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Ethnomedicine of Tetun ethnic people in West Timor Indonesia: philosophy and practice in the treatment of malaria

Authors

  • Maximus Taek aDepartment of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Widya Mandira Catholic University, Kupang, Indonesia
  • Leonardus Banilodu bDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Widya Mandira Catholic University, Kupang, Indonesia
  • Gregorius Neonbasu cDepartment of Anthropology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Widya Mandira Catholic University, Kupang, Indonesia
  • Yohanes Watu dDepartment of Philosophy, Faculty of Philosophy and Religion, Widya Mandira Catholic University, Kupang, Indonesia
  • Bambang EW eDepartment of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Airlangga University, Surabaya, Indonesia
  • Mangestuti Agil eDepartment of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Airlangga University, Surabaya, Indonesia

Keywords:

Ethnomedicine, Local knowledge, Malaria, Tetun ethnic, West Timor

Abstract

Interactions between humans and diseases for a long time have encourage people to construct concepts related to the disease and create strategies to prevent and treat the disease. The aim of this study is to document philosophy and practice of ethnomedicine of Tetun ethnic people in the prevention and treatment of malaria. Methods This research was a field study using ethnobotany and anthropology approaches. It was conducted among the Tetun people who settled in the Belu and Malaka districts from April to December 2017. A total of 94 informants consists of public healer, home healer and traditional medicine users were involved in semi-structured interviews and discussions. Results Tetun ethnic has local knowledge that malaria is caused by naturalistic factors that affect the hot–cold balance in the body. Prevention and treatment of malaria are intended to maintain and restore the hot–cold balance in the body. They use various local medicinal plants for the treatment of malaria, by drinking, bathing, massage, inhalation and cataplasm. Plants used have been proven scientifically to have pharmacological activity as true antimalarials and/or indirect antimalarials. Conclusion Ethnomedicine practice of Tetun people on malaria is proven to contain scientific truth, although it is built on the basis of concepts that are different or even contrary to the true etiology of malaria. Keywords: Ethnomedicine, Local knowledge, Malaria, Tetun ethnic, West Timor

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