How healthy are we? Narratives of experiential health from a village of Western Nepal

Subedi, Bamdev

doi:10.3126/dsaj.v10i0.15883

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…It would be unjust to blame people for the loss of indigenous health knowledge. Indigenous health knowledge is declining mainly because of the state policy, which has demotivated the young generation to learn and practice (Subedi, 2016;Subedi & Joshi, 2018). Indigenous traditional healers are not treated as allies of healthcare practitioners.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Whose Knowledge Counts? A Reflection on the Field Narratives of Indigenous Health Knowledge and Practices

Subedi¹

2022

Dhaulagiri

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Today's world is increasingly recognizing the value of indigenous knowledge and expressing concern over its erosion. The protection of indigenous knowledge has been a global policy priority. This paper draws from a qualitative study conducted in a village setting in South-West Nepal and aims to reflect on the local narratives of the erosion of indigenous health knowledge and practices (IHKPs). Data were collected from healers, patients, and key informants using interview and observation methods and analyzed thematically. The findings are organized in five broad themes: (i) The context of socio-economic change, (ii) Existing health knowledge and practices, (iii) A decline in herbal literacy and home remedy, (iv) Market influence, increased healthcare options, and the shrinking role of traditional healers, and (v) Value perceptions of indigenous knowledge. Though IHKPs remain an inseparable part of community life, the field narratives strongly indicate a decline in home and community-based health practices and an intergenerational loss of herbal knowledge. Taking insight from the critical medical anthropological perspective, this paper discusses the micro-experience and macro-influence and argues for recognizing the health knowledge of indigenous communities. The recognition of knowledge should be a political and policy decision in protecting and promoting IHKPs.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Whose Knowledge Counts? A Reflection on the Field Narratives of Indigenous Health Knowledge and Practices

Subedi¹

2022

Dhaulagiri

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“…We need to enhance indigenous knowledge and empower indigenous people. The indigenous people have experienced a change in their life and they express a loss of experiential health (Subedi, 2016a) They are doing whatever they can for their health and wellbeing. If anything outside intervention is intended that should not disempower them.…”

Section: Folk Medicine At the Bottom Of The Hierarchymentioning

confidence: 99%

Medical Pluralism among the Tharus of Nepal: Legitimacy, Hierarchy and State Policy

Subedi¹

2019

Dhaulagiri

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This paper offers an understanding of medical pluralism as practiced among the Tharus of Nepal, and makes a discussion on the indigenous medicine in relation to the state health policy and the ambivalence that exists regarding official recognition of indigenous healers. Field data were collected from a village cluster of Dang district following qualitative methods: observation of healing sessions, interview with healers, patients, and key informants. Tharu healing tradition consists of three main practices: shamanic, herbal, and midwifery; practiced mainly by three types of healers: guruwa, baidawa, and surenya who employ three major strategies of healing: mantra, medicine and massage. The knowledge of healing mantras, use of local herbal medicine, and traditional midwifery and massage are the most important features of the Tharu’s indigenous healing practices. Such practices, along with those of co-inhabited non-Tharu healers and healing practices form the universe of local folk medicine. The folk medicine, which represents an oral tradition, co-exists along with scholarly traditional medicine and biomedicine. In terms of official recognition and support, biomedicine is on the top followed by scholarly traditional medicine and folk medicine falls at the bottom of the hierarchy. The scope of medical pluralism has been widened with the inclusion of scholarly traditional medicine in the official health care system. However, many of the indigenous traditional medicines that indigenous ethnic communities continue to practice still fall outside the purview of state regulation. The legitimacy of indigenous healers remains in question. An expression of sceptical and ambivalence attitudes towards indigenous healers has been reflected in the policy and planning documents. There has been an insignificant and inconsistent efforts to link indigenous healers with the official health care system and a hesitation to legitimize indigenous traditional medicine. A serious reflection is needed to move ahead from this ambivalence and inaction towards a more inclusive and democratic medical pluralism.

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Introduction: Ethnomedicine and Tribal Healing Practices in India: Challenges and Possibilities of Recognition and Integration

Reddy¹,

Subedi²,

Guite³

2023

People, Cultures and Societies: Exploring and Documenting Diversities

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How healthy are we? Narratives of experiential health from a village of Western Nepal

Cited by 3 publications

References 6 publications

Whose Knowledge Counts? A Reflection on the Field Narratives of Indigenous Health Knowledge and Practices

Whose Knowledge Counts? A Reflection on the Field Narratives of Indigenous Health Knowledge and Practices

Medical Pluralism among the Tharus of Nepal: Legitimacy, Hierarchy and State Policy

Introduction: Ethnomedicine and Tribal Healing Practices in India: Challenges and Possibilities of Recognition and Integration

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