Study of knowledge for diabetes treatment by folk healers in Phayao Province

Abstract

Nowadays folk healer’s knowledge still plays an important role in rural resident healthcare, especially treatment by herbal medicines. This study is qualitative research aimed at exploring the knowledge of treating diabetes with medicinal herbs among traditional healers in Phayao province. The study involves gathering information about the backgrounds of the traditional healers, the principles and methods of treatment, as well as the recipes used for treatment. The selection of traditional healers was done through purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews combined with in-depth interviews were used to collect data. The study identified 5 traditional healers who met the criteria, all of whom were male, aged between 68 and 90 years, with more than 10 years of experience in treating diabetes. Their motivation to become traditional healers stemmed from being heirs of a lineage. The traditional concept of diabetes is understood as a disease or condition caused by imbalances in the four elements of the body, which can result from dietary behaviors and genetics. The treatment process starts by inquiring about the symptoms based on the patient's account and involves administering medicine in the form of herbal decoctions. A total of 6 herbal recipes were identified, consisting of 17 different herbs. The frequency index of the use of plant resources (RFC) revealed that the most frequently used plant was "Rang Jued," a species in the Acanthaceae family, with an RFC value of 0.60. Based on the background information and a review of the pharmacological effects of each herb in the recipes, further studies at the animal testing level and clinical studies could be conducted to confirm the efficacy, effectiveness, and safety of the traditional herbal recipes for treating diabetes in the future.