. GC-MS chromatograms represents 10-108 peaks of various compounds detected in the leaf and stem crude extracts. Major pharmacologically active compounds found in the extracts were alpha-amyrin, flavone, phenol, phytol, phytol acetate, squalene and stigmasterol. Crude extracts positively inhibited Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Significance was established at p < 0.05 for all concentrations and treatments. These results indicate that the leaves and stems of B. albostellata are rich in bioactive compounds, which could be a potential source of antibacterial agents for treating various diseases linked to the pathogenic bacteria studied. Future discoveries from this plant could advance the use of indigenous traditional medicine and provide novel drug leads.

Primary Health Care in the Peruvian Amazon during COVID-19: perspectives from Indigenous nurse technicians

IntroductionIndigenous peoples of the Amazon basin, in Peru and elsewhere, suffered disproportionately from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In part, this was due to an initial lack of support by the Ministry of Health, who did not prioritize their care despite their vulnerable situation. Consequently, during the first wave of the pandemic, health professionals in public health facilities in Amazonian Indigenous communities had to handle the disease with limited information and resources. This article analyzes the actions carried out by Indigenous nurse technicians during the first wave of the pandemic. MethodsRecurrent semi-structured interviews with six Indigenous nurse technicians focusing on their measures toward disease prevention and caring during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Atalaya province, Ucayali region, in the Peruvian Amazon.ResultsNurse technicians worked closely with local authorities and volunteer health promotors. The limited resources they had at the health facilities, coupled with no training about how to treat COVID-19 symptoms led them to resort to their knowledge of traditional Indigenous medicine in combination with biomedical approaches, and support from Indigenous healers. Our analyses shows that this approach proved essential to alleviate symptoms and prevent complications and new infections.ConclusionsThe actions implemented by the Indigenous nurse technicians strongly contributed to the management of COVID-19 in their Indigenous communities, being both effective and culturally appropriate. Our data is in support of a health provision concept that bridges medical knowledge systems in contexts of diversity, avoiding a view on Indigenous health practices as antagonistic or in competition with biomedical practices provided by public health services.

Decolonization the what, whyand how: A treatieson Indigenous nursing knowledge.

Decolonization the what, whyand how: A treatieson Indigenous nursing knowledge.

Neural Epidermal Growth Factor-Like 1–Positive Membranous Nephropathy With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Neural epidermal growth factor-like 1 (NELL1) is a recently described target antigen in membranous nephropathy (MN). NELL1-associated MN accounts for 1.5-8% of MN cases1-3 and was reportedly associated with malignant diseases,2 lipoic acid supplementation,4 and consumption of traditional indigenous medicine containing mercury.5 Therefore, NELL-1 may be an important antigen in “secondary” MN. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease occasionally accompanied by MN. Complications of drugs, including gold salts, D-penicillamine, and bucillamine, are common causes of MN in RA patients.

Exploring Traditional Healing and Medicine in Dementia Care for Indigenous Populations in North America, Australia, and New Zealand: A Policy Advocacy and Practice

