Traditional Healing Wisdom: Exploring the Ethnomedicinal Knowledge of the Bondo Tribe

Abstract

Sagarika Nayak, Jhili Pradhan and Tapaswini Nayak

This paper delves into the ethno-medical knowledge of the Bondo tribe, offering a comprehensive exploration of their traditional healing practices and the utilization of medicinal plants. The paper elucidates the Bondo belief system regarding diseases’ superficial and deep nature, influencing the choice of treatments. The unique form of surgery, such as intramuscular administration of paste, is discussed, differentiating Bondo’s practices from those of other tribes. The paper stresses the need for documenting all medicinal ingredients used by Bondo tribes and proposes measures for refining and propagating this knowledge. The goal is to improve healthcare practices, make medicines widely available, and in still a sense of responsibility for environmental conservation. A comprehensive review of existing literature on Bondo ethno medicine, tribal healthcare practices, and medicinal plant use was conducted to establish a foundational understanding of the subject. Extensive fieldwork was conducted in Bondo tribal areas in Odisha to directly engage with the community and gather primary data. Ethnographic methods, including participant observation and in-depth interviews, were employed to understand the Bondo medicinal practices and the utilization of medicinal plants. Botanical surveys were conducted to identify and document the medicinal plants. The unlettered tribal communities breed and conserve valuable medicinal and food plants, contributing significantly to ethno medicinal practices. The intellectual property of Bondo medicinal knowledge needs protection and fair compensation for the contributions made by the tribal communities. Efforts should be directed towards documenting and preserving this knowledge.

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