Guwahati: A new scientific study has brought renewed focus to the Eastern Himalaya’s rich healing traditions, documenting how indigenous bone-setting practices in Sikkim could inform future drug discovery.
Published in PLOS One, the research maps a detailed ethnomedicinal system still actively used in rural Sikkim, identifying 32 medicinal plant species and 18 polyherbal formulations employed in treating fractures and related injuries.
Conducted over four years, the study involved 26 traditional healers across all six districts of the state.
Most of these practitioners, with decades of experience, rely on a combination of plant-based pastes, bamboo splints and oral herbal remedies—methods passed down through generations and rooted in close observation and lived experience.
The healing process follows a structured approach: fracture assessment, manual realignment, immobilisation using bamboo supports, and application of herbal formulations, often supplemented with oral mixtures containing honey, milk or eggs.
Recovery, according to practitioners, typically takes between two and four weeks, depending on the severity of the injury.
Among the most frequently used plants are Viscum articulatum, Kaempferia rotunda, Astilbe rivularis, Bergenia ciliataand Fraxinus floribunda—species already known for their anti-inflammatory and healing properties.
What sets the study apart is its use of network pharmacology to examine how these traditional remedies may function at a molecular level.
Researchers found that bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, terpenoids and phenols present in these plants could influence key biological pathways involved in bone regeneration, including calcium signalling, bone mineralisation and osteoblast activity.
Despite the growing reach of modern medicine, the study notes that many communities in Sikkim continue to rely on these traditional systems, particularly for fractures and sprains.
Local users reported no major concerns regarding efficacy or safety, offering anecdotal support for their continued relevance.
However, researchers caution that such knowledge is rapidly eroding, making documentation and scientific validation urgent.
They argue that these findings could form the basis for developing low-cost, plant-based therapeutics, especially in regions with limited access to formal healthcare.
Beyond cultural preservation, the study positions Sikkim’s traditional bone-setting practices as a promising intersection of indigenous knowledge and modern science—one that could shape future approaches to treating bone injuries globally.
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