Intangible Cultural Heritage and Traditional Medical Knowledge: Safeguarding Healing and Medical Practices in a Globalized World (Routledge Studies in Heritage)

This compelling volume addresses key issues at the critical intersection of intangible cultural heritage and traditional medical practices, highlighting the urgent need for their preservation in an increasingly globalized world. The chapters within this book explore key themes such as the paradox of authenticity versus rationalization in traditional healing, the political implications of heritage-making in diverse contexts-from India and China to Mexico and Chile-and the role of local communities in asserting their medical knowledge as part of their cultural identity.Contributions from experts in anthropology, political science, law, and history provide a rich, multidisciplinary perspective on how these practices are integrated into contemporary heritage processes.By examining case studies that illustrate both the challenges and successes of safeguarding traditional medical knowledge, this book offers original insights into the evolving concept of intangible cultural heritage.It emphas