Colonialism and the Transformation of Traditional Medicine

Abstract

This paper explores the profound impact of colonialism on traditional medical practices in East and South Asia from 1850 to 1950, highlighting the transformation and integration of indigenous medicine with Western biomedicine. During this period, European powers, particularly the British, French, Dutch, and Portuguese, as well as Japan in its colonies, began to engage with and often marginalize local medical systems. In India, British colonial authorities sought to incorporate Ayurvedic and Unani practices into the colonial health system, partly for economic gain and public health management. Similarly, in Southeast Asia, the Dutch and French explored indigenous medical knowledge for its potential utility. However, traditional practices were often sidelined by Western medicine, which was promoted as superior through the establishment of medical schools and hospitals.

Despite these challenges, traditional medical systems demonstrated remarkable resilience and adaptability. In many cases, they integrated aspects of Western medicine, creating syncretic practices that continue to influence healthcare today. For example, Ayurvedic practitioners in India began incorporating diagnostic tools and treatments from Western medicine, while Kampo in Japan adapted by aligning more closely with scientific methods. This paper also examines the colonial efforts to document and sometimes validate indigenous medical practices, such as the Usman Report in India, which provided a platform for traditional practitioners to advocate for their systems.

While colonial policies initially marginalized and suppressed traditional systems like Ayurveda and Unani, the long-term effects reveal a more complex legacy. The research illustrates that traditional practitioners have been seeking integration with allopathic medicine for over a century, challenging the notion that this is a modern development. Colonial powers, driven by a combination of governance needs and economic interests, documented and incorporated local medical knowledge into their healthcare systems, albeit in ways that often subordinated indigenous practices to Western medicine.