Traditional Healing Practices: A Study Among the Western Himalayan Gaddi Tribe

The nomadic Gaddi people have long lived in the western Himalayas. Gaddis predominate in Kangra and Chamba districts in Himachal Pradesh. This study identifies the customary healthcare practices of Gaddis in the Bharmour tehsil of Chamba district and the Dharamshala tehsil of Kangra district. They raise sheep and goats and divide their time between winters in the Himachal plains and summers in alpine regions on mountains. They are familiar with wild species and their varied uses because they roam and live close to forests. Elderly residents, women, and traditional specialists were questioned to gain insight into the community’s traditional healing practices. The respondent was chosen via purposive sampling. Because the Gaddis lived in the highlands without access to medical services, they created their own special methods for treating illnesses. They had little trouble recognising plants that were harmful to humans and animals alike. Gaddis today is split into two groups: pastoralists and those who live permanently in one location. Traditional knowledge of wild species and belief in spiritual healing are prevalent in both groups. According to the exploration, both humans and animals are treated with conventional healing methods. The tribe is permeated with this wisdom. The wild edible plants are eaten seasonally and have a wealth of medicinal properties. Gaddis has no difficulty identifying medicinal plants that are suitable for humans and animals. The community’s traditional healers utilise medicinal plants to treat their patients, but they are reluctant to impart their plant expertise and mantras used in curing to others outside the family. The study describes the Gaddi tribe’s customary healthcare practices in detail and explains how younger people come to believe in these practices.