Abstract

ABSTRACT

Background: Folk medicinal practitioners (Kavirajes) form the first tier of health-care providers among the rural population of Bangladesh. The objective of this study was to document the ethnomedicinal practices of two Kavirajes practicing in two Mouzas of Kurigram district of the country. Methods: Interviews of the Kavirajes were carried out with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and the guided field-walk method. Results: Kaviraj 1 from Baneshwar Mouza used 12 plants distributed into 11 families in his formulations. Kaviraj 2 from Paikpara Mouza used 19 plants distributed into 16 families in his formulations. Kaviraj 1 treated fever, pain, loss of hearing and eyesight, gastrointestinal disorders, cuts and wounds, gall bladder stones, oral lesions, skin disorders, respiratory tract disorders, burning sensations in hands or feet or during urination, liver and spleen disorders, and mumps. Kaviraj 2 treated cuts and wounds, leucorrhea, diabetes, skin disorders, pain, gastrointestinal disorders, respiratory tract disorders, bone fracture, memory loss, helminthiasis and ear infections. Conclusion: The study suggests that although there may be common disease treated by Kavirajes, they also specialize in treatment of specific diseases. Moreover, plants used to treat common diseases can be different indicating that the medicinal plant knowledge of an individual Kaviraj is quite personalized.

Keywords: Ethnomedicine, Kaviraj, Kurigram, Bangladesh.