Role of Traditional Healers in Community Medicine among the ...

Annals of R.S.C.B., ISSN:1583-6258, Vol. 25, Issue 6, 2021, Pages. 16250 - 16265

Received 25 April 2021; Accepted 08 May 2021.

16250 http://annalsofrscb.ro

Role of Traditional Healers in Community Medicine among the Tribal

People of North Forest Range of Bastar Plateau, Chhattisgarh, India

Jiteshwari Kaushik1, Anupam Kumar Tiwari

2, Kamal Kumar Sen

3*

1Research Scholar, Department of Rural Technology, Dr. C. V. Raman University, Bilaspur,

Chhattisgarh, 495113, India; Email: [email protected] 2

Associate Professor& Head, Department of Rural Technology, Dr. C. V. Raman University,

Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, 495113, India; Email: [email protected] 3*

Assistant Professor, Department of Rural Technology, Dr. C. V. Raman University,

Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, 495113, India; Email: [email protected]

Abstract:

The traditional medicinal system plays a vital role in the human health care system globally.

Due to cost-effectiveness, acceptability, biomedical benefits and accessibility of traditional

medicine, sought the attention of ethnobotanical and pharmaceutical researchers worldwide.

The aim of the study was to a quantitative measure of ethnobotanical knowledge of

traditional healer and documentation of medicinal plant uses in a particular tribal area. The

field study was done in 10 forest villages of North forest zone of Bastar plateau, Kondagaon

district, Chhattisgarh, India. The collected ethnobotanical information was quantitatively

analyzed through use categories, use value (UV), informant consensus factor (Fic) and fidelity

level (Fl). A total of 46 genera, 50 species and 32 families of the medicinal plant were

recorded in study area. Plant parts often used as a powder (25%), paste (19%) and juice

(17%) form, apart from this decoction, oil, lepa, kwath and raw form including fresh material

was also used in small quantity by traditional healers. According to the uses of plant species

for different ailment were broadly divided into 16 classes. The maximum use value was

scored for Ocimum sanctum (0.94) which denoted their most frequently uses. The highest Fic

value (1.00) and fidelity level obtained for Eclipta prostrate (hair care) and

Bryophyllumpinnatum (kidney ailments category). Different health issues were identified

under the 16 ailment categories and local peoples in this area still preferred traditional

treatments as a first line of choice for any kind of ailments.

Keywords:Community medicine,Traditional healer, Ethnobotany, Folk medicine, Traditional

medicinal knowledge, Crude drug.

Introduction

The traditional medicinal system plays a vital role in the human health care system globally

(Parveen, Upadhyay, Roy, & Kumar, 2007). Currently, human society lived among the

inventions of sciences but in some part of the world peoples still deprived of them(Nimasow

et al., 2012). Mostly tribals and forest dwellers lived with their own moral, intellectual, social

values and beliefs. These are the reason behind the less adaptability of the modern medicine

system. In India, there are some parts still lesser accessible of well-organized health services.

mailto:[email protected]






In such areas,traditional medicine and healers provide effective healthcare services(Parveen

et al., 2007). Due to cost-effectiveness, acceptability, biomedical benefits and accessibility of

traditional medicine sought the attention ofethnobotanical and pharmaceutical researchers

worldwide(Aburai, Hudaib, Tayyem, Yosef, & Qishawi, 2007).According to WHO (2019)

report, ethnobotanical and medicinal plant research has a novel segment among the scientific

community over the past two decades(WHO, 2019).

The numbers of research publicationsshowed evidence of significant progress in the

traditional uses of medicinal plants in India(Mao & Roy, 2016). The documentation of

traditional knowledge is still much remaining. There is some part of India that need to be

ethnobotanical exploration and documentation of indigenous knowledge of the traditional

healers. The studied area have no formal ethnobotanical documentation yet done.

The study area situated at the Bastar plateau which also well recognized as the richest source

of plant biodiversity. This region mostly cover with teak (Tectonagrandis) and

sal(Shorearobusta) forest, which is deciduous in nature. Some parts having dense forest with

a variety of medicinal herbs. The majority of peoples are belonging to different

tribalcommunity lived around the forest. They are economically weaker and comes below the

poverty line(Srivastava, 2018). Usually, they depend on non-wood forest products,

agriculture, cattle and natural resources for income generation(Jhariya, Bargali, & Raj, 2015).

