THE RESISTANCE OF POWER OF MODERN MEDICINE THROUGH THE INHERITANCE OF ANCESTRAL KNOWLEDGE OF HERBAL MEDICINE IN THE LOWER PASAK BASIN

Abstract

The objectives of this article are 1) to present the conditions and process of inheritance of ancestral knowledge of herbal medicine in the period of modern medicine, 2) to disclose how modern medicine has devalued and changed the meaning of traditional herbal medicine, and 3) to show the process that women who decide to inherit their ancestral knowledge of herbal medicine use to take up this role as well as how a practice of traditional medicine is used as a form of resistance against the modern medication system to create a new meaning and acceptance for traditional medicine within the community, Researchers deployed narrative research, in which the fundamental believe is that the fact is established from social interaction of people in the community, to collect the information and analyze the stories from the perspectives of women who practice herbal medicine.

The analysis reveals two conditions that bolster women to inherit their ancestral knowledge of herbal medicine. The first condition is the fact that these women have close connection with their ancestor, who is a healer, and they live in a community with diverse cultures and ecosystems. The second condition is the introduction and spread of modern medicine into their lives and communities. The analysis also suggests that there are four processes women use to inherit and preserve their ancestral knowledge of herbal medicine: 1) by learning through the back door, 2) by having herbal of their own, 3) preserving herbs and making herbal medicine, and 4) by distributing and using herbal medicine. Furthermore, key informants use several forms of resistance to challenge the modern medicine such as creating a new meaning of herbal medicine, using political connections to reduce tensions between local healers and modern medical practitioners, refusing to turn their herbal medicine knowledge into a business, planting herbal plants, and acceptance of modern medicine.