Universal Journal of Pharmacy

Samuel et al. UJP 2013, 02 (01): Page 122-134

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Universal Journal of Pharmacy

Research Article ISSN 2320-303X

Take Research to New Heights

ETHNO MEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY THE PEOPLE OF DARJEELING HILLS IN THE EASTERN HIMALAYA OF INDIA Rai Anita1, Rai Samuel2* and Yonzone Rajendra3 1

Saint Joseph’s Convent, 8th Mile, Kalimpong 734301, District Darjeeling, W.B., India 2 Darjeeling Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidhyalaya, Kalimpong 734301, District Darjeeling, W.B., India 3 Taxonomy and Ethnobiology Research Laboratory, Cluny Women’s College, Kalimpong 734301, District Darjeeling, W.B., India

Received 10-01-2013; Revised 19-02-2013; Accepted 24-02-2013

ABSTRACT Plants have provided mankind a large variety of medicine to alleviate suffering from diseases. The study of indigenous herbal medicine can therefore, serve to validate and enhance existing local uses and to provide clues to remedies having worldwide potential. The study was carried out in 15 villages of Darjeeling hills in the Eastern Himalayan region of India. The villages are inhabited by different ethnic groups and these villages are dominated by one or two ethnic groups. In each village, all medicine men or religious head were interviewed as per the schedule prepared in advance. The similar interview was conducted also for the elderly people of the villages. Beside medicinal use of the plants, other kind of information collected includes other plant species used for various purposes like human food and whether species were found in abundance. The medicine men were found to have collection of dried leaves, stems and roots at their houses. At this age of 21st century, still people depend on medicine men in the remote villages basically because of their poor economic condition and they cannot buy medicine from the shops located in far cities. A person particularly caring an illness, when feels and behaves awkwardly is said to have been possessed by a spirit and it is considered as a summon from the spirits that he should become a “Boongthing” or “Mangpa”. The plants named by them are listed along with the ailments against which such plants are used as medicine. The detail preparation method and uses are recorded with name of ethnic group using such plant preparation. It was found 57 plant species belonging to 55 genera with their therapeutic values against different diseases. Of these 38 species are herbs, 9 shrubs and 10 are trees. These plants are botanically identified with their local availability status and habit. Keywords: Darjeeling Hills, Eastern Himalayas, Ethnomedicinal plants and Ailments.

INTRODUCTION Plants have provided mankind a large variety of medicines to alleviate suffering from diseases. India has rich heritage of knowledge on plant-based medicines both for use in curative and preventive medicines. Our ancients Ayurvedic system of medicine is predominantly a plant based materia medica making use of our native plants. It is obvious that those Corresponding Author: Dr. Samuel Rai, Programme Coordinator Darjeeling Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidhyalaya, Kalimpong 734301, District Darjeeling, W.B., India e-mail: [email protected], 9434429175.

traditional practices, which have withstood the test of time, must be effective. India with its wealth and variety of medicinal plants has accumulated through the ages a great mass of popular remedies many of which are even today in common use throughout this country, though most of the folk medicines are steadily being eroded by the advancing tide of the synthetic drugs. The practice of medicines among tribal people and villagers in India, today, follows the same pattern, it did 2000 years ago, and there is hardly any change. We can trace this medicine in ancient manuscripts such as Atharvaveda, Kautilya’s Arthasastra and even in the Ayurvedic Samhitas of Charaka. In recent years, there has been an increasing awareness that the significance of medicinal plant studies goes beyond mere anthropological curiosity. Many more modern drugs are

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Samuel et al. UJP 2013, 02 (01): Page 122-134 derived from natural plant. The study of indigenous herbal medicine can therefore, serve to validate and enhance existing local uses and to provide clues to remedies having worldwide potential1. In the History of medicine in India, although no attention has been paid to the practice of folk medicine, a few social anthropologists and social scientists, most of them from outside India, who have studies some tribal and village communities in general,

www.ujponline.com have stated their findings in this regard. Much more needs is to be done or else, the history of folk medicine in India will necessarily remain patchy and inadequate compared to what it is in some other countries of the West. The objectives of the study is to list the plants and plant parts used by the people residing in Darjeeling Hills in the Eastern Himalayan range of India for different ailments.

