Ethnobotanical Study on Medicinal Plants used by the Tribal People of Lahaul & Spiti District, Himachal Pradesh, North-Western Himalaya

Sumati Rathore; Sarla Shashni; Abhay Sharma; Rakesh Chand Sundriyal

doi:10.36808/if/2019/v145i12/150649

Ethnobotanical Study on Medicinal Plants used by the Tribal People of Lahaul & Spiti District, Himachal Pradesh, North-Western Himalaya

Authors

Sumati Rathore GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development, Himachal Regional Centre, Mohal-Kullu - 175 126, Himachal Pradesh
Sarla Shashni GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development, Himachal Regional Centre, Mohal-Kullu - 175 126, Himachal Pradesh
Abhay Sharma GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development, Himachal Regional Centre, Mohal-Kullu - 175 126, Himachal Pradesh
Rakesh Chand Sundriyal GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development, Kosi-Katarmal, Almora - 263 643, Uttarakhand

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36808/if/2019/v145i12/150649

Keywords:

Ethnomedicinal, Himalaya, Lahaul & Spiti, Tribal, Traditional.

Abstract

The study was conducted in the tribal district of Lahaul & Spiti in the Himachal Himalayas. The information was recorded on the ethnomedicinal uses of the plant species available in the region by the tribal people for curing various ailments and diseases. Study documented total number of 44 plant species belonging to 28 families with local name, its life form, part used and mode of preparation by the tribal. Maximum number of 13 plant species are used to cure dermal problems, 11 for stomach related problems, six for joint problems, five for respiratory problems, three each for blood, kidney and headache/toothache or muscular problems and one plant species for curing swelling, nose bleeding, jaundice, fever, eye problem and hair loss respectively. It has been also noticed that due to easily availability of the modern facilities these valuable rich heritages of knowledge are losing by the inhabitants. Therefore, there is an urgent need to conserve these knowledge systems by documenting and validating it at ground level for its sustenance.

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