A dimension within Forest Greens & Health
Exploring the rich traditions of herbal medicine and holistic health practices within indigenous communities.
150 voices speak to this
Each dimension splits this theme further — keep drilling to see how it breaks down.
Positive
Overall Community Sentiment
AI-synthesised pieces woven from many community voices on this theme. They may contain errors or interpretation — they're a reflection of the stories, not a record of fact.
By cherishing and utilizing the traditional foods and herbs found in our forests and lands, we can sustain ourselves and combat malnutrition while preserving our natural heritage.
We are tribals who worship nature, depending on its plants for our health and sustenance, while maintaining traditional farming with zero irrigation.
Drawing strength from ancient customs and the jungle's bounty, our community thrives by living independently and preserving traditional foodways for future generations.
In remote mountain forests, a community navigates daily life, preserving ancient crops and adapting cultural traditions amidst evolving times.
We tribal people bring herbs from the forest to treat many diseases, for the well-being of people.
— Ram Maravi · Dindori, Madhya Pradesh
We tribal people bring herbs from the forest and treat ailments, which is very important for health.
— Ram Maravi · Dindori, Madhya Pradesh
We Adivasi communities are communities that depend on nature, collect roots and tubers from the forests, and use them as food, which is very nutritious and also serves as medicine.
— Ram Kumari
Even now, fruits, flowers, healthy herbs, and medicines from the forest are being used by us, including the tribal community.
— ishwarsabar · Chelema, Seraikela-Kharsawan, Jharkhand
Residents in the forest bushes have a business of various medicinal plants, and they benefit from it for food.
— Devisingh Solanki · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
To define our tribe, first of all, we live in jungle villages and use herbs and all kinds of medicines.
— bachcha lal · Ormaura, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
Our tribe has been living in this village for a long time. We are natives of the surrounding area. Now, medicinal herbs...
— Vijay Kumar bhardwaj · Kasdol, Baloda Bazar, Chhattisgarh
Our diet. We are in a jungle area. The jungle's herbs and some of its air. Now, due to its influence, our diet is different. We remain healthy for this reason because we rely on herbs; when we wake up in the morning, it's the herbs...
— ANIL KUMAR · Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
We indigenous people used to eat roots and tubers from the forests and sustained ourselves with them. These also served as medicine, keeping our bodies healthy. Even today, we should use roots and tubers.
— Ram Kumari · Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
We tribals cut down forests to build our homes and live in the forest itself. From the forest, we get roots, flowers, and delicious fruits, and we sustain our lives from them, and we also do farming.
— Ram Kumari · Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
People in the village bring herbs from the jungle and eat them for their health, which is very beneficial or advantageous.
— Ram Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
In our tribal communities, when we fall ill, we rely on roots and herbs. So, other communities should observe us.
— PRADEEP KUMAR KANHAR · Boudh, Odisha
People here, based on ancient customs, cure their illnesses with herbs from the forest. This is why their health generally remains good.
— Sonmati · Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
Now, villagers find remedies for their illnesses from jungle herbs, which they also consume, and these are very beneficial for their health.
— Ram Maravi · Dindori, Madhya Pradesh
We are all tribal people, we live in forests. We collect our food from the forests. With that, we sustain ourselves. This is indeed our life's goal.
— KusaPradhani · Anakabadi, Rayagada, Odisha
Tribals consume their food, roots, vegetables, etc., and live their lives well.
— Ram Maravi · Dindori, Madhya Pradesh
We are tribals, we are nature worshippers. We always depend on trees and plants to live. We sustain our livelihood by eating its tubers, fruits, and roots.
— PRADEEP KUMAR KANHAR · Boudh, Odisha
Traditionally, we used to use various types of medicinal properties from the forest.
— Suna majhi
Herbs from the jungle are very beneficial for our body.
— Devisingh Solanki · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
They bring herbs from the forest, make them into a powder, and use them for health, which is very beneficial.
— Ram Maravi · Dindori, Madhya Pradesh
We get treatment from the forest.