Fig. 1: Location of Darjeeling Himalayan region in the Eastern Himalaya of India

MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was carried out in 15 villages of Darjeeling hills, which falls in the Eastern Himalayan ranges of India (Fig. 1). These villages are listed in (Table 1). The weather is of tropical in Gorubathan to temperate in Lava. Considerable areas of forests still have survived in the vicinity of the villages. The forests are dominated mostly by local tree species and other common plants viz. (with their local names in the bracket) Alnus nepalensis (Utis), Schima waliichii (Chilauney), Mallotus albus Mull. (Jogi Malata), M. roxburghianus Mull. (Fushrey Malata), Bischofia javanica Blume. (Kaijal), Bassia butyraceae Roxb. (Chewri), Betula almondes Ham. (Saur), Firmiana colorata R. Br. (Firfiray), Ficus cunia Ham. (Khanew), Styrax serrulatum Roxb. (Khanew), Sterculaq villosa Roxb. (Odal), Cephalostachyum capitatum Munro. (Payong), Brassaiopsis mitis C.B. Ciarks. (Chulatro),

Duabanga sonneratioides Ham. (Lampatey), Viburnum colebrookianum Wall. (Asaray), Cinelina arborea Linn. (Khamari), Ficus nemoralis Wall. (Dudalo), F. benjamina (Kapra), F. elastica (Labar), F. roxburghii (Nebhara), F. bengalensis (Ber), F. religiosa (Pipal), Quercus lanceafolia Roxb. (Katus), Morus indica (Kimbu), Fraxinus paxiana Lingelsh var. sikkimensis (Lakuri), Andromeda villosa Wall. (Angeri), Shorea robusta (Sal), Eupatorium cannabinus L. (Kalobanmara), Costus specious (Koren. Ex Retz.) Sm. (Betlauri), Artemisia vulgaris L. (Titaypati), Laportea terminalis Wight. (Sisnoo), Heracleum wallichii DC. (Chimphing) etc.2 All the villages have terrace crop cultivation. The principal crops cultivated are maize, rice, pulses, millets etc. but most of the villagers earn their living by cultivating cash crops like Darjeeling Mandarin orange, ginger and large cardamom3.


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Samuel et al. UJP 2013, 02 (01): Page 122-134 Medicinal plants are colleted by local people from a wide variety of habitats in all the studied villages, including forests, crop terraces and grazing areas. It was found that a one community is more in number than others in one village and so in other villages e.g. Tanyang and Samalbong are dominated by Tamangs and Lepchas; Sunduk by Khambu Rais and Limbus (Subbas); Aalay Busty by Khambu Rais; Dalapchand by Khambu Rais; Payong, Echhey and Lingsey by Sharmas and Chettris; Bhalukhop and Sangsay by Khambu Rais; Tanak-Nasay by Lepchas; Pashore and Sakyong have mixed population; Suruk by Bhujels; Sinji by Tamangs. A person particularly curing an illness, when feels and behaves awkwardly is said to have been possessed by a spirit and it is considered as a summons from the spirits, that they should become a “Boong Thing in Lepcha; Mangpa in Khambu Rai, Fedangba in Limbu (Subba), Mata, Jhakri, Bijuwa and Bhagawati in Chettri, Sahram (Bahun), Kami, Damai and Sarki; Lama in Tamang, Sherpa and Bhutia communities (Table 2). The collections of the data were made four times a year in 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006. All informations were obtained through a series of interviews with elderly villagers, spiritual healers and herbalists/medicine man at the time of data collection. Informants were asked to tell about the use of the individual plant species, plant parts used and their local names. The local names of the plants were recorded and were compared with the names recorded by4,5 to find the exact botanical identification of the plants. Other kinds of informations collected include whether species were used for other purposes, such as human food and whether species were found in abundance. The preferred method of interview involved walking with individuals and discussing plants as they were encountered. The medicine man also had a collection of dried leaves, stem and roots at his home. Medicinal plants are used in various ailments in the form of paste, powder, raw form and decoction by the people of Darjeeling6.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION It was found 57 plant species belonging to 55 genera with their therapeutic values against different diseases occurring in Darjeeling hills. Of these 38 species are herbs, 9 shrubs and 10 are trees. It was also found that herbs are more useful than the shrubs and trees and most of the plant species were used for more than one purpose. There were 6 plants species found in abundant, 4 spp. common, 5 spp. common in cultivation, 16 spp. frequent, 21 spp. sparse, 3 spp. rare, and 2 spp. facing endangered threat in the study areas (Table 3). Village people have their own belief about the causation and treatment of diseases, which are millenia old, but which fit in perfectly in their whole

