When engaging in cross-cultural comparisons, medical anthropology has often tended to employ dichotomous typologies. This results in a reductionist analysis that obliterates the complexities within medical cultures and assimilates them into one homogenous type. This article makes a case for studying the different sources of medical knowledge within the category of ‘Indian medicine’ as they emerge from the differing ontological positions yet intersecting practices of laymen and experts. It goes on to explore the epistemological implications of this pluralism. The article explores the multiple genres of medical knowledge prevalent among people in a region in central Tamil Nadu to examine the relationship between professional, folk and lay practitioners. This analysis shows the complexity of medical knowledge and highlights the inadequacy of established dichotomies.
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