Paper short abstract:

This paper is concerned with the indigenous medicinal knowledge and healing practices of Narikurawar, a peripatetic tribal community in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, S. India.

Paper long abstract:

Narikurawar are the peripatetic tribal community associated with nature and its products, settled all over South India.Their traditional occupation was hunting and gathering and selling medicine.In other states they call them as Hakki Pikki. They are closely related with hills and forests, they have immense traditional knowledge on herbs and plants. They use varieties of animal and plant products for making medicines. Medicinal mixture "lakiyam" etc. are extensively used as medicine. Since their medical practice is natural and indigenous and patients are having faith on this and satisfied with their treatment.

The people of the Narikurawar tribe depend primarily on indigenous medicines for their health care. Their positive state of mind, disciplined life and faith in their religion improve their health status. Likewise cases of suicidal death, mental illness and stress are uncommon. Though they are stigmatized and met with humiliation from other caste groups, they encounter them in possession of this secret medical knowledge. Nevertheless further intensive research is needed to preserve the knowledge of our valuable native medicines before they go astray due to the pressures of modernization.

This paper deal comprehensively about healing and health promoting indigenous knowledge and practices of Narikurawar in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu.