CROSS-CULTURAL ENTOMOTHERAPY IN DIMA HASAO DISTRICT, ASSAM

摘要

Entomotherapy, the practice of using insects and insect products as medicine, is widely practised among the ethnic tribes of Dima Hasao district in Assam. However, no studies on traditional healthcare practices are available. The present study is an attempt towards documentation of traditional knowledge and entomotherapeutic practices of the indigenous tribes of Dima Hasao district. Information gathered included those from field surveys, group discussion and semi-structured interview methods. The study revealed 38 insect species under 11 orders, 18 families and 30 genera posessing medicinal property. The ethnic tribes use wide varieties of medicines derived from insects for the treatment of several diseases. Insects play an important role in healthcare practices. The study brings out the urgency for documentation of traditional knowledge of entomotherapeutic practices of the tribal communities and for conservation of insect diversity.