Roots of Wisdom: Unwritten Herbal Traditions of Sikkim

Contents: Foreword. Acknowledgement. List of Figures and Tables. Poem for the Conservation of Traditional Medicine, Ayurveda.  1. Introduction. 2. Sikkim state culture and folklore. 3. Healers narratives. 4. On recognition and support. 5. Conclusions. 6. References. 7. Appendix.

Indigenous societies across India sustain a diverse cadre of community-recognized healers, including shamans, magico-religious and faith healers, herbalists, bone setters, midwives, massagers and specialists for ailments such as snakebite, jaundice and poisoning. Although largely outside formal education and regulation, these practitioners meet substantial healthcare needs, particularly in rural and tribal areas. Indigenous healing systems are typically non-codified, informal, orally transmitted, non-commercial and embedded in local cosmologies and everyday life. Despite their continuing relevance, these systems face marginalization as state-supported, professionalized biomedical and codified traditional systems, especially with the expansion of AYUSH. The monograph on Sikkim, Roots of Wisdom: Unwritten Herbal Traditions of Sikkim, is a part of larger collaborative project between Anthropos India Foundation and IGNCA. It highlights the extensive use of flora, fauna and mineral resources for health, alongside shamanic, herbal, and massage-based therapies.