Folk Medicine : Is it a Reflection of Man-Nature Relationship?

Abstract

The present paper documents ethnomedicinal values of various wild plants and herbs by Santal forest villagers of Jaypur forest range of Bankura district, West Bengal. Traditional knowledge often restores cultural heritage and establishes the identity of a group in a particular society. The concept of folk medicine is based on the folk education system, philosophical thought, and cultural origins of society and is usually transmitted orally. This research is a detailed field survey based on interviewing Santal medical healers and a few knowledgeable aged persons in three tribal villages of Jaypur, dense with natural forest resources and populated by tribal. I have applied a semi-structured and openended questionnaire. Apart from qualitative techniques, some relevant quantitative approaches like Informant Consensus factor, Fidelity Level analysis, Importance value, etc., have helped to explain the intimate man-nature relationship between forest resources and Santals through medicinal use of plants. It also discusses this social group’s traditional knowledge to conserve and preserve forest resources.