THE PROBLEM
Despite India’s growth in the medical field, modern health services addressing common health issues such as malaria, fever and chronic pain are not fully accessible to marginalized populations. In rural areas, hospitals are scarce and allopathic treatments can be too expensive, making traditional systems of medicine the primary healthcare source for 80% of the world’s population (WHO). For the rural populations, local traditional healers can provide quality healthcare that is affordable, accessible and sustainable.
Working for the last 30 years to revitalize traditional systems of medicine, JJVS has brought medical relief to thousands of community members as well as soldiers of the BSF, CISF and SSB, through a network of traditional healers across 8 states. These traditional healers, named Gunis, have been treating common illnesses utilizing local medicinal plants and manual techniques for thousands of years in India.
GUNIS – REVITALIZING THE TRADITIONAL HEALER
Gunis can be found in practically every village in India. Generally, Gunis possess remarkable skills in solving common rural health issues, including bone setting, skin diseases, asthma, snakebites, fever, jaundice, gynecological issues and chronic pains.
First, we began by identifying and documenting traditional healers across the country. With the help of local democratic bodies like Panchayats and Gram sabha, JJVS has identified over 1,000 Gunis and registered many with local governments. This official certification from local governments provides village-level recognition for the Gunis and protects their intellectual property rights. This is the largest and most authoritative listing of traditional healers in existence.
The next project was to survey and record the remedies used by Gunis. After compiling a large volume of folk medicine, JJVS published the Guni Pharmacopoeia in 1998 containing 80 herbal remedies used by traditional healers for centuries. As the most comprehensive catalogue of non-Ayurvedic traditional health knowledge, this book forms the basis of much of our research and training activities. In 1999, JJVS published a taxonomic record of medicinal plants in the Udaipur region, listing descriptions and applications for over 300 species.
Alongside these projects, JJVS has developed training, knowledge exchange and public awareness programs to fully establish Gunis and traditional systems of health as a dynamic and important health alternative in rural areas.
GUNI TRAINING
JJVS has developed a core three-phase training program to better equip Gunis with medical skills and knowledge.
First Phase – Exchange of Information and Human Anatomy
Gunis exchange understandings of traditional medicine and treatment methods, as well as discuss the definition and role of Gunis in society. To strengthen their medical skills, Gunis discuss symptoms and causes of common diseases in rural communities, share herbal formulations and attend classes on human anatomy.
Second Phase – Medicinal Plant Identification and Preparation in Forest
Gunis participate in a 10-day forest tour along with botanists, Ayurveda practitioners and research scholars to identify wild medicinal plant species and exchange traditional knowledge. They gather plant specimens for herbarium preparation and collect seeds to conserve endangered species.
Third Phase – Herbal Formulation Demonstrations
Gunis share traditional knowledge with each other regarding herbal formulation, doses and conception methodology, restrictions and instructions when applying the medicine under supervision by an Ayurveda practitioners or pharmacist. In this stage, formulations are practiced and standardized
Following this training, JJVS screens out those who meet the Guni classification criteria and guides them through a validation process that lasts for an additional 2-6 months.
Aaditherapy
JJVS developed the four-phase Aaditherapy training program to provide skill-enhancing training to new Gunis as well as to improve the knowledge, income earning potential, and morale of aging Gunis. The first phase educates Gunis on the basic principles of anatomy, physiology and Ayurveda and the basic treatment of common diseases with local medicinal plants. The second and third phases consist of the assessment and treatment of bone-related disorders with the help of myotherapy and bowen therapy. The last phase consists of the revision of previous content and education in certain therapies derived from naturopathy and panchkarma, which are proven to help in bone and muscle related disorders.
As part of the complementary healthcare training project (CHCT), we’ve trained 9 master trainers (as part of a Train the Trainer model) as well as 76 Gunis. We’ve trained a further 135 Gunis in Aaditherapy. We hope to launch a sustainable and widespread training program for all the Gunis in our network.
TRADITIONAL HEALING INFRASTRUCTURE
Guni Clinics
In order to provide both livelihood opportunities to Gunis and affordable healthcare treatment to villagers, JJVS assists Gunis in establishing home-run clinics. In these clinics, Gunis maintain a household storage of crude herbs and prepared medicines for distribution and treatment, usually involving their family members in the collection and preparation of medicines. They also maintain a treatment table for manual therapies. Due to the large number of patients that come to the clinics, Gunis are able to earn an average income of Rs.5000 – 10,000 /month while charging patients only a minimum cost of Rs. 50-200 per treatment.
Guni Ashram and GTTC
JJVS has established a centralized Guni Ashram in the village of Kurabar and two GTTCs (Guni Training cum Treatment Centers), one in Karakali and one in Vela. They serve as an education facility focused on teaching Gunis, community members, students and visitors about local herbal medicines. The Guni Ashram serves as a research site for conducting studies on the standardization and efficacy of Guni medicine. Experienced Ayurveda practitioners test ancestral formulations in order to validate and promote medicines at the village level. Patients can also access treatment at the Guni Ashram and the GTTCs.
A smaller facilitation centre and pharmacy has also been established at JJVS main office in Bedla. This centre showcases medicinal herbs from the area and acts as a connection between farmers and customers.
Health Camps
To increase awareness about traditional healing systems, JJVS organizes treatment and education camps in rural and urban area where several Gunis treat an average of more than 100 patients per camp. These camps are invaluable in rural areas where health infrastructure is not available. These Guni health camps have increased the local recognition and validation of Gunis’ practices. Furthermore, JJVS has organized health camps in collaboration with international volunteers skilled manual therapy.
Herbal Gardens
In order to promote the use of traditional herbal remedies and provide community members an accesible cost effective alternative, JJVS has supported the development of home and school herbal gardens. It is known as Dharam bagichi (service garden). Unirrigated patches were used to plant at least 14 species of herbal plants. 13,000 Home herbal gardens and 50 School herbal gardens have been established.
VALIDATION OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINE
To warrant traditional systems of health, JJVS regularly organizes a team of botanists and Ayurveda practitioners to perform literature reviews and botanical reviews of the Gunis’ healing methods.
Literature review
Literature reviews assess the safety and efficacy of herbal medicine, whether derived from a single plant or from a defined mixture of plants. The literature search includes reference books, review articles, systematic surveillance of primary sources and database searches.
Holism is a key element of all systems of traditional medicine, as illnesses are simultaneously treated on the physical, emotional, mental, spiritual and environmental levels. Therefore, when reviewing the literature on traditional medicine (both herbal medicines and traditional procedure-based therapies), it is important to understand the theories, concepts and cultural backgrounds behind the individual practices. To achieve this objective, literature reviews take note of a variety of factors, including diagnosis, dosage, duration of administration, criteria for evaluation (such as improvement of symptoms), simultaneous therapy and statistical analysis.
Botanical Review
Botanical identification is the first step in assuring the quality, safety and efficacy of herbal medicines. For botanical reviews, JJVS collects the Latin binomial name and synonyms, vernacular names, the parts of the plant used for each preparation and detailed instructions for sustainable harvest.
Through its Volunteer and Intern Programme, JJVS also aims to provide exceptional herbal education to visitors from around the world. By embracing all herbal medicine practitioners and their crafts, JJVS aims to learn more about other country’s medicinal herbs whilst educating others about local practices.