Indigenous remedies are the only form of medicine some of my family back in Sri Lanka receive when faced with illness. My mother grew up in a small village on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, where many people still to this day go to see an ayurvedic doctor. These doctors practice utilizing herbal treatments.
Just a few months back, my grandmother hurt her ankle after falling. She was taken to see an orthopedist who had placed her in a cast for a few weeks. After some time, her ankle appeared to not be healing which then started the conversation to have her try “Sinhala medicine” (ayurvedic medicine). As told by my mother, she was taken to the local ayurvedic doctor where the front of the clinic was decorated with casts from prior patients who had been healed through the various treatments received from this doctor. My grandmother was put on a strict diet and given instructions to make a pouch consisting of various plants, roots, herbs and to soak her ankle several times a day. Today she can walk again on that leg and to her, the “Sinhala medicine” is what did the trick but there’s no hard evidence stating such knowledge.
I think one advantage of indigenous remedies is the trust that has been built among a community that normally may not have access to modern-day medicine. It’s a part of tradition and patients form a trusting relationship with these naturalist doctors, therefore, more willing to follow the treatment plan. Though there may be stories of cures, the disadvantage in these remedies is the lack of research on its effectiveness. I do believe that if more data and research are gathered in this area of alternative medicine there is great potential for growth in modern day medicine. It will also provide an avenue for physicians who practice evidence-based-medicine to relate and build a solid relationship with patients when practicing in remote areas of the world.