S. K. Jain

Medicinal plant-lore of the santals (A revival of P. O. Bodding’s work)

ConclusionThis paper deals with 377 plant species employed by the Santals (a tribe inhabiting the region of the Bengal-Bihar border in eastern India) in their indigenous medicinal system. The information is based on a valuable (but near-forgotten) report of Reverend P. O. Bodding, published about forty years ago.

Medicinal plant lore of the tribals of bastar

ConclusionThe paper deals with the plants used by the tribals of Bastar (Madhya Pradesh, India) in the treatment of their ailments and injuries. The information is based on the observations and notes taken during five field trips to this district (1960-1963). The causes, diagnosis and treatment of disease are discussed.One hundred and one plants are dealt with; their botanical name, habit, local names and medicinal uses are given. The localities where the specimens or the information were gathered are mentioned.The data have been analyzed on the basis of the different ailments reported by the informants, method of preparation and the parts employed in prescriptions. p ]Stomach complaints, body pains, fevers, skin diseases, and cuts and wounds are common ailments. Pounding the plant parts into a paste or making decoctions in water are the usual methods of preparation. Most of the prescriptions involve only one plant species. Leaves and roots are the most commonly used plant parts.About 90 medicinal uses of plants reported do not seem to have been known (or at least properly known) earlier and may provide materials to pharmacologists for further tests.

Human aspects of plant diversity

Different human societies have different biodiversity around them; there is diversity in their food habits, ailments, occupations, daily routine, social customs, needs, and notions about natural phenomena. They have different domestic animals, and consequently, different veterinary diseases to manage. These circumstances have given rise to very diverse experiences among indigenous societies about plant wealth around them. Over generations, this has made very rich additions to the interrelationships between man and plant wealth around him. Faith, tradition, taboos and several such associations with forests and particular plant species have helped in conservation of plant diversity. The richness of plant diversity in any area, is not evaluated merely by the number of species occurring there, but by the intensity of associations and dependence of the indigenous communities on that plant wealth. Respect for this indigenous knowledge, and relationship helps in conservation.

Ethnobotany of the mikirs of India

The Mikirs living in Karbi-Anglong district in northeastern India depend on the natural plant resources of their neighbouring forests for much of their food, all their medicine, and for other material cultural needs and recreation. They, of course, use many plants in their magico-religious ceremonies. The area has remained botanically and ethnobotanically unexplored until the recent studies were initiated in 1976. Many heretofore unknown or little-known uses of plants have been recorded. However, much remains to be learnt from this region regarding the use of plants for human welfare.

Some ethnobotanical notes from northeastern India

This paper deals with the ethnobotany of 48 plants from Northeastern India. The information was derived from specimens deposited in the herbarium of the Botanical Survey of India at Shillong (ASSAM). Vernacular names of plants and voucher specimens are mentioned. The importance of ethnobotanical studies of herbarium materials is discussed.

Notes on Lodha medicine in Midnapur District, West Bengal, India

This paper provides a brief account of 40 plants associated with herbal remedies among the Lodhas, a tribe of Midnapur district, West Bengal, India. Reports from informants were obtained during field studies between 1977 and 1982. The data are compared with information obtained from some other tribal societies like the Santals and the Oraons inhabiting neighbouring regions. The Lodhas have had a rich herbal folklore, but this is fading due to increasing acculturation and depletion of plant cover.RésuméCette titre se pourvoir une bref rapport des quarantes plantes associées avec les herbes medicales parmi Lodhas, une tribe de Midnapure arrondisement de Bengal occidental, des Indes. Rapports obtenuées des informateurs pendant les etudiés dans le champ entre 1977 et 1982. Les données sont comparée avec les informations obtenuées des autres societées tribales comme les Santals et les Oraons inhabitées aux regions voisins. Les Lodhas a eu une riche folklore herbal, mais ce disparaitre de plus en plus de acculturation et du epuisement de converture des plantes.

Plant products in some tribal markets of Central India

Weekly markets in tribal areas are an important socioeconomic institution. Surveys were conducted during 1997-1999 in over one dozen rural markets in Surguja in the State of Madhya Pradesh in the central region of India. Tribals bring products of at least 30 species to these markets for sale. Traders from towns come to these markets to purchase forest produce; others set up small shops for selling consumer goods such as ready-made clothes, toiletries, utensils, stationery, some plastic goods, match boxes, and some cereals and tobacco.