The Minangkabau society, one of the largest matrilineal societies globally, is located in West Sumatra (Indonesia) and Negeri Sembilan (Malaysia). While the society has been a focus of anthropological research, its traditional healing system remains underexplored, despite the coexistence of a matrilineal social structure and orthodox Islam, which may influence healing practices. Traditional Minangkabau medicine includes various types of healers, such as dukun, who may follow either Islamic or folk-religious approaches. Central to healing is the concept of the vital force, known as semangat (or sumange in Minangkabau), which is believed to influence health and wellbeing. This force is thought to weaken under psychological distress or spiritual attack, making the person vulnerable to illness. The research aims to explore the role of the vital force in the Minangkabau healing system from different perspectives.