Ethnic Nature Cure and Its Modern Usage

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About the Book This book aims to give a glimpse of the vast knowledge of natural ethno medicine still effectively used by the indigenous people of our country. It focuses on the tribal dependence on nature especially in therapy purpose. The book also tries to reveal the potential healing power of this simple, efficacious and cost friendly alternative therapy. At the same time, it also warns about the adverse effect of indiscriminate and thoughtless use of nature and emphasizes on the necessity of regulated and sustainable progress for all.

About the Author Dr. Sutapa Sengupta, M.A. (J.U.) Ph.D, is an assistant professor in History at Gobardanga Hindu College in North 24 Pargana district of West Bengal. She obtained her Ph.D degree in 2006 from Jadavpur University. She has been awarded National Scholarship and State Fellowship for consistently good academic results. She contributed different articles in various journals and books. Ethno-medicine and Naturopathy are the areas of her special interest.

Preface Once I had been to a village in Bankura district. It was a tiny village situated by the side of a jungle. The inhabitants of the village belonged to a mixed community. Although a considerable portion of them were santals. The villagers to my surprise were in perfect harmony with nature. Even in this age of modern technology, they collect everything for their survival from the surrounding nature.

The village was far away from the district town of Bankura and had no motor able roads. During nights the village seemed mysteriously dark, since there was no supply of electricity. Only insufficient dim light from kerosene lamps made the dark village nights more dangerous by enhancing the possibilities of snake bites, attack of wild animals and other natural dangers.

The village had least amenities to offer its inhabitants. There was acute scarcity of drinking water especially during summer. No health centre was found within a radius of at least 10 kilometers. A Government hospital was located at Jorehira which was far away from the village. Only a folk medicine man or local avid was there to treat the patients. People from nearby villages were found coming to the avid who was very popular among them for his huge knowledge of herbal medicine. I wondered to see their blind faith on the vaid. An interview with the vaid and his patients made me more curious about the way of ethnic treatment and its success rate.

Then I probed into the matter seriously. I submitted a project to the University Grants Commission on “Relevance Of Tribal Naturopathy In Modern Medical Science".

Introduction A human being like all other living objects on earth is an indispensable part of nature itself. Nature determines his way of living. stipulates his economic activities, controls his environmental behavior and also plays a dominant role to formulate his social and religious ideologies altogether.

Apparently the physical nature surrounding us consists of five elements, of which a human body is believed to be made of. These are Earth, Air, Water, Fire and Ether. These elements subsequently decompose into their original form again after death of that living being. These natural elements consists tremendous positive power which can do miracles on human body, if applied properly.

Since the emergence of human civilization men are well aware of these existing positive power and are always busy in extracting the vitality needed for their existence from the surrounding Para and Apara prakiti'. The basic need of a human being is the need to survive. After its fulfillment a man needs a healthier and comfortable life. It is commonly known as his derived need. Man usually seeks cultural adaptation of surrounding environment for the accomplishment of his needs, both basic and derived. Diseases pose the greatest threat to such longer, healthier and comfortable human life. However modern science has created a revolution in this regard. It has invented miraculous medicines to cure the diseases once considered as fatal. The laboratory-based allopathic medicine though contains high curative qualities has certain side reactions.

**Contents and Sample Pages**