Paper
Traditional Healing Systems and Ethnomedicine of the Buxa Community in Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, India
presenters
Prof Vibha Agnihotri
Nationality: India
Residence: India
University of Lucknow,India
Presence:Face to Face/ On Site
Tushar Srivastava
Nationality: India
Residence: India
Presence:Online
Dr Indu Kumari
Nationality: Indian
Residence: India
University of Lucknow
Presence:Face to Face/ On Site
The Buxa are a primitive tribal group in the Bijnor district of Uttar Pradesh, India. They are also spread across the Dehradun, Nainital, and Garhwal districts of Uttarakhand.
The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that for centuries, traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM) has been an integral resource for health in households and communities. One hundred seventy countries have reported the use of traditional medicine. Many developed countries have also begun to recognize and integrate traditional medicine into their healthcare systems. There are considerable economic benefits to developing indigenous medicines and using medicinal plants for the treatment of various diseases. Plants have been used in traditional medicine for several thousand years. With the increasing demand for sustainable development, interest in studying medicinal plants and their traditional uses in different parts of the world has grown. Documenting this indigenous knowledge, ethnomedicine, and traditional healers, researchers focus on the importance of the traditional medicinal system of the Buxa community. Traditional healers among the Buxa, known as Siyana or Siana, possess extensive knowledge about ethnomedicine and traditional treatment methods, including chanting and physical activities. Today, as the influence of Western or modern medicine grows, people's beliefs have shifted from traditional healers to modern doctors. However, some poor and rural Buxa still rely on them and use their traditional medicinal systems. In this regard, the present study provides an understanding of the ethnomedical and traditional healers concerning indigenous knowledge and ethnomedicine systems and how they impact society and individuals as a whole.
Keywords:
Siana or Siyana, Ethno- medicine and Buxa community