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| Traditional Health
Systems |
  
Traditional health systems are customarily described in contrast to
"modern" or allopathic medicine, which focuses on direct
curative intervention. We see the role of traditional healers as complimentary
to modern medicine. Traditional health systems are holistic by nature,
comprising:
• Emphasis
on health as a normative condition
• Integration
of lifestyle and environmental factors
• Non-invasive
healing and hygiene practices
• Indigenous knowledge
traditions (eg, guru-student method)
We conceived the idea of promoting Traditional Health
Systems as a viable alternative to costly and scarce allopathic
treatment. JJVS has been almost single-handedly responsible
for reviving interest in these historically proven traditions.
We provided the term "guni" as a uniting title
for these traditional healers, and are actively working
with the government to obtain official recognition for
traditional health systems.
Gunis: Revitalising
the role of village healers
Gunis are distributed in practically every rural village
in India. Generally, these "non degree holder"
doctors possess remarkable competencies in solving typical
rural health problems, including bone setting, skin diseases,
asthma, snake bites, sciatica and chronic pains.
To establish traditional healing as a viable public health
alternative, our first challenge was to identify and document
traditional practitioners across the country. To date,
JJVS has interviewed and registered about 600 Gunis. This
is the largest and most authoritative listing of traditional
healers in existence.
The next project we undertook was to survey and record
the remedies in use by the gunis. This resulted in a remarkable
compendium of folk medicine, which we published as the
Guni Pharmacopoeia in 1998. The book contains 80 herbal
remedies that have been used by traditional healers for
centuries. This is the most comprehensive catalogue of
non-Ayurvedic traditional health knowledge assembled and
forms the basis of much of our research and training activities.
In 1999, we published a taxonomic record of medicinal
plants in the Udaipur region, listing descriptions and
applications for over 300 species.
To complete the programme, we have established certification,
training, knowledge exchange, and public awareness processes
that combine to position the Guni movement as a dynamic
and important health alternative.
Principle
Activities
• Training Programmes:
Gunis are selected to receive 30 days of structured training
in three phases of 10 days duration. Training programs
specifically for women Gunis are also arranged.
•
Study and Knowledge Exchange: Annual education
tours are organized in order to enhance the Guni's skill
and knowledge and expose them to the varied cultural,
social, ethical and traditional health programmes of remote
Indian villages and towns.
• Certification
and standards: JJVS is developing a formal Guni
certification process that will facilitate the integration
of Gunis into the mainstream health system.
•
Research and development: Traditional health
is a dynamic tradition. JJVS is active in working with
healers and botanical specialists to provide solutions
for contraception, women's health, tuberculosis, etc
• Botanical conservation: Preserving
plant germplasm is a key issue. We support seed- saving,
permaculture, and creation of herbal gardens to ensure
reliable local supplies of medicinal plants.
•
Curative Camps: JJVS organized 12 state level
and 160 local level curative camps where about 50,000
patients have been treated by Gunis for various ailments
• State level Ethno-Veterinary (Sammelan):
This programme was organized in 1999 at Udaipur in which
137 veterinary Gunis from various states of India participated.
They exchanged their formulations used in the treatment
of livestock diseases of their region.
•
Newsletter (Gaon Ka Guni): JJVS promotes an active
dialogue amongst the Guni community by publishing a quarterly
magazine, featuring Guni profiles, medicinal formulations,
and current issues.
• Exhibitions and
Seminars: TRIFED Fair organized by Government
of India (2700 visitors attended); National level seminar
organized by JJVS attracted 150 participants from nine
states.
• Health Centres: JJVS
has established 23 traditional health centres in 9 districts
of Rajasthan.
• Create National Guni
Forum: JJVS organises a national level forum
to promote awareness and advocacy of common issues.
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