Ethnographic Study of Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Among Awadh Community, Lumbini province, Nepal
Prashant Jha
Citation: Prashant Jha, "Ethnographic Study of Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Among Awadh Community, Lumbini province, Nepal", OAS Journal of Medical and Health Sciences, Volume 01, Issue 01.
Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
This ethnographic study looks into how the Awadh community in Lumbini Province, Nepal, uses Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) in their daily life. For this study, I have conducted informal interviews in diverse settings like homes, fields, and public spaces to collect insights from various groups, including children, housewives, farmers, elders, teachers, and local leaders from the community. The findings show that CAM practices, such as utilization of herbal plants and their products, fasting and dietary traditions, body massage etc. are part of their daily life. For them, CAM practices are not only remedies but also preventive and wellbeing measures. This study further shows the significance of CAM is not limited to healthcare but has an important role in shaping cultural identity and strengthening social bonds. The study also explores different factors for the preference of CAM, and found socio-economic, cultural, accessibility and education as leading factors. This Ethnographic research contributes to an in-depth understanding of the significance of CAM in the Awadh community and focuses on the need for culturally sensitive health policies in Nepal.
Keywords: Ethnographic Study, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), Traditional Health Practice, Awadh Community Lumbini Province Nepal, Critical Medical Anthropology.
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