Linking medicinal plants, traditional knowledge and community health

Abstract

There are several models across the country at the local level on diverse nodes of interventions, however concerted policy attention and integrated frameworks/approaches for bringing together multiple institutions and stakeholders are missing. In early 2000, at national level local health traditions appeared in policy documents together with the efforts to mainstream AYUSH systems. But after a decade of official support, it is again on the verge of being marginalized in the official programs. In this context, the authors specifically highlighting the scope of developing an Integrated implementation strategy on conservation and sustainable use of Medicinal Plants, strengthening traditional medical knowledge, traditional health practitioners and other local knowledge experts, integration in Primary Health Care, enterprises, equity and livelihoods and local resource centres for education and capacity development.