Abstract

UNIQUE PLANT-BASED FORMULATIONS OF FOLK MEDICINAL HEALERS IN PATUAKHALI DISTRICT, BANGLADESH

Sanjana Rahman and Mohammed Rahmatullah*

ABSTRACT

Background: Folk medicinal healers can be found in substantial numbers in the rural areas of Bangladesh. Their formulations to treat diseases are mainly plant-based and while most formulations are fairly simple, some can be exceedingly complex. It was of interest to document the complex formulations of eight healers in eight villages of Patuakhali district, Bangladesh. Methods: Interview of the healers was carried out with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and the guided field-walk method. Results: The healers used a total of 37 plants distributed into 23 families for treatment. The various diseases treated included gastric trouble, piles, cancer, respiratory difficulties, coughs, ear infection, common fever, weakness of heart, indigestion, rheumatic fever, jaundice, leucorrhea, passing of excessive blood during menstruation, puerperal fever, irregular menstruation, dizziness, abnormal palpitations of heart, physical weakness, and diabetes. These diseases were treated with 10 formulations only. Conclusion: Documentation of complex polyherbal formulations can lead to extensive scientific studies on proper investigation of the roles of various plants used in the polyherbal formulations.

Keywords: Polyherbal, medicinal plants, Patuakhali, Bangladesh.