AbstractBackgroundAccess to culturally‐safe dementia assessment, diagnosis, and care in Indigenous populations worldwide is an emerging challenge. In 2018, the World Health Organization recognized traditional healers as stakeholders in dementia care and prevention globally. Traditional healers contribute to dementia assessment, diagnosis, and care in unique ways, and play a catalytic role in the process of culturally‐safe dementia care planning and assessment with health care providers at the community level. The purpose of this scoping review was to understand the roles and experiences of traditional healers, to evaluate strategies for integration between Indigenous traditional healing and western dementia care approaches, and to examine the policy barriers and research gaps in North America, Australia, and New Zealand.MethodThe scoping review methodology used was the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) approach that included six steps: protocol development based on participants, content and context framework, development of a search strategy, selection of relevant studies, charting of relevant data, synthesis, and reporting of results, and conducting stakeholder consultation.ResultSearched English literature in select bibliographic databases, including CINAHL, EMBASE, Medline and PsycINFO. The initial search identified 516 papers published between 2000 and 2020 that met the search criteria. After 164 duplicates were removed, we screened 352 titles and abstracts, excluding the 209 that did not meet the inclusion criteria. The second stage review of 143 full‐text studies resulted in the further exclusion of 141 studies. Only two studies from Canada met all inclusion criteria for this study and explored the potential integration of traditional healing in dementia care and the roles, perceptions, and experiences of traditional healers.ConclusionThis study emphasizes the inclusion of traditional healers, knowledge‐holders, and Grandmother groups that can contribute to building an evidence‐based dementia care decision‐making process for Indigenous people with dementia. Integration of Indigenous traditional healing and medicine in dementia care is a path to culturally‐safe dementia care and assessment. diagnosis. The study has policy implications for health care provider education and advocacy needs to engage with traditional healers in dementia care. It recommends two community‐based models to establish culturally‐safe dementia care between traditional healers and healthcare providers in a seamless collaboration.

A brief qualitative study of indigenous traditional medicine providers in Timor-Leste

Providers of Traditional Timorese Medicine are an essential resource in rural communities, contributing greatly to the overall health of individuals in Timor-Leste. Their identity and role in healthcare has not been widely investigated and functions outside of the National Health System. The objective of this qualitative study is to describe the role of providers of Timorese Traditional Medicine in Timor-Leste and their practice of medicine. To perform this research, semi-structured interviews were performed with providers of Traditional Timorese Medicine in the rural district of Viqueque. Interviews took place at providers’ homes in Tetun and, after translation into English, interview content was analyzed and emergent common themes identified. The seven providers of Timorese Traditional Medicine interviewed mostly identified themselves as either a Liman Badain, Matan-Dook, or reported no title. Another identified himself by his political position as village chief, Xefe-Suku. Emergent themes from interview content included 1) Medical pluralism, reflecting that Timorese frequently use more than one medical system; 2) Spiritual sickness, reflecting illness and treatments commonly involving ancestral spirits or supernatural forces; and 3) Familial knowledge, reflecting healing practices and knowledge often kept within a family and passed down across generations. Generally, providers reported that the most common symptoms they treated in their practice were illnesses/misfortunes related to a woman’s gynecologic health and were obstetric in nature, especially concerns regarding reproductive health. This qualitative study provides information about the key role of select individual providers of Timorese Traditional Medicine and adds to the limited existing knowledge. Further qualitative and quantitative research must be done to further characterize the identities and role of different providers of Traditional Timorese Medicine.

COVID 19 Immunization (Vaccine) Reticence and Traditional Healthcare Resilience among the Mbororos of the North-West Region (Cameroon), 2020-2022

Western societies such as the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom among many received news of vaccines as a revolutionary phase to complement extant barrier strategies like social distances and respect for hygienic conditions to curb the ravaging effects of the COVID-19 pandemic while some communities cast doubts on the genuineness of the scheme. Among those who have been reticent to the vaccine solution are the Mbororo Fulani, a relatively hermitic ethnic group in the North West Region of Cameroon. This paper discusses the perceptions of the Mbororo Fulani about the COVID-19 vaccines and projects the options they made with indigenous traditional medicine in the local fight against the pandemic. The article traces the outbreak and spread of the pandemic in Cameroon and highlights the overwhelming influence of anti-vaccination information in triggering and sustaining an ensuing characteristic of vaccine hesitancy among the Mbororo communities in the North West Region of Cameroon. The research relied on primary and secondary sources. Primary sources, mainly oral interviews were collected from seven Mbororo communities; Acha Tugi, Baba II, Banjah, Nkambe, Nkwen, Sabga and Santa. The data was analyzed following the qualitative descriptive analysis. This paper argues that misinformation sowed the seeds of an enduring shared characteristic of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among the Mbororos which accelerated a reliance on traditional healthcare services. The findings revealed that most of the Mbororos did not believe in the reality of COVID-19 and so associated any public health measure to propagate information on barrier measures and administration of vaccines as conspiracy theories destined to exterminate the Mbororo communities in the North West Region. More so, the prominence and relative ease with which traditional medicine was introduced to tackle the COVID-19 related symptoms sustained the deep state of denial and adherence to anti-vaccine .......

