Articles
Traditional medicine partnerships – fostering two way exchange of knowledge, skills and capacity strengthening
Article number
1126_3
Pages
21 – 30
Language
English
Abstract
Traditional medicinal knowledge possessed by Indigenous people is a significant resource, as exemplified by traditional medicines being the primary healthcare for ~80% of people in developing countries and their study being a successful drug discovery avenue.
The Indigenous Bioresources Research Group of Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia, work in collaborative partnership with Indigenous people to document and preserve first hand traditional medicinal knowledge; identify flora of significant medicinal potential and evaluate their effectiveness using biological assays; identify the major bioactive components responsible for the medicinal properties of the flora; and provide capacity strengthening opportunities for the Indigenous partners and their communities.
The Indigenous Bioresources Research Group has well established partnerships with Aboriginal Elders of northern New South Wales, Australia, and Indian traditional custodians.
This paper provides an overview of the importance of traditional medicinal knowledge and a brief review on traditional LSQUObush medicinesRSQUO of New South Wales.
It additionally presents the methodologies employed and some cultural, scientific and educational goals and achievements of the Indigenous Bioresources Research Group through showcasing of three major partnerships of the group, i.e., with Yaegl Aboriginal people of New South Wales, Australia, a Siddha Medical Practitioner of Chennai, Southern India, and Chungtia villagers of Nagaland, North East India.
These case studies particularly highlight the immense reward that truly collaborative partnerships between academics and Indigenous communities can bring, including the two-way exchange of knowledge and skills and various capacity strengthening outcomes.
The Indigenous Bioresources Research Group of Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia, work in collaborative partnership with Indigenous people to document and preserve first hand traditional medicinal knowledge; identify flora of significant medicinal potential and evaluate their effectiveness using biological assays; identify the major bioactive components responsible for the medicinal properties of the flora; and provide capacity strengthening opportunities for the Indigenous partners and their communities.
The Indigenous Bioresources Research Group has well established partnerships with Aboriginal Elders of northern New South Wales, Australia, and Indian traditional custodians.
This paper provides an overview of the importance of traditional medicinal knowledge and a brief review on traditional LSQUObush medicinesRSQUO of New South Wales.
It additionally presents the methodologies employed and some cultural, scientific and educational goals and achievements of the Indigenous Bioresources Research Group through showcasing of three major partnerships of the group, i.e., with Yaegl Aboriginal people of New South Wales, Australia, a Siddha Medical Practitioner of Chennai, Southern India, and Chungtia villagers of Nagaland, North East India.
These case studies particularly highlight the immense reward that truly collaborative partnerships between academics and Indigenous communities can bring, including the two-way exchange of knowledge and skills and various capacity strengthening outcomes.
Authors
J.F. Jamie, S.R. Vemulpad, M. Kichu, U. Kuzhiumparambil, R. Velmurugan
Keywords
antibacterial activity, customary knowledge, ethical engagement, medicinal flora, Chungtia village, Siddha medicine, Yaegl country
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