A STUDY OF SOME LOCALLY AVAILABLE HERBAL MEDICINES FOR THE TREATMENT OF VARIOUS AILMENTS IN BANDIPORA DISTRICT OF J&K, INDIA.

Abstract

Bandipora district is one of the 22 districts in Jammu and Kashmir state that was carved out from the erstwhile Baramulla district on 02-04-2007. The local people of the district have always used medicinal plants for the treatment of various ailments by traditional methods. Utilization of medicinal plants especially by tribal communities is directly linked to their culture and history. There are many villages that are repositories of indigenous knowledge and practices. Documentation of such knowledge is required in view of the day by day disappearing knowledge in the new generations. Therefore, in the present study an attempt has been made to document some locally available plants utilized traditionally by the inhabitants of this district. A total of 30 plant species belonging to 19 different families were reported used traditionally by the inhabitants. Study of this type would help developing a comprehensive database of the plants used in household remedies, strengthening the health care system in the villages and also in conserving the traditional knowledge for prosperity.