A Comprehensive Review on the Endemic Plant Docynia indica: Its Ethnobotanical, Phytochemical, and Ethnomedicinal Perspective

Ethnobotanical knowledge and ethnomedicinal methodologies from different parts of the world are of comprehensive significance and documentation of ethnobotanical, and ethnomedicinal data is a key prerequisite for further research in the domain of herbal medicine and its implementation in modern clinical research. The important sources of beneficial natural products and ethnomedicinal elements are majorly contributed by the wild edible fruits. The Docynia indica is a wild edible fruit that belongs to the Rosaceae family and mainly disseminates in the eastern region of the Himalayas. Since immemorial time Docynia indica is an integral part of ethnomedicine and traditionally implemented for treating innumerable health diseases. It is a valuable ethnomedicinal plant with important sources of minerals and vitamins and is conventionally used for treating common ailments. In the traditional system of medicine, it is regarded as a wonderful prophylactic for combating enteric diseases. The natural compounds extracted from the fruits of Docynia indica contain polyphenol especially alkaloids and flavonoids which significantly have an antihyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic property. The wild edible fruits are underemphasized despite their fascinating ethnobotanical and ethnomedicinal characteristics. Similarly, Docynia indica is a less explored endemic fruit that contains eminent natural compounds and ethnomedicinal importance. Though it is less popular in urban regions but in ethnic groups it is a key component in indigenous traditional medicine system. This article mainly discusses the morphological features and phytochemical constitutes of Docynia indica and ethnobotanical characteristics highlighting the ethnomedicinal perspective.

Can Food Crop Medicine Reduce Pressure on Forest Harvest in Nigeria?

Awareness created in the social media through smart phones had popularized the practice of using food crop parts such as leaves, fruits, roots and seeds to treat common illness which had hitherto been treated with herbs from the wild. This study investigated whether the use of food crops for medicine can reduce pressures of harvesting medicinal plants from the forest. A combination of three research methods: structured questionnaire survey; informal discussions with stakeholders in food crop medicines and observations on collection and preparation of food crop medicines were used to collect data. Simple random sampling method was used to select 62 respondents for questionnaire survey and discussion groups in Ota Ogun State, Nigeria. Data were presented in tables and percentages. A Chi-square analysis was used to test the research hypothesis. Results derived from data analyses indicated that food crop medicine (FCM) was: (i) widely used; (ii) fully accepted; (iii) gradually reducing pressures in natural forests; and (iv) used to compliment indigenous traditional medicine. A conclusion was reached that FCM had come to stay as a major primary health delivery. Moreover, FCM has found a place in herbal treatments of diseases.&#x0D; Keywords: Food crop medicine, Traditional medicine, Traditional plants, Natural forests, Herbs.

Indigenous pharmaceutical assistance and the scientific silence: a review of the literature

Although the importance of Pharmaceutical Assistance, there is no global instrument that specifically justifies its necessity on the specificity of indigenous health. This article lists existing studies on pharmaceutical assistance in an indigenous context. It has a qualitative character, conducted through an integrative literature review. National and international databases were consulted for the scientific articles searching, using specific descriptions of the object of interest. Three thousand nine hundred fifteen articles were found in the databases searched, related to the object of interest, in this case, Indigenous Pharmaceutical Assistance. Many studies did not have any relation with the object of interest, and most of them aimed to understand, from the conventional biomedical perspective, the mechanisms of the therapeutic resources of the indigenous people in the world, as well as to investigate scientifically plant and animal materials used in the indigenous traditional medicine, by using known conventional methodologies. A range of studies has addressed specifically illnesses through case studies, in which the focus is the evolution of the disease or western therapy were applied to the indigenous subject, in a research form that tries to indicate different clinical responses to the treatment and the outcome of the pathology. Researches involving planning, implementation, development, and evaluation of Indigenous Pharmaceutical Assistance are crucial for the future development of global policies for these people.