Geographically, some parts of this region come under the remote locations where no urgent

accessibility of lives support assets i.e., modern medicine, medical facilities, qualified doctors

etc. Therefore, traditional healers are the sole option in any medical emergency

circumstances. By these conditions, peoples adopted the traditional medicinal system for very

basic health care treatments. The aim of this studywas to a quantitative measure of

ethnobotanical knowledge of traditional healer and documentation of medicinal plant uses in

a particular tribal area.

Materials and methods

Study location

In order to documentation of traditional medicine knowledge among the traditional healers,

the field survey was done during Sept to Dec 2020.Geographically,surveyed area located

inthe North forest range of Kondagaon district, Chhattisgarh, India (Figure1).District

boundary connects with Bastar, Narayanpur, Kanker, Dhamtari district, Chhattisgarh and

Odisha state. Author has conducted a personal interview with structured question schedules

on 10 forest villages i.e. Badedonger, Chichdhi, Alor, Botha, Hirri, Tatipara, Patodha,

Bhandarwandi, Phunder&Pandeyaathgaon.




Figure 1 Location map

Field observation and interviews with traditional healers

About 50 traditional healers (include 48 male and 02 female)atthe study location were

identified and interviewed in the local Halbi language. The informants were belonging to

different aged groups. A well-structured questionnaire wasused to extract the ethnobotanical

information. Before going to final data collection on the ground author random visited the

field and startsan informal conversation with traditional healers. This was helpful to develop

a friendly relationship between the interviewer and the informants.

Ailment categories

According to ethnobotanical data extraction from the traditional healers, there are 16 ailments

categories were formulated. These categories includecardiopathy, dental care, diabetes, ear

nose and throat problems, fever, gynecological care, hair care, hemorrhoid, kidney problem,

liver problem, oncology, poisonous bites, respiratory disorder, skeleton muscular disorder,

skincare and stomach problems.

Data analysis

The detailed information regarding medicinal knowledge of traditional healers, demographic

and geographical information, plants and their parts used for an ailment, botanical name and

their family, mode of administration, drug preparation methods etc. was collected and listed

accordingly.

Use value (UV)

The use value (UV) was determined according to Phillips, Gentry, Reynel, Wilkin, & Galvez-

Durand, (1994). UV is a statement about relatively important plant speciesused by the

informants in the study area. The obtained value was calculated by the following formula:

𝑈𝑉 = Ʃ𝑈 𝑛




Where UVis the use value of a species, U is the number of use reports cited by each

informant for a given plant species and n is the total number of informant interviewed for a

given plant. This parameter helps to determine the most frequently used plant species for a

particular ailment. The highest and lowest use value denotes the high and low use-report for a

plant respectively.

Informant consensus factor(Fic)

Informant consensus factor (Fic) quite related to the agreement between theinformants and the

usage of particular plants.Fic was determined by following formula which described

byHeinrich, Ankli, Frei, Weimann, & Sticher, 1998.

𝐹𝑖𝑐 =𝑁𝑢𝑟 − 𝑁𝑡

𝑁𝑢𝑟 − 1

Where 𝑁𝑢𝑟 is the number of use reports for a particular ailment category and 𝑁𝑡 denote the

number of taxa used for a particular ailment category by all informants. This formula

provides a 0-1 range value. When large groups of informant used particular taxa for the same

ailment the values become high.

Fidelity level (FL)

Fidelity level (FL) was calculated to recognize the most frequent use plant species cited by

informant in a particular study area(Friedmen, Yaniv, Dafni, & Palewitch, 1986). The

following formula was used to calculate fidelity level:

𝐹𝑙(%) =𝑁𝑝

𝑁× 100

Where Npdenoted the number of use reports cited by informant for given species of a

particular ailment category and N is a number of informants, they have used the plants as a

medicine to treat any given disease. The higher and lower FL percentage usually indicates to

high and low use frequency of plants species in a particular ailment category respectively.

Results

Demographical data and plant uses

A total of 50 traditional healers were identified and interviewed, where 96% Men and 4%

women belonging to three different age groups. A significant number of traditional healers

come under the 40-59 years aged group (Table 1).Noteworthy,the author revealed the

education status of the informant where 38% were illiterate. They did not even get primary

education followed by 30% of the healers found educated with primary schooling(Table1).

