Volume 148, Issue 1, 21 June 2013, Pages 305–310
An assessment of the Bhutanese traditional medicine for its ethnopharmacology, ethnobotany and ethnoquality: Textual understanding and the current practices
Abstract
Ethnopharmacological relevance
:
This study involves the assessment of the Bhutanese traditional
medicine (BTM) which was integrated with the mainstream biomedicine in
1967 to provide primary health care services in the country. It caters
to 20–30% of the daily out-patients within 49 traditional medicine units
attached to 20 district modern hospitals and 29 Basic Health Units in
the country.
Aim of the study
:
This study presents the ethnopharmacological, ethnobotanical and the
ethnoquality concepts in relation to mainstream Tibetan medicine and
describes the current practices of BTM.
Materials and methods
: Experienced BTM practitioners (Drung-tshos and Smen-pas)
were selected using a convenience sampling method and were interviewed
using an open questionnaire followed by informal discussions. The corpus
of BTM, Tibetan and scientific literature was obtained and the
information on ethnopharmacological, ethnoquality and ethnobotanical
concepts and current practices of BTM was extracted.
Results
: This study found that the BTM shares many similarities in terms of materia medica,
pharmacopoeia and the principles and concepts of ethnopharmacology and
ethnobotany with its mainstream Tibetan medicine. However, the
resourceful Bhutanese Drung-tshos and Smen-pas have
adapted this medical system based on the local language, culture,
disease trend, health care needs and their familiarity with the locally
available medicinal ingredients making it particular to the country. A
number of notable distinctions observed in the current practices include
a code of classification of diseases (only 79 of 404 types of disorders
recognized), formulations (currently used only 103 of thousands
formulation types), usage of medicinal plants (only 229 species of
thousands described) and selected treatment procedures (golden needle
and water therapy). This BTM was found to cater to 20–30% of daily
out-patients visiting 49 modern hospitals and basic health units in the
country.
Conclusions
: The BTM
has been evolved from the Tibetan medicine. While the pharmacopoeia,
ethnopharmacology, ethnobotany and the ethnoquality aspects shares
commonalities with the mainstream Tibetan medicine, there are some
practices unique to BTM. Such uniqueness observed in the current
practices of BTM include formulations, medicinal plants collection and
usage, and the treatment procedures including golden needle and water
therapy. This could be a promising source of information for the
rediscovery of useful remedies, the development of modern
phytotherapeutics and the establishment of efficient quality control
measures.
Graphical abstract
Keywords
- Bhutanese traditional medicine;
- Medicinal plant;
- Ethnopharmacology;
- Ethnobotany;
- Ethnoquality
- Corresponding author. Tel.:
+61 2 4221 4338; fax: +61 4221 4287.
- 1
- Permanent address: Menjong Sorig Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Health, Thimphu, Bhutan.
Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
