EKSISTENSI PENGOBATAN TRADISIONAL KARO: WARISAN BUDAYA DAN PERANANNYA DALAM KESEHATAN MASYARAKAT DESA LINGGA

Lestari Dara Cinta Utami Ginting (Program Studi S-1 Ilmu Sejarah, Fakultas Ilmu Budaya, Universitas Sumatera Utara)
Vivi Adryani Nasution (Program Studi S-1 Bahasa Mandarin, Fakultas Ilmu Budaya, Universitas Sumatera Utara)
Mhd Sultan Alfarisi (Program Studi S-1 Ilmu Sejarah, Fakultas Ilmu Budaya, Universitas Sumatera Utara)
Santriana Sigalingging (Program Studi S-1 Ilmu Sejarah, Fakultas Ilmu Budaya, Universitas Sumatera Utara)
Peninna Simanjuntak (Program Studi S-1 Ilmu Sejarah, Fakultas Ilmu Budaya, Universitas Sumatera Utara)

Pariwisata
Vol 12 No 2: Desember 2023

Traditional medicine, a hereditary medical practice originating from the Karo people in North Sumatra, Indonesia, has been the focus of this study. It involves the use of natural plants such as leaves, seeds, flowers, fruits, and roots, processed based on experience in conventional medicine. The study applies the historical method involving the stages of Heuristics, Criticism, Interpretation, and Historiography. The results show that traditional medicine still plays a vital role in Karo society, considered relevant to local traditions and passed down as part of the cultural heritage of the ancestors. However, while valued as a form of local identity and spirituality, traditional medicine is not always effective in curing physical ailments. This research encourages an understanding that despite the rapid development of modern medical treatment, traditional medicine still has an important existence, especially in Lingga Village, Karo, and invites the community to maintain its sustainability.