ABSTRACT:
This paper is the outcome of the Ministry of AYUSH sponsored rescarch project "Mainstreaming of AYUSH under NRHM" which was done jointly by "Maharashtra Association of Anthropological Sciences' (MAAS), Pune (M.S.) and School of Studies in Anthropology, PL. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur (C.G.) in the year of 2008-09 in four states- Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh & Maharashtra. Aim of the study was to understand the ground realities about Indigenous knowledge regarding preventive, promotive and curative traditional health care practices of the people. In addition to that traditional medical knowledge of the Baigas was also collected. We had selected Marwahi and Pendra blocks of Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh for the study. In each block 8 villages were selected and total 16 villages are covered in this study. 180 Households, 94 Mitanins, 35 Anganwadi Centres, 36 Baigas, 31 Dais (TBA), 04 Govt. Ayurvedic Doctors, 04 PHC Medical Otficers, 07 ANMS and 17 Private Practioners were covered in the study. Data have been collected through questionnaire cum schedule, focus group discussion, voice recording, in-depth interview and observation techniques. We have collected total 200 medicinal plant informations from Baigas. At household level, people know almost 161 medicinal herbs for 16 different ailments like fever, vomiting, Jaundice, body ache, bone fracture, gynecological problems etc. They prepare drug in the kitchen by mixing two or more herbs for treatment of different ailments. Baigas (Traditional healer) mostly used roots (62.74%) followed by bark (51.76%) and fruits (32.47%) for the treatment of various discases. They also used local liquor (Daru), water, jaggary and honey as a medium which they call Vahan/Anupan. This study indicates that, people primarily go to nearest untrained doctor (Jhola chap doctor) and then to Baiga for their treatment. In recent past, the people exploit forests therefore; medicinal plants are disappearing from the forest. Baiga and local people suggested that plantation of medicinal plants should be done in villages and in the kitchen garden of the households to fulfill the requirement and demand of medicinal plants. They also want training for processing and preservation of medicinal herbs scientifically.