Towards Revival or Erosion? Understanding the History, Challenges and Future Prospect of Ethnomedicinal Practices in India.

The role of ethnomedicinal practices within the Indian system of medicine has been inconspicuous, to say the least. The neglect and marginalization which started with the divergence of other age-old established systems of medicine in India reached its peak during the colonial rule which had gone for quick introduction of scientific approach ignoring in the process underlying merit of the indigenous belief system. The situation began to change with growing awareness about the prospect and possibilities of indigenous methods and therapies thereof. But unrestricted growth of ethnopharmacological research and bioprospecting also put these indigenous groups in possession of knowledge about traditional medicine in danger of losing what they have managed to retain for generations. Through a thematic analysis of secondary information, the present research seeks to understand the history, threats and challenges faced as well as the steps taken by the Government of India for retaining the future prospect of ethnomedicinal practices in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]