Furthermore, the present study recorded 46 genera, 50 species and 32 families with local

names of medicinal plant, their family name, habitat, medicinal uses and used parts, mode of

administrations, numbers of informant and use value in Table 2.Amaranthaceae, Asteraceae,




Caesalpiniaceae, Combretaceae, Fabaceae and Moraceaewere themost frequently used family

recorded by the author.Leaves (38%) were the most common plant part used for different

ailments (Figure 2). Plant parts were often used as a powder (25%), paste (19%) and juice

(17%) form. Usually, crude drugs were used as a decoction, oil, lepa, kwath and fresh

material to administrate the patients accordingly (Figure 3).

Table 1 Demographic table

Particular Count %

Gender

Male 48 96

Female 2 4

Age (in year)

20-39 6 12

40-59 29 58

60-80 15 30

Education

Illiterate 19 38

Primary level (1-5th) 15 30

Middle level (6-8th) 6 12

High level (9-12th) 8 16

Higher level

(Graduation) 2 4

Ethnobotanical knowledge sources

Vertical transmission 31 62

Horizontal transmission 9 18

Oblique transmission 3 6

Others 7 14

Traditional knowledge experiences (in year)

1-15 23 46

16-30 15 30

above 30 12 24

Use categories

According to interview observation, the uses of plant species for different ailment were

broadly divided into 16 classes. Most traditional healers in this region efficiently treat dental

illness, fever, gynecological issues, poisonous bites, respiratory disorders, skin and stomach

related problems (Table 4). Maximum 8 species were reported for treatment of skin problems

followed by respiratory disorders (7 species) and gynecological care (5 species).The reasons

behind the most occurring skin problems are that the patients belong to forest dwellers who

cannot enough aware of communicable skin diseases. Some previous studies show that the

lack of knowledge about sanitation and personal hygiene promotes skin related

problems.Likewise, respiratory diseases include tuberculosis, pneumonia, asthma, cold and




cough was more likely reported by a traditional healer. Due to some bad habit on tribal

peoples i.e. liquor drinking, smoking, tobacco chewing etc. lead tocommon respiratory

disease(Samaddar et al., 2020). Our study findings support previously conducted studies in

some other parts of the world (Morvin Yabesh, Prabhu, & Vijayakumar, 2014).

Figure 2 Plant parts used for ailment

Figure 3 Mode of administration

Use values(UV)

The most common plant species Andrographispeniculata,Azadirachtaindica A. Juss.,

Bryophyllumpinnatum, Madhucalongifolia,Ocimum sanctum, Piper nigrum L.,

TerminaliabellerecaRoxb.andZingiberofficinaleRosc. were used by different traditional

healers. The maximum UV (0.94) was scored forOcimum sanctumwhich denoted their most

frequently uses. The investigation further revealed O. sanctum was cited by 47 traditional

healers for pneumonia treatments. Moreover, the lesser use of Ricinuscommunisscored 0.04

use value where it was cited by only tworespondents to treat eye problems(Table 2).

8

20

107

3 2 3

0

5

10

15

20

25

Root Leaves Fruits Bark Tuber Seed Others

No

. o

f C

ita

tio

n

Plant part

Juice

17%

Paste

19%

Powder

25%Kwath

6%

Decoction

13%

Oil

8%

Lepa

4%Raw

8%




Table 2 Cited medicinal plants and use value

Botanical Name Family Local

name Habitat

Plant

parts Usage

Mode of

Administration

No. of

Informant

Use

value

Achyranthesaspera L. Amaranthaceae Latjeera F Root Jaundices Juice 19 0.38

Aeglemarmelos L.

Corr. Rutaceae Bael F Fruits Skin Diabetes Juice 30 0.60

Allium sativam L. Amaryllidaceae Lahsun P Bulb Blood pressure,

Heart disease Bulb 12 0.24

Aloe barbadensis Asphodelaceae Aloe vera C Stem Skin abrasions,

Acne Juice, Paste 33 0.66

Anacardiumoccidentale Anacardiaceae Kaju P Fruits

Cancer, Blood

pressure,

Diabetes

Fruits 7 0.14

Anacyclus pyrethrum

L. Asteraceae Akarkara F Root Fever Oil 27 0.54

Andrographispaniculat

a Acanthaceae Bhui neem F Leaves Malaria Decoction 44 0.88

Annonareticulata Annonaceae Sitaphal F Fruits Immunity, eye

health Fruits 10 0.20

Argemonemexicana L. Papaveraceae Satyanasi F Leaves Skin disease Juice 3 0.06

Asparagus racemosus

Wild. Asparagales Satavar P Root

Increasing

Breast milk Powder 33 0.66

Azadirachtaindica A.

