Modern world does not accept tribal medicinal systems. Traditional healers are often considered shamans or quacks. It doesn’t help that a veil of obscurity lies over these healing methods.
Dr. Y Hesheto Chishi, president, North East Traditional Healers Association (NETHA), tries to explain how it is a lot more than superstition and rituals.
“Nature has a unique way of communicating to every living being through subtle signs,” he says. “Tribal communities have preserved this understanding through ages and built upon an indigenous/organic medical practice.”
According to Dr. Chishi, there are more than 7,500 medicinal plants in the North East. “Neem has sedative and analgesic properties and can cure chronic allergies and hypertension,” he rattles off, underlining how little of this traditional knowledge has percolated to urban existence. Tribal medicine practitioners can ascertain the exact nature and cause of the ailment simply from the individual’s pulse, he says
Dr. Chishi also reveals some unique cures derived from animals and birds too. “The underwing feather of a crow, when burnt with charcoal, has proved to be the most effective antiseptic on major wounds. And roasted flesh from the stomach of a porcupine can cure asthma and pneumonia,” he says.
Tribals believe traditional healing is genetically inherited. Practitioners can ascertain the exact nature and cause of the ailment simply from the individual’s pulse.
Dr. Rabha, a homoeopath from a remote suburb in Manipur, believes some tribal healers have X-ray vision. “They can see the inside of the physical body,” he says. “We encourage people to undergo laboratory investigations to corroborate our diagnosis.” Dr. Rabha is researching tribal medicinal cures.
Interestingly, many tribal medical practitioners are connected to soothsayers, relying on dream interpretations for assessing the exact cause of the disease. Also, they believe all afflictions and their cures are predestined, making time sacrosanct in terms of cure.
“At times, patients have come to me, but they were destined to receive cures at a future time. I have gently communicated this to them,” says Dr. Chishi. “When a patient is destined for a cure, we instinctively know the exact plant or herb that will cure him/her and where it will be found. It’s important to understand that if a cure is not destined, it will not happen.”
Dr. Chishi has dealt with several unique cases and he narrates one. “A man was put on life support after suffering a massive stroke. His family urged me to intervene. I requested the hospital authorities to allow me near the patient once, telling them I would only pray for him,” he recalls. “I gently massaged his hands and stimulated a nerve to revive blood circulation and he came back to life.”
Given this rather metaphysical backdrop, one might feel there is rampant misuse of knowledge in this domain. Dr. Rabha clears that up firmly, saying, “If fraudulent means are practiced, the power of healing goes away forever.”
