Ethnomedicinal plants of Chamba district, Himachal Pradesh, India

Abstract

Importance of medicinal plants in traditional healthcare practices provides clues to new areas of research and biodiversity conservation is now well known. However, information on the use of plants for medicinal purpose is lacking from many tribal areas of Himachal Pradesh. Keeping this in view, the present study was undertaken in a tribal dominated area of Chamba district, to look for the diversity of plant resources, used by local people for curing various ailments. Questionnaire surveys, field visits and participatory observations were planned to collect information about the uses of various plants. It was found that 50 plant species are being commonly used by local people to cure 26 diseases. In most of the cases, leaves (40%) followed by roots (24%) were used to cure many health problems. New medicinal uses of Achyranthes bidentata, Cannabis sativa and Stellaria monosperma were also reported for the first time. Key words: Medicinal plants, Chamba district, Himachal Pradesh.