Disease and Illness in Folk Healing Practice: An Ethnographic Study Among the Mishing Tribe of Assam

Folk medicine is the non-written or non-codified medicine system of any indigenous community. There are two types of folk medicine in folk healing system- one is Natural and another is Magico-Religious folk medicine. The Mishing tribe of Majuli, Assam possess separate conception regarding the causes of the disease and accordingly they approach to the folk healing. The faith on Nature-spirit and deities is crucial among this society for which they organise many ceremonies and rituals to make pleased to the deities and wish for their good health. However, the importance of the folk healing is gradually lessened among the young generation due to various factors.

Disease and Illness; Folk medicine; Health seeking behaviour; Magico-religious practice; Tribal society.

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