Asian Journal of Current Research

Idukki district, located in Kerala, is home to nine distinct ethnic groups residing within the interior forest areas, each possessing unique cultural practices, religious rites, food traditions, and social structures that distinguish them from one another. These communities maintain a strong awareness and practice of indigenous medicine, particularly in the management of diabetes. The aim of the study is to identify the significant role of ethnomedical practices (EMPs) in managing diabetes among tribal communities in Idukki District, Kerala, India. The study was carried out among tribal farmers of Idukki district, Kerala. Forty gramapanchayats were selected for the study. A total of 90 tribal healers cum old age farmers and 452 tribal farmers were the respondents of this study. Ethno Medical Practices (EMPs) provide a vital medical precedent for chronic conditions such as diabetes, offering a wide array of phytochemical compounds with various pharmacological activities of therapeutic interest. The study recorded twenty-three EMPs on Diabetics. Of the twenty-three EMPs, nine were assessed for their scientific rationality and adoption, of which nine were studied for their perceived effectiveness among tribal farmers. Of the nine practices, all nine were found to be rational. In this study, the scientific rationale behind the nine rational EMPS was also explained. Nine practices were adopted by 56.19 to 99.33 per cent of the respondents. Of the nine EMPS studied for effectiveness, all were perceived as effective by the tribal farmers, and this revealed that many EMPS for Diabetics were found to be both rational and effective. This requires more clinical and pharmacological interference to validate and standardise EMPs, which will consecutively pave the way for the development of a low-cost and effective alternative health care system.