• Haritha R. Nair
• Dr. Lizzy Mathew

Ethnic communities have their own unique practices, beliefs, and ways of living, always maintaining a harmonious relationship with nature and this has helped them to remain healthy. On the other hand, urban people who solely depend on synthetic medicines, fast food, and another luxurious way of living, faces several health-related problems. As far as the health of women is concerned, at most, care is needed during a pre-natal and post-natal period and it plays a crucial role in her future healthy wellbeing. It is seen that the health problems found in a majority of women are associated with negligence of post-delivery maternal health care. In the present paper, special maternal health care incorporating herbal preparations followed by the Malavedar tribal community and Pulayar caste of Kerala are enumerated. Right from the day of delivery the care given to the mother and newborn is explained here. Several unique preparations such as Vedhuvellam, Marunnukanji, Chethumarunnu are explained. As a part of urbanization, several traditional practices are on the verge of extinction. The mode of mythical and therapeutic uses and conservation practices of these plants by the local people have been recorded from the Sacred groves central Kerala. These are locked information sites, and the secret of herbs and their medicinal uses are known only by the people residing near them. Malavedar tribal members are seen only in the districts of south Kerala. The Pulaya caste is the dominant Dalit community in Kerala and present in all districts. At present only very few members know various traditional practices followed by their ancestors. As their knowledge is transferred to the successive generations by word of mouth, documentation is highly essential to prevent the extinction of these valuable practices.

Ethnic communities, Kerala, Traditional practices, Malavedar tribe, Pulaya caste, Sacred groves.

"Sacred Grove Inhabiting Medicinal Plants for Traditional Postpartum Maternal and Newborn Care Practices among the Ethnic Communities of Central Kerala ", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.8, Issue 1, page no.28-35, January-2021, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2101206.pdf

"Sacred Grove Inhabiting Medicinal Plants for Traditional Postpartum Maternal and Newborn Care Practices among the Ethnic Communities of Central Kerala ", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.8, Issue 1, page no. pp28-35, January-2021, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2101206.pdf