Juss. Meliaceae Neem F Leaves

Ringworm

Itching Paste 44 0.88

Bacopamonnieri L. Plantaginaceae Brahmi P Leaves Digestive Issues Powder 10 0.20

Bauhinia variegata L. Fabaceae Kachnar F Bark Mouth ulcers Powder 9 0.18

Bixaorellana L. Bixaceae Sinduri C Root Fever Decoction 15 0.30

Boerhaviadiffusa L. Nyctaginaceae Punarnava F Root Asthma Powder 3 0.06

Bryophyllunpinnatum Crassulaceae Patharchata C Leaves Stone Leaves 43 0.86

BuchananialanzanSpre

ng. Anacardiaceae Char F Fruits Weakness Seeds 25 0.50




Buteamonosperma

(Lam.) Fabaceae Palas F Flower Cold Paste 13 0.26

Cassia fistula L. Caesalpiniaceae Amaltash F Root,

Leaves Itching Lepa 17 0.34

Catharanthusroseus L. Apocynaceae Sadabahar C Leaves Honey bees bite Juice 9 0.18

Curcuma caesiaRoxb Zingiberaceae Kali Haldi C Tuber Dental problem Powder 29 0.58

Daturametel L. Solanaceae Dhatura F Leaves Scorpion bite Paste 3 0.06

EcliptaprostrataL. Asteraceae Bhringraj F Leaves Hair problem Oil 12 0.24

Ficusbengalensis L. Moraceae Bargad/vat F Leaves Gynecological Kwath 11 0.22

Ficusracemosa L. Moraceae Dumar F Leaves Bile Paste 22 0.44

Ficusreligiosa L. Moraceae Pipal F Fruits Gynecological Powder 8 0.16

Gloriosa superba L. Colchicaceae Jhagdan F Tuber Dry skin lepa 16 0.32

GymnemasylvestreR.Br

. Apocynaceae Gudmar F Leaves Diabetes Leaves 10 0.20

Madhucalongifolia(J.K

oig.) J.F. Macbr. Sapotaceae Mahua F Seeds Skin disease Oil 42 0.84

Mimosa pudica Mimosaceae Lajwanti F Leaves Piles Powder 12 0.24

Mimusopselengi L. Sapotaceae Bakul F Fruits Dental problem Powder 7 0.14

Mucunapruriens L. Fabaceae Kaunch F Root Worm Decoction 3 0.06

Ocimum sanctum Lamiaceae Tulsi C Leaves Pneumonia Leaves 47 0.94

PhyllanthusembilicaL. Phyllanthaceae Amla P Fruits Tuberculosis Paste 8 0.16

Piper nigrum L. Piperaceae Kalimirch P Seeds Weakness Decoction 42 0.84

Plumbagozeylanica L. Plumbaginaceae Chitrak C Bark Leprosy Powder 11 0.22

Puerariatuberosa Fabaceae Patalkumh

da C Tuber Cancer Juice 3 0.06

Rauvolfiaserpentina L. Apocnaceae Sarpgandha C Bark Snake bite Decoction 7 0.14

Ricinuscommunis Euphorbiaceae Arand/jada C Fruits Eye disease Oil 2 0.04

Saracaasoca(Roxb.)

Willd. Fabaceae Ashok F Bark Skin disease Decoction 8 0.16

SphaeranthusindicusL. Asteraceae Gorakh

Mundi F Bark Worm disease Powder 13 0.26




Syzygiumcumini (L.)

Skeels. Myrtaceae Kala jamun F Leaves Dental problem Kwath 27 0.54

Tbevetiaperuviana(Pers

.) K. Schum. Apocynaceae Kaner C

Root,

Bark,

Leaves

Piles Paste 7 0.14

TerminaliaarjunaRoxb.

Wight &Arn. Combretaceae Arjuna C Bark Gynecological Powder 15 0.30

Terminaliabellirica(Ga

ertn.) Roxb. Combretaceae Behera F Fruits Cough Kwath 46 0.92

Terminaliachebula

Retz. Combretaceae Harra F Fruits Dental problem Powder 31 0.62

Tinosporacordifolia

(thunbb.) Miers

Menispermacea

e Giloy C Leaves Tuberculosis Juice 23 0.46

Vitexnegundo L. Lamiaceae Nirgundi P Leaves Gynecological Paste 19 0.38

Withaniasomniera (L.)