www.ujponline.com social structure and traditions. Villagers, however, are not always eager to make use of hospital medicines. When it comes to prescribing medicines, the village practitioners himself prepares the medicines for the patient; a doctor just writes down a prescription and either a dispenser makes it or he buys it from somewhere in the drug shop. The villagers thus, regard a doctor as being so inefficient as not to be capable of making the medicine himself on the other hand, they develop a lot of faith in the village practitioner. They firmly believe in the “Virtue of Touch”. Minor aliments such as cough and colds are attributed to “natural causes” in the form of severe climatic conditions. Other ailments ascribed to natural causes are headache, diarrhea etc. In all these, physical factors such as water or weather, heat or cold, excessive indulgence in liquor and sex are considered as playing the causative role. While preparing herbal medicines, the medicine men make use of large collections of dried leaves, stems and roots, stored in bags hanging from his home’s ceiling known as “Bhar” – a place above the fire place. He also makes use of his fields to cultivate the herbs. If somebody falls sick seriously and suddenly or when a disease takes a sudden bad turn, the villagers assigns to a supernatural cause, that may be one of the following. (1) Wreth of Goddesses (2) Evil Spirit (3) Non-Human (a) Spirit of Sickness (b) Demons (4) Human (a) Ancestral Spirit (b) Bhut or Churel (5) Witchcraft (6) Evil Eye When dealing with the patients, the medicine men/herbalist follows a simple medical examination with various ritual procedures. He interrogates a patient in order to find out the cause of the illness; like he asks the patient about his dreams or interrogates other family members to find out what they think about the possible cause of the illness, he looks for omens. Temperature and pulse rate are also recorded. During the ritual ceremonies, the offerings of smoke is made by burning ‘dhup’ or ‘sukpa’ (small pieces of leaves and twigs of scented plants) on the charcoal to “Kongchen-kaulo” (god of Himalayas). The medicine men/herbalists danced around the patient with “Titepati” (leaves and twigs of Artemisia vulgaries) and “Amliso” (Thysanolaena maxima) in hands, chanting the “mantras” (incantations). He wears a special traditional dress “Gada” – a knee-length frock with a belt known as “dampra” across the body and a cap on his head. It is during this process that various herbal remedies are given to the patient. From the information of herbal uses given to us by the “Vaidya” or “Boongthing”, “Dowa” or “Mangpa”, “Fedangba”, he


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Samuel et al. UJP 2013, 02 (01): Page 122-134 was to a large degree classifying illness according to conventional categories such as kidney disorders, bronchities, skin diseases etc. Ritual and Folklore Elements in the use of Medicinal Plants: The knowledge regarding the utility of plants and plant products may either have been passed on to the present generation by their ancestors or is based on

www.ujponline.com experience. The curative art is kept confined to a limited number of families with some sanctity and secrecy. It is believed that the wide knowledge of recipe may reduce the effectiveness of the medicine. However, it seems that most herbalists/medicine men do not want to divulge their secrets due to monopolistic tendencies which was also reported earlier by7,8.

Table 1: List of the villages considered for the study Sl. No.

Name of the village

Dominating ethnic group

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Pashore busty Sakyong busty Tanak-Nasay busty Suruk busty Sangsay busty Bhalukhop busty Lingsey busty Echhey busty Payong busty Dalapchand busty Aalay busty Sunduk busty Samalbong-Tanyang busty Sinjee busty Ladam busty

Mixed population Mixed population Lepchas Bhujels Khambu Rais Khambu Rais Sharmas and Chettris Sharmas and Chettris Sharmas and Chettris Khambu Rais Khambu Rais Khambu Rais and Limbus (Subbas) Tamangs and Lepchas Tamangs Khambu Rais

