Tribal Medicine

This book is basically an exploratory study of the traditional tribal medical practices which are prevalent among the autochthonous tribal population of Sikkim: the Bhutias and Lepchas who constitute about 24 per cent of the population of the State. Lepchas and Bhutias, the indigenous peoples of Sikkim, have from time immemorial adapted themselves to the vagaries of nature by evolving intricate social and cultural mechanisms. Their medicinal practices too were woven within these mechanisms. Contrary to the common notion of superstition and faith healing, the system by and large had a scientific basis. The system also traverses along political-economic dynamics of ethnicity and no wonder that with the rise of ethnic fervour a revival and reinforcement of traditional medicinal practices are to be witnessed in Sikkim. This study encaptures some of the vital issues of this subtle social dynamics. Specifically, the book studies the concept of disease and sickness, the different methods of treatment, the official health policies over the years. It also documents the different governmental and non-governmental facilities as well as the recent changes in the health practices of the people.