REVITALIZATION OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINE AND THE CONTRIBUTION KANIKKAR TRIBES IN THIRUVANANTHAPURAM DISTRICT OF KERALA

Author Name: Shamna Hs

Volume/Issue: 01/10

Country: India

DOI NO.: 08.2020-25662434 DOI Link: http://www.doi-ds.org/doilink/04.2021-59929755/UIJIR

Affiliation:

1. Research scholar in History, Department of Kerala Studies, University of Kerala, Karyavattom Campus, Thiruvananthapuram-695581, Kerala, India

ABSTRACT

Indigenous medicine is widely practiced among the tribal and aboriginal populations in our country. These primitive societies followed a unique herbal remedies for the treatment of various ailments and health disorders from the time immemorial. Kanikkar is one of the major tribal communities located in the extreme South India especially in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam Districts of Kerala. They are the torch bearers of traditional medicinal knowledge and well versed in using various herbs to cure various diseases. They are cultivating and preserving the rare medicinal plants in and around their settlements. In the present study, the values of indigenous medicine and the contribution of Kanikkar in the field of modern medicine are evaluated.

Key words: Indigenous medicine, Kanikkar tribe, TBGRI, KIRTADS, Plathy, Chattu song, Jeevani