Medico-Ethnobiology and Indigenous Knowledge System of Munda Ethnic Group in Jhapa, Nepal (A Case Study of Mechinagar Municipality)

Abstract

Munda are one of the Highly Marginalized Janajati (Indigenous group) that has recently been added to the list of Indigenous Nationalities by NEFIN. However, they are yet to be recognized by the government as Janajatis of Nepal. They are rich in customs and traditions, especially with respect to the traditional medicinal knowledge and practices of using animals and plants for the treatment of different diseases. The indigenous knowledge present in this community is vanishing day by day due to modernizations and lack of awareness by the new generations about their culture and tradition. Thus, medico-ethnobiological study with the Indigenous knowledge system of Munda community of Mechinagar-11 of Jhapa district was documented. Data were collected through interviews with the key informants including conjurer (Dhamis/Jhakris), elderly members of the community and focal group discussions with the local people including children, youths and adults. Analysis of the data revealed the use of 25 animal species belonging to 18 orders and 24 families and 25 genera to treat 27 different diseases and 61 plant species belonging to 41 families and 56 genera for the treatment of 55 different diseases. The gastro-intestinal, integumentary, reproductive, respiratory, musculoskeletal, nervous, urogenital, ophthalmological, otorhinolaryngological, dental and cardiovascular were the most frequently treated diseases. The status of medicinal animals and plants around the study area are degrading due to lack of effective management and conservation. Hence, the community must be made aware for the protection and conservation of those animals and plants.