Dunal Solanaceae Aswgandha F Leaves Jaundices Paste 34 0.68

Zingiber officinale

Roscoe. Zingiberaceae Adarak C Leaves Pneumonia Juice 42 0.84

F= Forest, C= Cultivated, P= Purchase from local market




Informant consensus factor (Fic)

The information consensus factor was evaluated under 16 uses categories. This study reveals Fic

values ranged from 0.88 to 1.00. The highest Ficvalueof skincare having 187 use reports with 8

species followed by respiratory disease with 182 use reports include 7 species and dental care

with 94 use reports with 4 species. There was Fic1.00 value obtained for hair care and kidney

ailments category where Eclipta prostrate and Bryophyllumpinnatum were the most common

medicinal plant used by traditional healers respectively (Table3). According to these

observations, we found the agreement between a particular ailment group and medicinal plants

recommendation by traditional healers.

Table 3 Informant consensus factor (ICF)

Categories

No. of

Use

report

No. of

Species

used

Informant

consensus

factor

Cardiopathy 17 2 0.93

Dental care 94 4 0.96

Diabetes 40 3 0.94

Ear Nose Throat

problems 11 2 0.90

Fever 86 3 0.97

Gynecological care 86 5 0.95

Hair care 12 1 1.00

Hemorrhoid 19 2 0.98

Kidney problem 43 1 1.00

Liver problem 53 2 0.98

Oncology 10 2 0.88

Poisonous bites 19 3 0.88

Respiratory disease 182 7 0.96

Skeleton muscular

disorder 42 3 0.95

Skin care 187 8 0.94

Stomach Problems 26 3 0.92

Fidelity level (FL)

EcliptaprostrataandBryophyllumpinnatum were the two medicinal plants with the highest 100%

fidelity levels (Table4). Both belonged to two different hair care and kidney ailment categories

respectively. The higher fidelity level of the species indicatedtheir uses recommendation for




particular ailment by most informants. In contrast, the lower fidelity level denoted less

recommendation of species by the informants.

Table 4 Fidelity level values

Categories Botanical name Usage Fidelity

level (%)

Cardiopathy Anacardiumoccidentale Blood pressure 29.41

Allium sativamL. Blood pressure 70.58

Dental care Syzygiumcumini L. Dental problem 28.72

Terminaliachebula Dental problem 39.36

Curcuma caesia Dental problem 30.85

Mimusopselengi L. Dental problem 7.44

Diabetes Aeglemarmelos L. Corr. Diabetes 62.50

Anacardiumoccidentale Diabetes 12.50

Gymnemasylvestre Diabetes 25.00

Ear Nose Throat problems Ricinuscommunis Eye disease 18.18

Bauhinia variegata L. Mouth ulcers 81.81

Fever Anacyclus pyrethrum L. Fever 31.39

Andrographispaniculata Malaria 51.16

Bixaorellana L. Fever 17.44

Gynecological care Ficusbengalensis L. Gynecological 12.79

Ficusreligiosa L. Gynecological 9.30

Terminaliaarjuna (Roxb.)

Wight &Arn. Gynecological

17.44

Asparagus racemosus

Wild.

Increasing Breast

milk 38.37

Vitexnegundo L. Gynecological 22.09

Hair care Ecliptaprostrata Hair problem 100.00

Hemorrhoid Mimosa pudica Piles 63.15

Tbevetiaperuviana (Pers.)

K. Schum. Piles

36.84

Kidney ailment Bryophyllunpinnatum Stone 100.00

Liver problem Achyranthesaspera L. Jaundices 35.84

Withaniasomniera (L.)

Dunal Jaundices

64.15

Oncology Anacardiumoccidentale Cancer 70.00

Puerariatuberosa Cancer 30.00




Poisonus bites Daturametel L. Scorpion bite 15.78

Catharanthusroseus L. Honey bees bite 47.36

Rauvolfiaserpentina L. Snake bite 36.84

Resperatory system disease Boerhaaviadiffusa L. Asthma 1.60

TerminaliabellerecaRoxb. Cough 25.27

Buteamonosperma

(LAM.) Cold

7.14

ZingiberofficinaleRosc. Pneumonia 23.07

Ocimum sanctum Pneumonia 25.82

Tinosporacordifolia Tuberculosis 12.63

EmblicaofficinalisGaertn. Tuberculosis 4.39

Skeleton muscular system

disorder

BuchananialanzanSpreng. Weakness 59.52

AnnonareticulateL. Immunity, eye

health 23.80

Piper nigrum L. Weakness 16.66

Skin care Argemonemexicana L. Skin disease 1.60

Aloe barbadensis Skin abrasions

Acne 17.64

Azadirachtaindica A.

