Folk medicine and its signifcance in the modern world (The case of the meetei people of Manipur)

Abstract

Folk medicine or traditional medicine is the traditional art of medical treatment. Generally the knowledge of folk medicine is transmitted from one generation to the next through oral tradition. It is the outcome of generations long accumulation of medical knowledge about their environment and human body accompanied by trial and error method over hundreds of years. It is the mother of all other medical systems. This paper will discuss the significance of folk medicine in contemporary Meitei society and how it can benefit the primary health care of the people.