Identification of herbal products used by families in the campus of Darussalam Gontor University

Background: The development and the use of herbal medicinal products is increasing in Indonesia. Aim: To identify the safety of herbal medicine product used by families of Darussalam Gontor University (UNIDA) Gontor. Method: This research was conducted to identify herbal products that are used based on features, functions, and benefits. The method used was Rapid Assessment Procedure (RAP) with a qualitative approach. Results: The results showed there were 100 products used by 72 respondents. The level of product safety used based on raw materials was 96% and the efficacy claimed was 76%. The most type of product used was jamu (Indonesian indigenous traditional medicine) (94.7%). The range of understanding level of of respondents based on features and benefits was between good and very good. Conclusion: The use of herbal products by respondents can be viewed from the aspect of product safety levels based on raw materials (96%) and efficacy claims (76%). This was still classified as safe.

Pain Management of Amazon Indigenous Peoples: A Community-Based Study.

PurposeIndigenous peoples are vulnerable populations that live in remote areas of the Amazon forest with limited access to health-care services. Underreporting and undertreatment of pain is a common event in the general population but little is known about these issues in indigenous peoples. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics and cultural aspects of pain management in five ethnicities of the Brazilian Amazon.Materials and MethodsCross-sectional study carried out with adult indigenous individuals from five ethnicities of the Brazilian Amazon over two scientific expeditions (June–July/2017 and February–March/2019). Pain assessment included etiology, intensity, duration, aggravating and alleviating factors, body location, impact of pain on activities of daily living, and treatment.ResultsNinety indigenous individuals with a mean age of 41.42 ± 19.59 years (range 19‒98 years) and median age of 37 years participated in the study. Sixty-four individuals (71.1%) reported experiencing pain at the time of interview with intermittent musculoskeletal pain of strong intensity being the more prevalent (back pain: 45.3%, joint pain: 43.7%) followed by headache (26.5%). The main alleviating factors reported were traditional indigenous medicine (21.0%) and rest (30.0%), and physical exertion was the main aggravating factor (69.0%). Most study participants reported that pain affected their mood, activities of daily living, and sleep and that they used both traditional indigenous medicine (78.0%) and conventional medicine (81.0%) for pain relief.ConclusionMusculoskeletal pain is prevalent among indigenous individuals, affects their quality of life, and is partly attributed to their lifestyle. Cultural aspects mediating the pain experience were observed. Traditional indigenous medicine for pain relief remains partially preserved among the ethnic groups investigated. The findings of this study can help improve the delivery care to these vulnerable populations.

Evaluation of phytochemical, antioxidant and antibacterial activity of Parkia biglobosa STEM bark extract

The powdered bark of Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) Br. ex G. Don., is used by the indigenous traditional medicine men of Yobe State to treat bleeding from cuts and wounds, burns, ulcers, and also in the treatment of abnormal menstrual bleeding. Three crude extracts were prepared from the stem bark of Parkia biglobosa by successive cold extraction with n-Hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol respectively. The dried extracts were subjected to phytochemical screening and antibacterial/antioxidant studies. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of Alkaloids, carbohydrates, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, glycosides, saponins, sterols, and phenols in all the extracts, but saponins and phenols were only present in the methanolic extracts. Oxalates and quinones were not detected in all the three samples. The antioxidant studies (using DPPH Radical Scavenging Activity) revealed that all the three extracts exhibited tremendously higher antioxidant activities than the standard ascorbic acid. Among them the ethyl acetate extract showed the highest activity (-226.16µg/ml) followed by n-hexane (-21.6µg/ml) and methanol (and -2.11µg/ml). Results from the antibacterial studies of the crude extracts showed significant inhibitory activity against the tested pathogenic organisms with zones of inhibition ranging between 27.5-57.5 mm (E. coli), 30-62.5 mm (B. subtilis) 22.5-50mm (S. aureus) and 25-60mm (S. typhi.) as compared to 21-45mm for the control (Ciprofloxacin). These results were taken to indicate that Parkia biglobosa is a promising herbal remedy that contains phytochemicals with strong antioxidant and antibacterial properties. This study further validates and strengthens its continuous use in traditional medicine as remedy for cut/wound healing arising from many sources.

