Indigenous Veterinary Use of Medicinal Plants in Sikkim Himalayas

Abstract

This paper presents the findings of an exploratory study on ethnoveterinary medicinal systems used for livestock in Sikkim Himalaya. The data have been collected from March 2008 to June 2009 through open conversation with local people and traditional healers. It has been resulted in the documentation of 27 medicinal plant species belonging to 20 families and 27 genera. There are 16 types of ailment have been reported to be cured by the use of 27 plant species. Out of 27 species, the highest number of plants has been reported to treat cut, injuries and wound. As regards the plant part/s used in remedy preparation, the maximum numbers of species are harvested for leaves (9 species) followed by roots and rhizomes (8 species), whole plants, fruits, etc. The richness of plant diversity decreased with increase in altitude but the percentage of species used as medicine steadily increase with increase in altitude, may be due to preference given to herbal remedies in high altitude areas with having no alternative choice and poverty. This underlines the potentials of the ethnomedicine and need for the documentation of traditional knowledge for the greater benefit of mankind.