Abstract:
Background: Mental health issues are an increasing concern in modern society, often arising from occupational and family stress, social problems, environmental pollution, and substance abuse. Disorders such as hyperactivity in children and depression in youth are common, while Alzheimer’s disease and other age-related cognitive impairments are also becoming more prevalent. Given the limitations of modern medicine in addressing these multifaceted conditions, traditional healing practices provide a valuable complementary approach.
Aim: The present study aimed to document indigenous knowledge and treatment practices for mental disorders among rural populations and traditional healers in Uttarakhand, India.
Method: A structured and validated questionnaire was used to collect data from participants across all 13 districts of the state, ensuring comprehensive geographical representation. Herbs, chants, ritual materials, and dietary restrictions used for the treatments were systematically documented during the study. Inclusion criteria comprised individuals aged over 40 years, residing in rural areas or recently migrated from them, and who had a good understanding of mental disorders and their treatment. Participants with age-related cognitive impairments, those residing in urban areas, or those lacking knowledge of traditional practices were excluded from the study.
Results: The collected data revealed that over 80% of participants were above 50 years of age, more than 70% were male, and the majority were farmers, self-employed individuals, or retired government employees with education up to the higher secondary level or below. Locally, mental disorders were described using terms such as chhal, and bhoot lagna. The perceived causes were reported primarily as social in nature, followed by spiritual, physical, and hereditary factors. Commonly recognized signs included behavioral changes, physical symptoms, and cognitive disturbances. Traditional treatment practices for conditions such as anxiety, depression, epilepsy, possession-like states, and sleep disturbances were mainly provided by religious leaders, traditional healers, or family elders. Therapeutic approaches typically combined herbal remedies (e.g., Bacopa monnieri, Nardostachys Jatamansi, Withania somnifera, Convolvulus prostrates, and Ocimum tenuiflorum) with mantra recitation, fumigation therapy (e.g., Artemisia roxburghiana, Santalum album, Skimmia anquetilia, Commiphora wightii, and Azadirachta indica), ritual practices, and dietary modifications. While the overall reported success rate was modest, most participants indicated substantial relief of symptoms and improvement in general well-being.
Conclusion: This study concludes that rural communities in Uttarakhand still rely on traditional healing for mental health, with a preference for integration with modern medicine, showing the need for documentation, validation, and research for their therapeutic potential.
Biography:
Dr. D. K. Semwal is currently serving as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Phytochemistry, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences at Uttarakhand Ayurved University, Dehradun, India. He has been a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa during 2013-2015. He received his MSc (Chemistry) in 2005 and PhD (Phytochemistry) in 2009 from HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar Garhwal, India. He served as a Lecturer at HNB Garhwal University, India, and later an R&D scientist at an India-based pharmaceutical industry. He worked as a UGC-Dr. D.S. Kothari Postdoctoral Fellow at Panjab University, Chandigarh, India during 2010-2013. He has been a PI of six R&D projects funded by different agencies. Presently, he is serving as an editor and a reviewer for many international journals. He published more than 120 research papers in various journals of international repute and 12 books, as well as patents already in his account. His current research interests are phytochemistry, phytomedicine, clinical pharmacology, drug discovery, Ayurveda and ethnopharmacology.
Copyright 2024 Mathews International LLC All Rights Reserved
