indigenous medicine

Knowledge transmission and creation

Indigenous medicine is generally transmitted orally through a community, family and individuals until "collected". Within a given culture, elements of indigenous medicine knowledge may be diffusely known by many, or may be gathered and applied by those in a specific role of healer such as a shaman or midwife. Three factors legitimize the role of the healer – their own beliefs, the success of their actions and the beliefs of the community. When the claims of indigenous medicine become rejected by a culture, its existence is mostly maintained by those whose beliefs or way of life are considered marginal within that culture. This includes permanent believers (e.g. those born and socialized in the subculture), temporary believers who turn to it in times of crisis, and those who only believe in specific aspects.