Documentation of 'Plant Drugs' dispensed via local weekly shanties of Madurai City, India.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The Valaiyār (Moopanar) communities of Tamil Nadu are traditionally known for catching rats and snakes from the agricultural fields. Prior to independence, some of these families have faced socio-economic changes and chosen to become herbalists in Madurai city. They are mainly engaged in collecting and dispensing fresh and dried plant drugs in its 'natural form' at Tiḷagar tīḍal market of Madurai city. Their business is unique, because customers receive 'prescriptions' and 'plant drugs', unlike the conventional dispensaries. Their world view is: 'to cure the ailing in natural way'.

Objectives

To document plant drugs collected and dispensed by some of the families belonging to Valaiyār (Moopanar) community in the Tiḷagar tīḍal market.

Materials and methods

E

SUBMITTER: Suma TS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6034169 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr - Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature