Preserving traditional health system through herbal medicinal school

Kross Pariong traveled 40 km from his village to Sohparu village to treat his Cancer. He came to know about a person in Sohparu who can cure cancer through herbal medicines. “I was rejected by the hospital for treatment and as a last resort, he thought of trying this last option. He met Mingstar Kharjahrin, 70-75 year thin statured man understood his situation and gave assurance for his cure.

I was treated by Mingstar Kharjahrin and now I am completely cured”, says Kross Pariong with tears in his eyes.

Mingstar is a traditional herbal medicine practitioner from Sohparu village located in the West Khasi Hills district headquarter, Nongstoin in Meghalaya. He uses his indigenous traditional knowledge treat ailments like cancer, gastritis, piles, snake bites, insect bites, animal bites, malaria, fever, headache, stomach pains, infertility, pregnancy problem and others with his herbal medicines.

Traditional medicines are considered as one of the effective treatment for non-communicable diseases, one of the biggest health burdens for developing countries. Traditional medicines particularly herbal medicines have been relied upon by local people in rural and remote areas of India.

Mingstar has claimed that he had treated more than 600 patients suffering from various ailments and patients from East Khasi Hills District (100 – 120 Km) & South West Khasi Hills District (60 -90Km), Mawshynrut, Nongstoin Block come to him for treatment.

Mingstar’s name was suggested by the locals when Caritas India FARM Northeast programme officers enquired about the reliable herbal medicine practitioner in the Sohparu village. The programme aims to revive the rich traditional practices in agriculture, health and social practices in Northeast.

Prabal Sen, State officer of Caritas India interacted with Mingstar and learned that he is willing to share his knowledge with other unlike the prevailing notion of traditional practitioners who never share their knowledge. To be more certain on the claims made by Mingstar, Prabal suggested FARM Northeast team to get as many testimonies from the people treated by him.

Supported by Misereor, the FARM Northeast started the herbal medicinal school at Sohparu village on a weekly basis to transfer the knowledge of traditional medicine to the younger generation and people at large. On world environment day 2017, the school was formally launched by Mingstar Kharjahrin in the presence of the villagers, patients, NABARD representative and Lead Bank Manager of West Khasi Hills District.

The herbal medicinal school aims to inculcate the feeling of preservation of herbal medicinal plants and environment. Mingstar, the main instructor in the school teaches students with theory and practical session to prepare herbal medicines. Mingstar was also invited as a guest speaker by Caritas India during the partner’s review meeting held in the month of November 2017.

The school is running smoothly with the limited students but FARM Northeast aspire that this traditional practice should be preserved, nourished and enriched by the people. Nongstoin Social Service Society has been instructed by Caritas India to get Government recognition for Mingstar from the State Health Department. Caritas India plans to develop a manual on herbal medicines to be introduced in the schools for children to learn, understand and value their age-old traditional practices.