Kropi Klaret, Jastone K P, Kharumnuid Sweety Angelirie, Kumar Das Hemanta, Naga Moses M
North Eastern Hill University, Department of Library and Information Science, Umshing Mawkynroh, Shillong, Meghalaya, India.
North Eastern Hill University, Department of Library and Information Science, Umshing Mawkynroh, Shillong, Meghalaya, India.
J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2024 Sep-Oct;15(5):101024. doi: 10.1016/j.jaim.2024.101024. Epub 2024 Sep 21.
This cross-cultural study conducted in the diverse regions of Assam, Meghalaya, and Manipur sheds light on the common utilization of five specific medicinal plants among indigenous communities residing in these areas.
The main focus of this study is to document and compare the traditional medicinal plant used and the knowledge and practices related to women's health issues in different cultures; to identify commonalities and differences in the use of medicinal plants across cultures and various medicinal plants used traditionally by the indigenous communities to treat women's health problems according to their indigenous name, scientific name.
The study used a survey method and a pre-structured interview schedule through one-on-one interactive communication and field observation. The authors collected data from three different states, i.e., Assam (Karbi Anglong district & Udalguri district), Meghalaya (East Khasi Hills district), and Manipur (Senapati district) by personally meeting and interacting with traditional herbal medicinal practitioners. For this study, 10 practitioners from each area of study were interviewed. During the data collection process, the vernacular name of the medicinal plant, methods of preparation, mode of application, and probable dosage were compiled and documented involving practitioners belonging to four different communities, i.e, Bodo, Karbi, Khasi, and Poumai Naga of the selected states.
A total of 39 plant species were meticulously collected and documented across the Karbi Anglong district and Udalguri district in Assam, East Khasi Hills district in Meghalaya, and Senapati district in Manipur. Turmeric (Curcuma longa), ginger (Zingiber officinale), gooseberry (Emblica officinalis), papaya (Carica papaya), and passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) have emerged as common medicinal resources within these communities. Poaceae, represented by 5 species, emerged as the dominant family among the collected plants, highlighting the diversity and significance of these botanical remedies. Zingiber officinale Roscoe " has the highest usage report of 18 with an RFC (Relative frequency citation) of 0.45.
The study's findings reveal a rich repository of traditional herbal knowledge in the northeast regions of India. Notably, the indigenous communities of these regions use plant resources to cure a wide range of ailments. This study emphasizes the necessity of documenting, preserving, and transmitting traditional herbal medicinal knowledge for both cultural and practical reasons. It also provides vital insights into the importance of cross-cultural study in promoting different cultures, the richness of traditional medicinal knowledge by engaging with diverse cultures and demonstrates the possibilities for incorporating traditional medicine into modern healthcare systems, particularly in treating women's health issues across these culturally diverse regions.
这项在阿萨姆邦、梅加拉亚邦和曼尼普尔邦不同地区开展的跨文化研究，揭示了居住在这些地区的土著社区对五种特定药用植物的普遍利用情况。
本研究的主要重点是记录和比较不同文化中使用的传统药用植物以及与女性健康问题相关的知识和实践；确定不同文化中药用植物使用的异同，以及土著社区传统上用于治疗女性健康问题的各种药用植物的当地名称和学名。
该研究采用调查方法和预先制定的访谈提纲，通过一对一的互动交流和实地观察进行。作者通过亲自与传统草药从业者会面和交流，从三个不同的邦收集数据，即阿萨姆邦（卡比昂隆区和乌达古里区）、梅加拉亚邦（东卡西丘陵区）和曼尼普尔邦（森纳帕蒂区）。本研究对每个研究区域的10名从业者进行了访谈。在数据收集过程中，汇编并记录了药用植物的当地名称、制备方法、应用方式和可能的剂量，涉及选定邦的四个不同社区，即博多族、卡比族、卡西族和普迈那加族的从业者。
在阿萨姆邦的卡比昂隆区和乌达古里区、梅加拉亚邦的东卡西丘陵区以及曼尼普尔邦的森纳帕蒂区，共精心收集并记录了39种植物。姜黄（姜黄属）、生姜（姜属）、醋栗（余甘子）、木瓜（番木瓜属）和百香果（西番莲属）已成为这些社区常见的药用资源。以5个物种为代表的禾本科，是所收集植物中的优势科，凸显了这些植物疗法的多样性和重要性。生姜（Roscoe生姜）的使用报告最多，为18次，相对频率引用（RFC）为0.45。
该研究结果揭示了印度东北地区丰富的传统草药知识宝库。值得注意的是，这些地区的土著社区利用植物资源治疗多种疾病。本研究强调出于文化和实际原因记录、保存和传承传统草药知识的必要性。它还提供了关于跨文化研究在促进不同文化方面的重要性、通过接触不同文化了解传统药用知识的丰富性的重要见解，并展示了将传统医学纳入现代医疗体系的可能性，特别是在这些文化多元地区治疗女性健康问题方面。
