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ABOUT THE BOOK
The impressive collection of papers accommodated in this volume offers a snapshot only through nineteen research contributions covering different issues related to indigenous health practices from different ethnic groups of North East India. The topics covered in the present treatise include indigenous notions of health care, healer and healing practices; ethno medicinal, ethno-botanical and ethnozoological knowledge; child-rearing and pregnancy care practices etc., prevailed in North East India. The compilation would provide a better understanding towards the key determinants of the health and wellbeing of the indigenous people in the context of public health. The book will be of extremely stimulus and serve as useful reference material for researchers, policy makers, and consultants in the field of health studies.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sarthak Sengupta received his M.Sc (1977) and Ph.D (1983) degrees in Anthropology from Dibrugarh and Gauhati University respectively. He also worked with the Anthropological Survey of India, Government of India and North Eastern Hill University, Shillong for quite some time and conducted intensive field studies among diverse tribes and castes in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Uttar Pradesh. Professor Sengupta in all has about 265 research articles published in various reputed national and international professional journals besides several chapters in edited volumes. Moreover, he has to his own credit nineteen well-knitted books on North East Indian tribes. He has mentored ten number of Ph. Ds and completed several major research projects being sponsored by U.G.C.; ICSSR; DST; ICMR; Indian Tea Board etc.
Professor Sengupta is associated with many Indian Universities in the matters of Post Graduate education in Anthropology. He is an active life and executive member of several professional anthropological bodies and member of editorial boards of Journal of Human Ecology , New Delhi; The Anthropologist, New Delhi; The Indian Journal of Anthropology, West Bengal; Bulletin of the Department of Anthropology, Dibrugarh University; Vision NE, Lakhimpur, Assam.
Dr. Sengupta is at present Professor, Department of Anthropology; and Director (i/c), Centre for North East Studies, Dibrugarh University, Assam. His current research interest are genetical demography, globin gene distribution, population genetics, bio-social studies, diet and nutrition, indigenous health practices and disadvantaged tribal population groups of North East India.
CONTENTS
List of Tables ................................................................................................... 11
Preface ............................................................................................................ 13
Acknowledgements .......................................................................................... 17
List of Contributors......................................................................................... 19
1. Indigenous Knowledge System Vis-Ã -Vis Tribal Health
Practices ........................................................................................ 21
— R. K. Kar
• Traditional Knowledge System • Indigenous Health Practices • Ethnomedicine
• References.
2. Revisiting the Domain of Ethnomedicine: Some Issues
and Methods ................................................................................. 29
— C. J. Sonowal
• Components in Ethno Medicine • Importance of Combining Ethnomedicine and Biosciences • Anthropology of Health: Positivist and Interpretive Dichotomy • The Bio-cultural Nature of Ethnomedicine • Importance of Investigation on Health and Treatment Seeking Behaviour • Investigating Treatment Seeking Behaviour • The Health Belief Model (HBM) • The Healthcare Utilisation Model • Research Questions • Focused Ethnographic Study (FES) Method • Use of Theoretical Sampling • References.
3. Cross-cultural Comparison of Ethnozoological Treatments
among the Tribes of North East India ........................................ 45
— Haobijam Vokendro Singh
• Introduction • Ethnozoological Treatment among the Tribes of North East
India • Conclusion • References.
4. Indigenous Knowledge Base for Development of Green
Manufacturing and Cost Effective Healthcare .......................... 55
— Nikhil K Sachan, Seema Pushkar, and S.K. Ghosh
• Introduction • Drug Delivery Enhanced Products in Healthcare Market
• Concept and Methodology • Results and Discussions • Conclusions
• References.
5. Ethnomedicinal Practices among the Karbis of Assam ............ 67
— Melody Seb Rengma, Sar-Im Tisso, and Longkiri Timung
• Introduction • Study Population • Materials and Method • The Karbis Concept of Health and Diseases • Use of Wild Vegetables and Medicinal Plants • Belief Associated with Plants • Conclusion • References.