Medicina tradicional indígena em tempos de pandemia da COVID-19

Objetivo: Discutir sobre a medicina tradicional indígena em tempos de pandemia da COVID-19. Revisão bibliográfica: Apesar de difundida nos últimos anos, a implementação da medicina tradicional indígena no sistema oficial de saúde ainda é precária e carente de iniciativas mais eficientes. Em tempos de pandemia da COVID-19, os povos indígenas podem enfrentar algumas dificuldades nas suas práticas culturais, sobretudo na utilização da sua medicina tradicional, a qual deve ser respeitada conforme a Política Nacional de Atenção à Saúde dos Povos Indígenas. Considerações finais: A medicina tradicional indígena, objeto da política indigenista de saúde, está sendo utilizada como prática preventiva e de tratamento da COVID-19, na forma de práticas espirituais e uso de plantas medicinais por exemplo. Contudo, algumas dificuldades são evidenciadas como: manter o isolamento social, preocupações com os hábitos e cultura da população, associação entre a medicina tradicional com o modelo biomédico e o manejo dos cadáveres.

Traditional Indigenous medicine in North America: A scoping review.

BackgroundDespite the documented continued use of traditional healing methods, modalities and its associated practitioners by Indigenous groups across North America, it is presumed that widespread knowledge is elusive amongst most Western trained health professionals and systems. This despite that the approximately 7.5 million Indigenous peoples who currently reside in Canada and the United States (US) are most often served by Western systems of medicine. A state of the literature is currently needed in this area to provide an accessible resource tool for medical practitioners, scholars, and communities to better understand Indigenous traditional medicine in the context of current clinical care delivery and future policy making.MethodsA systematic search of multiple databases was performed utilizing an established scoping review framework. A consequent title and abstract review of articles published on traditional Indigenous medicine in the North American context was completed.FindingsOf the 4,277 published studies identified, 249 met the inclusion criteria divided into the following five categorical themes: General traditional medicine, integration of traditional and Western medicine systems, ceremonial practice for healing, usage of traditional medicine, and traditional healer perspectives.ConclusionsThis scoping review was an attempt to catalogue the wide array of published research in the peer-reviewed and online grey literature on traditional Indigenous medicine in North America in order to provide an accessible database for medical practitioners, scholars, and communities to better inform practice, policymaking, and research in Indigenous communities.

Impact Assessment of Effectiveness, Acceptance and Usage of AYUSH Advisories and Measures in Prevention of COVID-19 through AYUSH Sanjivani Mobile Application

Background: Ministry of AYUSH deals with developing education, research, and propagation of indigenous traditional medicine systems in India, and in view of public health challenge posed by COVID-19, the ministry had issued preventive and prophylactic advisories. Results and discussion: The advisories issued by Ministry comprises interventions from different AYUSH systems of medicine for preventive health measures and also for boosting immunity during COVID-19 crisis. Further, the Ministry has undertaken study through AYUSH Sanjivani mobile app for generating data of large population with a target of 5 million people. Generation of data on effectiveness, acceptance, and usage of AYUSH advocacies and measures among the population and its impact in the prevention of COVID-19 are the core expected outcomes. Conclusion: The present short communication is related to the prophylactic advisories issued by Ministry of AYUSH and details of objectives and expected outcomes of AYUSH Sanjivani mobile application developed by AYUSH Ministry.