Guni MedicineRevitalising Indian Tradition

Jagran Jan Vikas Samiti

Who is a Guni? JJVS has provided the term ‘Guni’ as unifying title to these non- degree

holder doctors posses distinctive and astonishing competence in bone setting, curing skin diseases, asthma, snake bites ,sciatica, chronic pains and various human and animal ailments using certain plants and manual practices.

These people are a virtual treasure house of indigenous health knowledge.

These practitioners are known by different names at different places in India such as Vaidya, Vaidhyaraj, Amchis, Gaitas. Uche and Danga Bhagat..

The international organizations such as WHO, IUCN and WWF has recognized them as traditional health practitioners

Background In the year of 1989 a Diptheria epidemic struck Southern

Rajasthan. Rural areas were worst hit.

16 children died in the Charmar village. A further 30 children suffered. Response from Health Centres was non-existent.

Jagran’s Intervention With the help of Child Relief and You and Voluntary

Health Association of India the government health agency was alerted and the suffering families of the region were provided with relief and other help.

Grieving and suffering families were compensated and an investigation began.

For Jagran this wasn’t enough and they decided that more needed to be done to prevent this type of incident repeating.

Jagran’s InterventionThis incident helped to establish a firm relationship between Jagran and the community and through this interaction it was decided that for the development of the community’s health, alternative arrangements should be made at a local level.

A community meeting was called to discuss vital health questions.

Hiring medical staff initial solution. No funding to hire medical staff.

A solution at a local level.

Upon further inspection it was discovered that the community was already being treated by local healers.

Jagran began collecting names of healers from each village. Some were specialist in bone-setting, some with

gynaecological issues and others with infections. Jagran sent patients to these healers to test their skills. The results were profound. Jagran realised that this traditional system needed to be

formalised.

Gunis Shortly after this the term “Guni” was established. Guna meaning talent and knowledge. Gunis have long been traditionally taught through the

Guru-Shishya system from one generation to the next and acquiring competency through practical experience.

Legitimatising Guni Medicine.

In 1991 Jagran took a group of Gunis to a conference sponsored by the Indian Government Department of Science and Technology, alongside Doctors, Scientists, Specialists and Ayurveda Physicians.

This introduced the Gunis to a national audience and their introduction was well received.

After a series of group discussions it was concluded that Guni Medicine was a legitimate system of healing and required documentation.

Gunis By 2003, Jagran had documented and trained

1200 Gunis.

Gunis now have regional level association advocating for official medicine recognition with the Department of AYUSH and the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Through Jagran’s initiative, regular health camps are arranged in rural villages throughout Rajasthan and in Udaipur city for the Gunis to share their skills.

The response to these camps have been extremely positive attracting 300 patients on some occasions.

The Problem With the change in traditional ways and families

struggling for money a new generation of healers are becoming void.

The younger generation are moving to cities to seek their fortune in order to provide for their loved ones leaving an aging population of Gunis and a lack of viable health care for the coming generation.

Jagran has made it their mission to encourage this generation to pursue and preserve the traditional knowledge of their forefathers and establish a solid foundation for the future of traditional medicines.

Immediate threats to Traditional System of medicine

Ever-expanding influence of modern medicine.

Large scale production of medicines leading to destructive harvesting of medicinal plants from the wild.

Limited social and legal recognition of local healers.

Lack of knowledge and interest about this system of medicine in youth.

The Solution: Guni Training

Jagran has established a Guni training program to encourage education for current Gunis, as well as recruit the future generation of Gunis.

Gunis receive a 30 day training certificate after completing their hands on training and knowledge exchange program.

Three 10 day intensive trainings are offered each year to record valuable Guni information and share knowledge.

Guni Training The first 10 day program is in summer and designed to share treatment

regimes, diagnosis and discuss important issues surrounding traditional medicine. This phase document important knowledge.

The second program commences in the forest area after the monsoon. The Gunis are separated into groups of 5 or 6 and sent into the forest to collect plants that they have experience with. These plants are collected and brought back to camp and displayed for viewing. Their indications are discussed later in the day which includes their location and the parts used.

The third stage of the program takes place in December or January where they have an opportunity to discuss their treatments with their peers, make medicines, share seeds and observe techniques used by others. This phase creates an important platform for the Gunis to interact and connect with each other.

Guni Training cum Treatment CentreGTTC

Functions in revitalization of traditional practices whilst also promoting the sustainability of these traditions. Provides a space for new Guni training practitioners to treat and

consult patients Increase availability of important medicinal plants Provide a platform for community awareness programmes

Gunis Jagran currently provides yearly training programs in Myotherapy,

Bowen Therapy, Naturopathy and Remedial Massage in conjunction with the Guni Program.

Monthly meetings are organised to share expertise and platforms are provided so Gunis can interact and gather ideas, knowledge and experience.

Around 2300 patients treated over 16 health camps since 2013.

Jagran Jan Vikas Samiti

People’s Awakening and Development Society