VIETNAMESE TRADITIONAL MEDICINE (THUÓC NAM) IN THE LIFE OF THE MUONG AND THE THAI PEOPLE IN MOUNTAINOUS AREA OF THANH HOA PROVINCE

Abstract

The article aims to examine key issue o f Vietnamese traditional medicine (thuoc Nam) (based on medicinal herbs) in community healthcare from the view o f ethnic minority groups living in mountainous area o f Thanh Hoa Province. Our research shows that indigenous knowledge o f ethnic people about traditional medicine in this area is rich and diverse in terms o f the conception o f sickness, disease, medicine, disease prevention and treatment, eating and drinking under the controlling o f nutrition and healing by using the folk remedies. Currently, some ethnic groups in the mountainous area o f Thanh Hoa still maintain various ways o f distinguished traditional treatments. Although their knowledge and practices are quite traditional in the modern life, there are many ways o f treatment that are very useful fo r community healthcare. Especially, these are very popular and important methods to cure disease fo r local people who are disadvantaged in terms o f socio-economic development and lack o f opportunities to access modem treatment methods. Thus, Vietnamese traditional medicine is an ethnic cultural heritage that needs to be preserved and promoted.