Hidaklon
Traditional Meitei medicine documented in five volumes.
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Hidaklon is the traditional Meitei science of medicine and healing, encompassing the therapeutic use of plants, animals, and minerals. Originating in the Meitei civilization of Ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur), it has historically helped protect the Meitei people from diseases and epidemics. The system is documented in a five-volume compilation that includes detailed instructions on proportions and dosages of natural materials.
Quick Facts
- Number of volumes
- five
- Practitioners
- Maibas and Maibis (traditional male and female healers)
Facts from the source article.
Composition and practice
Medicinal substances in Hidaklon are used in natural or dietary-compatible forms, requiring no additional vitamin supplementation. Treatments aim to minimize side effects while promoting overall well-being.
A traditional manuscript includes a treatment for leprosy, with an original verse and translation. Different wild edible plants were used for different illnesses, but many people have stopped using traditional remedies as these plants become harder to find. Some plants that no longer grow wild are now cultivated in home gardens and farms, becoming domesticated crops.
Struggles with recognition
The traditional healthcare system was mainly practiced by Maibas and Maibis. According to the Apunba Imagi Machasing (AIMS), the use of medicinal plants for basic health problems existed since prehistoric times, with knowledge recorded in the five-volume Hidaklon, which includes reflexology and ritual practices. AIMS expressed concern that this system is fading and urged the government to establish a National Manipuri Traditional Medicine and Research Institute to preserve and promote this heritage.
Did You Know?
- Hidaklon includes information on remedies derived from flora, fauna, and minerals.
- The practices show notable similarities to other traditional medicine disciplines in formulation and administration.
- Spells and incantations are commonly used alongside physical treatments in Meitei traditional medicine.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Hidaklon (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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