Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: A new study reveals the Hrangkhol tribe in Assam uses 34 different animal species for traditional medicine. Researchers Esther Lalchungmawi Hrangkhol, Nazimur Rahman Talukdar, and Parthankar Choudhury conducted the fieldwork in the Dima Hasao district. They gathered data from 173 people across 20 villages between January 2023 and January 2024. The study appeared in the Indian Journal of History of Science.
The animals belong to 17 orders and 29 families. Mammals make up 27 of the 34 recorded species. Fish, birds, and reptiles also play a role. The community uses various body parts to fight ailments. Flesh is the most common ingredient, appearing in 31 percent of remedies. Stomach parts follow at 15 percent, while fat accounts for 11 percent. Others use horns, blood, bones, gallbladders, skin, and quills.
These remedies target a range of health issues. Gastrointestinal and digestive troubles are the most common complaints. The medicine also addresses muscular and skeletal pain, respiratory disorders, skin problems, and reproductive health. The study does not prove these treatments work. It only tracks how the community uses them. The team used an Informant Consensus Factor to measure agreement on specific remedies.
Knowledge varies within the tribe. Younger generations are drifting away from these traditions due to modern healthcare and shifting lifestyles. The researchers argue that documenting this data helps protect cultural history. It also assists in local conservation planning. The authors note, "The findings offer a glimpse into how traditional medicine remains intertwined with the community's understanding of wildlife, health and its surrounding environment."
Conservation requires balance. The team warns that habitat loss directly threatens both wildlife and the survival of traditional knowledge. Future plans must involve indigenous voices to protect biodiversity while respecting tribal heritage.
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