Overview

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 emphasizes the significance of these practices in fostering cultural resilience and identity, making it a vital addition to the discourse on heritage studies and global health. This work not only enriches our understanding of traditional medical practices but also advocates for their recognition and protection in a rapidly changing world. This book serves as an essential resource for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers interested in the dynamics of intangible cultural heritage and traditional medical practices.

Full Product Details

Author:   Lucia Candelise (University of Lausanne, Switzerland) ,  Serena Bindi (Paris Cité University, France)
Publisher:   Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint:   Routledge
ISBN:  

9781041040743

ISBN 10:   1041040741
Pages:   256
Publication Date:   02 December 2025
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming
Availability:   Not yet available  
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Table of Contents

1. Introduction; 2. The Politics of Tradition. How Ethnologists Participated in the Heritage-Making of a Non-Academic Medical Practice in Switzerland; 3. Commemorations without Inheritance: Folk Medicine, Mediators of Healing, and Politics of Memory; 4. Indigenous Traditional Medicine in Mexico: Reflections on its Validity and Heritage Process; 5. Beyond Domination: Valorization and Use of Indigenous Medicines in Chile; 6. Heritage and Healing. What happens to the healing dimension of rituals in heritage-making processes in North India?; 7. Medical heritage and nation building in Myanmar; 8. Traditional Chinese Medicine, Between Cultural Heritage and Public Health; 9. Medical tradition as a means of defending identity. The case of acupuncture and moxibustion heritage process at UNESCO

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Author Information

Lucia Candelise is a medical anthropologist and historian of medicine. She is a senior researcher at the Institute of Social Sciences (ISS) at the University of Lausanne and at CEPED (Centre Population et Développement, IRD/Université Paris Cité). She is also co-editor-in-chief of the journal Anthropologie & Santé. Her research focuses on the circulation of Chinese medical practices outside of China, particularly in Europe and sub-Saharan Africa, as well as on medical knowledge considered as intangible cultural heritage. Serena Bindi is an Associate Professor at Paris Cité University, a researcher at the Center for Cultural Anthropology CANTHEL and an Associate Researcher at the Center for South Asian and Himalayan Studies (EHESS/CNRS). With a PhD in Social Anthropology, her research explores religion, health, and social change in India, particularly in Uttarakhand. She leads international projects and has published extensively on healing rituals, therapeutic pluralism and healthcare transformations in South Asia.

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