— Devisingh Solanki · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
We are still getting fruits, plants, health-related herbs, and medicines from the forest. We are safe for now, and we are still here.
— ishwarsabar · East Singhbhum, Jharkhand
We can use muIdim found in the forest as traditional medicine.
— Anupama Mahanand · Sundargarh, Odisha
Tribal people used to build homes after cutting down forests and used herbs, fruits, and food from the forest. And they used to drink Chuwada water. That's why tribal people are different.
— Chanda
The Makadia tribe's life and livelihood depend on the forest. They live by gathering and selling fruits, flowers, roots, medicinal herbs, and mushrooms from the forest as food. They respect whatever their elders say. When food in one forest runs out, they move to another forest.
— Anirudha Marai
We will live in small villages in the jungle, making a living by cutting and selling wood, and by selling all kinds of herbs that humans use.
— bachcha lal · Shahganj, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
Living in the forest and enduring hardships, whether it is building a home to use herbs for treating illnesses, or making a living by eating fruits and flowers, or for this.
— bachcha lal · Shahganj, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
In ancient traditions, when people had any health problems or diseases, they would use medicinal roots and herbs found in the forest to get well.
— Suna majhi · Gopalpur, Rayagada, Odisha
In our villages, recognized within the tribal community, various types of medicinal herbs and foodstuffs are easily available. However, due to them being in the wild, we are unable to preserve these herbs and foodstuffs for consumption.
— Mohan AHARI · Sarera, Udaipur, Rajasthan
We get various types of fruits and roots from the forest.
— Laba Kumar sabar · Bada Baridi, Rayagada, Odisha
We are people who are respected even from childhood. Living far from the city, in villages, forests, and mountains, we practice wild farming and consume herbal remedies, and that's why (we are of) another kind.
— bachcha lal · Shahganj, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
Traditional medicinal remedies are being prepared for obtaining by searching for medicinal herbs, fruits, roots, and other medicinal items from the forest.
— Padmalochan Majhi · Gandhinagar, Rayagada, Odisha
We always depend on the leaves, roots, and tubers of nature's plants to live. As a result, it benefits our health. People of other categories despise these things. They do not eat wild fruits, roots, or tubers.
— PRADEEP KUMAR KANHAR · Boudh, Odisha
Our community lives by building homes in the forests, hunting wild animals, and sustaining themselves by eating tamarind, mango, guava, and other produce found in the forest. Thus, they belong to a different way of life.
— bachcha lal · Shahganj, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
Herbs of the forest
— Vinita Singh Yadav · Dharura, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
All the people of Kundamala district. Finally, our forefathers used to make a very good medicine. If someone had a headache, they would cook something like Shiva's mud and drink a little, and they would get better. Even if there were other ailments or axe wounds, our herbal medicine would make them better. And the leaves and roots of these plants are all cut and eaten.
— Manu Digal · Kandhamal, Odisha
Traditionally, we obtain medicinal products from the natural forest, various types of Hadi, Kandha, Banakandha, different kinds of leaves, brooms, and other such diverse things, as well as our traditional drinks.
— Mishra · Gandhinagar, Rayagada, Odisha
We really enjoy staying among the lush green trees and plants in the forest. We get pure air from those trees and plants, and by living in the forest, we get many types of medicinal herbs.
— Kamleah Kumar · Dalla, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
We tribals are completely different from other castes; our ancestors used to live in forests and sustained themselves by eating fruits, flowers, etc., from the forest.
— Ram Kumari · Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
Currently, we are seeing that people are gradually obtaining the fruits, medicinal plants, greens, and nutritious food that were available in the forest.
— Ramadas Badanayak · Udulibeda, Malkangiri, Odisha
The voices in this theme were gathered by these organisations through their community reports.
“What are the key determinants that define your tribe, talk about how your tribe is different from others?” · “If you or your women’s groups are given a seed capital of INR 20,000, what enterprise will you choose?” · +6 more
“What are the Just Transitions pathways, considering Livelihoods, and Inclusive Economies?”
“What do you like the most about Thiruvanmiyur Mada Veedhi?”
