folkmedicine

Folk medicine refers to healing knowledge, practices, and beliefs that originate within communities and are transmitted informally, often across generations. It encompasses a broad spectrum of activities, including herbal remedies, dietary measures, physical therapies, and ritual or spiritual practices carried out by laypeople or traditional healers. Unlike formally organized medical systems, folk medicine is local, orally transmitted, and shaped by cultural beliefs and practical experience.

Practices rely on plant- or mineral-based preparations, dietary measures, and bodywork or hygiene routines aimed at preventing illness or relieving symptoms. Healing is often provided by elders, herbalists, midwives, or shamans, with knowledge handed down within families or communities. Folk medicine remains a major component of health care in many rural or Indigenous communities, frequently coexisting with conventional care, and it may include social, ceremonial, or spiritual dimensions as part of healing.

From a scientific perspective, evidence for folk remedies ranges from anecdotal to increasingly studied; some practices have informed modern pharmacology, while others lack robust data. Safety concerns include toxicity, dosage inconsistencies, interactions with conventional medicines, and potential delays in seeking formal care. Public health approaches may seek respectful collaboration with traditional practitioners, documentation of knowledge, and education to mitigate harm while acknowledging cultural importance. The term is often distinguished from formal traditional medicine systems that have standardized curricula and regulatory oversight.