Abstract

TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY LOCAL PEOPLE OF MURSHIDABAD DISTRICT, WEST BENGAL, INDIA.

Jayanta Mistry*

ABSTRACT

Traditional medicinal system such as Unani, Ayurveda and Siddha played an important role for various aliments of rural people in India. A major part of the total population in our countries still uses traditional folk medicine obtained from plant resources. Drugs obtained from plant are believed to be much safer and exhibit a remarkable efficacy in the treatment of various aliments. The state West Bengal shows rich diversity in medicinal plants in which the rural Murshidabad district is an important source of traditional medicinal plants. An ethno-medicinal study was undertaken in different villages of various blocks in this district and data were obtained from tribal people, Vaidyas, Ojhas, local herbal drug sellers. There are 52 species of medicinal plants belongs to 39 families, 51 genera for the treatment of different diseases. To cure various diseases local traditional healers were using leaves most commonly followed by roots tuber, bark, whole plant, latex, fruits and seeds. The plants were used for skin diseases, wound healing, eye infection, migraine, could and cough, throat infection, fever, digestive problem , diarrhea, dysentery, piles, hypertension, heart weakness, diabetes, sexual diseases, anemia, jaundice, intestinal worms, tooth ache, hair fall and dandruff, muscular-joint pain, bone fracture and notably one for kidney and gall bladder stone.

Keywords: Aliment, ethno-medicinal, folk medicine, Ojhas, traditional healers. Vaidyas.