Snake Medicine of Tribal Bastar

A tribal medicine man leaving home to collect medicinal plants and snakes: Near village Pooda, Bastar, Chhattisgarh

Abstract: In India, snakes are sacred, held in reverence second only to perhaps the cows. The tribal people of Bastar, Chhattisgarh, have in fact adapted their lives around the reptiles and believe that snakes offer cures with great efficacy. Although modern medicine is known to use snake venom, but the traditional medicine systems of this region throw up challenges that are yet to be explored.

The author is an independent writer residing in Pune.