Folk Medicine among the Meitei: Cultural Significance, Practices, and Contemporary Challenges

Abstract

Meitei folk medicine, a vital component of traditional knowledge systems in Manipur, Northeast India, reflects a culturally embedded, holistic approach to health that integrates physical, spiritual, and psychological dimensions. Rooted in indigenous philosophies and sustained through generations, this healing tradition is primarily practiced by Maibas (male healers) and Maibis (female healers), who hold significant cultural and spiritual authority. Their roles extend beyond medical care to include ritual performance, divination, and spiritual mediation, highlighting the interconnectedness of health, cosmology, and community life. This study explores the structure and function of Meitei folk medicine, focusing on its classification of ailments and healing techniques, the training and gendered roles of practitioners, and the transmission of knowledge through oral and textual traditions. Healing practices are broadly categorized into herbal remedies, magico-religious interventions, and physical therapies like Mari Suba. Herbal medicine relies on endemic plants with therapeutic properties, while spiritual healing employs chants, rituals, and symbolic offerings to address illnesses attributed to supernatural causes. Despite the increasing dominance of allopathic medicine and the decline of formal institutions like the Pandit Loishang, Meitei folk medicine persists as a source of cultural identity, especially in rural areas. It offers valuable insights into alternative epistemologies of health that challenge biomedical reductionism and emphasize harmony among the individual, community, and environment. The paper draws on historical texts, ethnographic studies, and limited field interviews with traditional healers to present a nuanced understanding of this indigenous medical system. Recognizing the cultural, spiritual, and empirical foundations of Meitei folk medicine is essential for its preservation and potential integration into culturally sensitive health frameworks. The research contributes to broader discourses on indigenous knowledge, ethnomedicine, and the pluralism of healing systems.