Some Folklore Medicine from Assam and Meghalaya

Abstract

Assam and Meghalaya are lands where the treatment of disease through herbal and other natural organic substances dominated the medical practice for centuries. The treatments which were done by Ohjas, Bez and other village people having some knowledge of herbal and allied drugs in eliminating and controlling diseases and ailments played a very significant role in this sphere. Generally such treatments and medicines were the result of the knowledge transmitted from one generation to the next. We call such therapy “folklore medicine”. The authors in their earlier two papers have thrown light on the subject and brought information on many such medicines and treatments prevailing in Assam.^1,2 In another paper, the valuable plants of Ayurvedic importance in Assam³ were discussed. In the present communication, more medicines and treatments from Assam and Meghalaya are presented in tabular form.