Guwahati: From the flesh of wild animals to their horns, bones and other body parts, a wide range of wildlife continues to feature in the traditional healing practices of the Hrangkhol community in Assam’s Dima Hasao district, according to a new study documenting the community’s indigenous knowledge of animal-based medicine.
The study, published in the Indian Journal of History of Science, has documented the medicinal and cultural uses of 34 animal species among the Hrangkhol tribe, an indigenous community inhabiting the forested hills of Dima Hasao.
Researchers Esther Lalchungmawi Hrangkhol, Nazimur Rahman Talukdar and Parthankar Choudhury conducted the study to document traditional knowledge that is gradually changing as communities experience shifts in their lifestyles, healthcare practices and relationship with the natural environment.
The findings offer a glimpse into how traditional medicine remains intertwined with the community’s understanding of wildlife, health and its surrounding landscape.
The researchers collected information from 173 respondents across 20 villages in Dima Hasao between January 2023 and January 2024. The survey included traditional knowledge holders, elderly community members and people familiar with the use of animals in medicine and cultural practices.
The documented species belonged to 17 orders and 29 families, with mammals emerging as the most frequently represented group, accounting for 27 of the 34 species recorded.
Fish, birds, reptiles and other animal groups also featured in the community’s traditional medicinal practices.
Flesh and other body parts feature in traditional remedies
The study found that different animal body parts were used to prepare traditional remedies, with flesh accounting for the largest share of reported uses.
According to the researchers, flesh accounted for 31% of the documented body-part uses, followed by stomach at 15% and fat at 11%. Other parts included horns, blood, bones, gallbladders, skin and quills.
The findings suggest that traditional medicinal practices among the Hrangkhol are not limited to a single type of animal product but involve a range of materials used in different ways.
The researchers also documented remedies associated with various health conditions, including gastrointestinal and digestive problems, muscular and skeletal ailments, respiratory disorders, skin conditions and reproductive health issues.
Gastrointestinal and digestive problems emerged as the largest category of reported ailments, followed by muscular and skeletal problems and general weakness.
However, the study documents traditional practices and community knowledge; it does not establish the clinical effectiveness or safety of the remedies.
Traditional knowledge varies across the community
The researchers found that knowledge of animal-based remedies was not uniformly distributed among respondents.
While certain species were consistently associated with particular ailments, the study also recorded variations in the animals and body parts used to treat similar health conditions.
The researchers used an Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) to assess the degree of agreement among respondents regarding the use of animal species for different disease categories.
The analysis showed a high degree of agreement for some ailments, suggesting that certain remedies are widely recognised within the community. Other categories displayed considerable variation, reflecting differences in traditional knowledge and individual practices.
The findings indicate that indigenous medicinal knowledge is not a static body of information but a system that has evolved through generations of interaction with the local environment.
Changing lifestyles pose a challenge to traditional knowledge
The study points to changes in the transmission of traditional knowledge, particularly among younger generations.
The researchers observed that traditional practices are increasingly being influenced by modern healthcare, changing livelihoods and shifting cultural preferences.
Knowledge that was once passed down through everyday interactions within families and communities may be becoming less familiar to younger people.
The study highlights the importance of documenting this knowledge before it is lost, particularly as the number of traditional knowledge holders declines and community practices continue to evolve.
The researchers also emphasised that understanding the relationship between indigenous communities and wildlife is important for conservation planning.
The use of animals in traditional medicine is closely connected to the availability of species in the surrounding environment. Changes in wildlife populations and habitats could therefore affect both the community’s access to resources and the continuity of its traditional knowledge.
Conservation and cultural knowledge go hand in hand
The researchers said documenting traditional animal use provides an important baseline for understanding the relationship between indigenous communities and biodiversity.
However, they cautioned against viewing traditional medicinal practices solely through the lens of wildlife use.
The study highlights the need to recognise the cultural significance of these practices while also ensuring that conservation efforts protect wildlife populations and their habitats.
The researchers noted that documenting traditional knowledge can help identify species that may require greater conservation attention, particularly where medicinal use overlaps with existing threats to wildlife.
The study also underlines the importance of involving indigenous communities in conservation initiatives and ensuring that their knowledge and perspectives are taken into account.
For the Hrangkhol community, the relationship between wildlife and traditional medicine reflects a long history of interaction with the forests of Dima Hasao.
As this relationship changes, documenting indigenous knowledge could help preserve an important part of the community’s cultural heritage while contributing to a better understanding of the region’s biodiversity.