Paper short abstract:

Indigenous Knowledge is the knowledge that has been developed over time in a community mainly through accumulation of experiences and intimate understanding of the environment in a given culture.Traditional knowledge systems in medicine and health have been time tested over generations. Traditional and tribal knowledge systems in health cover a wide range from disease prevention, health promotion and healing which are essentially non-western in nature.

Paper long abstract:

The indigenous knowledge base of a particular social entity includes such categories as agricultural knowledge, medicinal knowledge, biodiversity-related knowledge, and expressions of folklore in the form of music, dance, song, handicraft, designs, stories and artwork. Indigenous knowledge has recently been regarded as an important commodity in global health development but unfortunately, over the years this traditional and indigenous practices were ignored.

In several parts of Asia and in many areas all over the world today such traditional knowledge are still widely used which have been passed from one generation to another mainly by oral and lifestyle practices mode and are well codified and protected for generations. Traditional knowledge systems in medicine and health have been time tested over generations. Traditional and tribal knowledge systems in health cover a wide range from disease prevention, health promotion and healing which are essentially non-western in nature.

But following the 1991economic reforms, the Indian healthcare system is undergoing major changes. With the advent of globalization the tribals have been further marginalized in the name of development which have left adverse imprints in the traditional ways of life of the tribal communities. The traditional medicine and health practices of the tribal communities are facing high degree of threats from modern medicine. The native healer traditions which are precious remains uncared for and are fast disappearing.

The present paper deals with such aspects of globalization that has led to the disappearance of such traditions and looms large which still dimly exist.