Juss. Ringworm Itching

23.59

Gloriosa superba L. Dry skin 8.50

Madhucalongifolia Skin disease 22.45

Saracaasoca Skin disease 4.27

Aeglemarmelos L. Corr. Skin 16.04

Plumbagozeylanica L. Leprosy 5.88

Stomach Problems Bacopamonnieri Digestive Issues 38.46

Sphaeranthusindicus L. Worm disease 50.00

MucunapruriensL. Worm 11.53

Availability of herbal medicine

About 29 plant species were directly collected from the forest followed by 14 and 7 species from

the cultivated field and purchased from local markets respectively. According to this data, most

informantscollect medicinal herbs from natural habitat (Figure 4) which indicates their species

identification abilities without any prior education.




Figure 4 Availability of herbal medicine

Ethnobotanical knowledge sources among tribes

According to Feldman & Cavalli-Sforza, (1984), there are three common pathways found to

transfer traditional medicinal knowledge among the traditional healer communities: (1) Vertical

transmission (From ancestors to progeny), (2) Horizontal transmission (between any two

individuals in the same community but not blood relations) and (3) oblique transmission

(knowledge transmitted to beyond the community individuals). Our study findings support this

phenomenon. Commonly, the vertical transmission found in ethnobotanical studies. About 31

(62%) traditional healers never been disclosed their ethnobotanical knowledge to others because

they merely support vertical transmission. furthermore, 9 out of 50 traditional healers obtained

their traditional knowledge via horizontal transmission. Likely 3 informants found who acquired

knowledge from the other community members and 7 other recognized as self-made healers

(Table 1). They not properly trained so far.

Table 1 showed the major three experiences categories in this field. A significant number of

experienced informants (46%) reported under the 1-15 years category. Furthermore, 30% and

24% informant comes into 16-30 and above 30 year experience group respectively. An

experienced traditional healer increases people’s trust on them and local peoples often refer to an

experienced one.

Discussion

We have documented the traditional medicinal knowledge of local healers. The demographic

data of this particular study area revealed the socio-economic status of the local peoples. The

author found the education level in remote tribal belt seems to be comparatively often low

because of those people follow own cultural ethics.They might be not interested to interact with

the modernized world.

The ages of traditional healers were recorded under three different age groups, where about 29

(58%) traditional healer comes under 40-59 age group followed by 6 (12%) and 15 (30%)

29

14

7

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

Collected from forests

Cultivated

Purches from local market

No. of species




have20-39 and 60-80 age group respectively. The educational status of traditional healer was

also measured. Table 1 illustrates the education level of respondents. A significant percentage of

the respondent(38%) having any basic education at all. Those respondents were acquiring

knowledge from an ancestor or family practitioner.The lower range of education is more likely in

remote forests habilitation.Some previous study has been proven that statement(Gandhi,

2014;Bhattacharjya, Kar, Sarma, & Patowary, 2015).The availability of medicinal plants from

forest denotes rich sources of plant biodiversity in studied area. The respondent was much aware

of sustainable harvest techniques of medicinal herbs from natural resources. Different value of

UV, Fic and FL reflects the ability of healers knowledge and local requirement of plant based

medicine. Various health issues were identified under the 16 ailment categories. Throughout the

investigation, traditional healers did not reveal the doses amount of herbal drugs to others.

Obtained results indicate that local peoples in study area still preferred traditional treatments as a

first line of choice for any kind of ailments.

Conclusion

Based on obtained results ethnobotanical and medicinal plant uses have much potential

especially for remote location and tribal area.Probably this is the first

ethnobotanicaldocumentation in this particular region, so it will be benefited to researcher

community who work in this field. However, the author felt there is less availability of

physiotherapeutic evidence of different ailments. It is recommended to involve natural product

research including extraction, phytochemical and pharmacological evaluation of the traditionally

used plants to explorethe therapeutic potential of herbal medicine.

Conflict of interest

Authors have no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgement

Authors are very grateful to the traditional healers of Kondagaon district for sharing their

indigenous medicinal knowledge.

Participants consent

In accordance with the World Health Organization Research Ethics Review Committee (WHO

ERC), all the participants in this study provided prior informed consent before the interviews.

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