Abstract

HOME REMEDIES OF VILLAGE PEOPLE IN SIX VILLAGES OF DINAJPUR AND RANGPUR DISTRICTS, BANGLADESH

Md. Rubel Mahmud, Afsana Parvin, Irin Pervin Anny, Farzana Akter, Syeda Rehnoma Tarannom, Sumaya Islam Moury, Shahriar Kabir Joy, Shahina Akter, Sadia Yeasmin Chowdhury, Amit Chakrabortty, A.K. Azad, Mohammed Rahmatullah*

ABSTRACT

Background: Home remedies are quite common in Bangladesh and practically every household has multiple remedies for prevention and treatment of various diseases. Collectively, the home remedies which mostly involves medicinal plants, can yield valuable data on medicinal plants and their therapeutic uses. Methods: The objective of the present study was to document the home remedies used by people of six villages in Dinajpur and Rangpur districts, Bangladesh. Surveys were carried out with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire. Results: It was observed that the people of the villages use 27 plants distributed into 24 families as home remedies. These plants are used to treat diseases like hypertension, chicken pox, helminthiasis, rheumatic pain, skin problems, gastrointestinal disorders, burning sensations in hands or feet or during urination, nose bleed, oral lesions, diabetes, insect bite, respiratory tract disorders, irregular menstruation, epilepsy, jaundice, and cuts and wounds. Conclusion: Scientific validation of the home remedies can be instrumental in saving health-care costs of people throughout Bangladesh.

Keywords: Home remedies, medicinal plants, Dinajpur, Rangpur, Bangladesh.