6. Natural Resources and Indigenous Knowledge of Healthcare
System among the Karbis of Assam ........................................... 77
— Somenath Bhattacharjee
• Indigenous Knowledge of Healthcare System • Traditional Healthcare Practices of the Karbi People • Traditional Notion of Illness • Traditional Healthcare practices • Ritualistic use of fish • Use of fish to cure mental depression (Nihu kachingtung) • Fish as ethnomedicine • References.
7. Ethnomedicine among the Sonowal Kachari of Assam ............ 91
— Dali Dutta and Sarthak Sengupta
• Introduction • Materials and Methods • Diseases and Treatments • Conclusion
• References.
8. Traditional Healthcare Systems among the Khamtis:
A Case Study ............................................................................... 101
— Ranjumoni Hazarika
• Introduction • The Khamtis at a Glance • Material and Method • Results and
Discussions • Use of Medicinal Herbs and Magico-Religious Beliefs
• Conclusion • References.
9. Use of Indigenous Plants in Traditional Healthcare
Systems among the Mishing Tribe of Assam.............................111
— Ratna Jyoti Das
• Introduction • Materials and Methods • Results and Discussions • Conclusion
• References.
10. The Role of Folk Medical Practitioners During and After
Flood: A Case Study of Mishing Medical Practitioners of
Dhemaji District ......................................................................... 117
— Dipa Patir Changmai and Dharmendra Changmai
• Introduction • Role of folk medical practitioners during and after flood • Methodology of the treatment • Treatment of Snake • Practice of ordeal to reduce complicacy • Conclusion • References.
11. Child Rearing Practices among the Mishings of Assam ......... 125
— Mondira Boruah
• Introduction • The Mishings • Results • References.
12. A Study of Awareness Concerning Reproductive Healthcare Practices: Experience from the Dibongiya Deoris of Assam ... 137
— Juri Borah and Sarthak Sengupta
• Introduction • Materials and Methods • Results and Discussions • Summary
• Acknowledgement • References.
13. Indigenous Health Practices among the Oraon of Assam ...... 147
— Bhaskar Das
• Introduction • Subjects and Methods • Findings • Jaundice • Pneumonia
• Gastric • Diarrhea • Dysentery • Toothache • Conclusion • References.
14. Traditional Healing Practices of Forest Fringe Dwellers:
A Paradigm of Cost-Effective Medication ............................... 153
— Samrat Sengupta and Anindita Deka
• Introduction • Materials and Methods • Results and Discussions • Conclusion
• References.
15. Ethnomedicinal Uses of Ficus L. in Assam .............................. 173
— Priya Dhungana, Purnima Devi, and S.K. Borthakur
• Introduction • Methodology • Result • Discussion • Conclusion • References.
16. An Emic Perspective on Health and Sickness: The Minyongs . 179
— Maitreyee Sharma
• Introduction • Materials and Methods • Result and Discussion • Causes of
Illness • Health Specialist and Diagnosing System • Conclusion • References.
17. Knowledge and Use of Medicinal Plants by Khasi, Garo,
and Karbis of North East India ................................................ 189
— H.N. Dhungana, K.N. Barua and P.K. Hazarika
• Introduction • Previous Ethnobotanical Study in this Area • Study Site • Study
Method • Results and Discussions • Medicinal plants commonly available in
the site • References.
18. Traditional Pregnancy Care among the Thadou
of Manipur .................................................................................. 195
— Tonjam Joshila Chanu and M.C. Arunkumar
• Introduction • About the Field Site • Traditional Knowledge in Thadou
Community • Conclusion • References.
19. Indigenous Healthcare Systems: A Sumi Naga Perspective ... 203
— Kitoholi V. Zhimo
• Introduction • Universe of study • Methodology • Sumi Concept of Body, Health, Illness • The Indigenous Healthcare Systems • Healthcare System Pertaining to Personalistic Etiology • Types of Healers in Personalistic Domain • Healthcare Pertaining to Naturalistic Etiology • Biomedicine, Pluralism and the Emerging Healthcare System • Discussions • Conclusion • References.
Index............................................................................................ 221
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