Medicinal Plants Used in Relation to Established Pharmacological Properties: Medicinal plants are a cheap source of raw materials. Their ingredients serve as model substances, their toxicity can be reduced by chemical action and their effectiveness can be increased or given new characteristics. The pharmacological testing of isolated substance has in most cases, confirmed knowledge that has existed for thousands of years. By means of clinical pharmacology, we can test the drugs. Now, the question may arise, whether the remedies followed by villagers are likely to be effective. Some of the plant species have never been examined for pharmacologically active constituents. So, their effectiveness (as a means of remedy) is still unanswered. There are few species, which have got direct experimental evidences in the pharmacological literature to indicate that the mode of application employed in the villages is likely to be effective. For example, whole plants of Swertia chirayita is used for stomach disorders. The plant contains two bitter principles viz. Ophelic acid and Chiratin, it is a valuable bitter tonic, stomachic, appetizer, laxative and diarhoeic9,10. The rhizome of Acorus calamus is

Climatic condition of the village Tropical Temperate Sub-temperate Sub-temperate Sub-temperate Sub-temperate Temperate Sub-temperate Temperate Temperate Tropical Sub-temperate Sub-tropical Sub-tropical Temperate

used as expectorant and in rheumatic pains. It contains an aromatic volatile oil and a bitter principle - acorin, which is effective against cough, colds and rheumatism. Decoction of leaves of Centella asiatica is used for leprosy11. From the pharmacological view, the plant contains a glycoside (named asiaticoside) that kills the leprosy. The herb also contains volatile principle vellarine which is a tonic for skin diseases. The leaves of Adhatoda vasica is used for cough and chest diseases. It contains the alkaloid vasicine and a small amount of odorous, volatile essential oils, which are a powerful expectorant and effective in chest diseases. The young shoots of Bambusa sp. are given during indigestion. Pharmacologically it contains hydrocyanic and benzoic acids which are stomachic and stimulant. The medicinal plants used by traditional healers in the Himalayan region are threatened and to ensure the long term sustainability of such plants establishment of medicinal plants conservation is immediate necessity12. Depending on the community, the number of medicine man or religious head of the village were found which was recorded during survey and is presented in Table 2. The medicine man himself collects the medicine from the forests and he does not others know what he has


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Samuel et al. UJP 2013, 02 (01): Page 122-134 collected and how. The collection is followed by preparation and administration. He instructs either his helper or one of the family members of the patient add water if it is administered with water or to grind in mortar-pistal before administering the medicine to patient. In all cases, at the time of administration and after it, medicine man chants his mantras in a thrilling voice with something in his hand like small branches with leaves of katus (Quercus lanceafolia Roxb.) and ‘Whabub’ - small container made out of gourd having a shape of round in the bottom and tapering at the top is filled with locally made alcoholic drink called “Rakshi” in case of “Mangpa” or “Dowa” to ward off all evil spirits from the house. Once he completes chanting his

www.ujponline.com mantras, he tells the people present mostly patients family members and relatives that the patients will be alright. He has driven away all evil spirits and fed the patient with medicine. Almost similar activity is followed by “Fedangba”, “Jhankri”, “Bungthing” and “Lama”13. Only the item in their hand varies. The names of the plants used by traditional healers are listed in Table 3 along with local names, their availability, habit and status, part of the plant used as medicine and use of plant against the diseases/ailments for easy identification so that further investigation on any of these plants could be carried out by investigators working in this line.

Table 2: Community wise medicine men/religious heads of the villages Sl. No.

Community

Religious head/Medicine man

Number

1

Khambu Rais

Mangpa, Dowa

12

2

Lepchas

Bungthing

6

3

Limbus (Subbas)

Fedangba

3

4

Chettris, Sharmas (Bahuns), Kami, Damai, Bhujel, Pradhan

Jhakri

11

Performs only as medicine man and healer

5

Tamangs

Lama

3

Religious head, perform all rituals, performs as medicine man and healer

Medicinal Plants for Commercial Scale Production: The villagers supply some of these medicinal plants for commercial purpose. These include – Acorus calamus, Curcuma longa, Cinamomum tamala, Zingiber officinale etc. These plants are supplied either to Kalimpong town or to Siliguri. People prefer to supply plants directly to Siliguri than to Kalimpong because it is a junction of all vehicles and trains from other states and one of the business centre. There is international trade as well because traders come from Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh and China. It was observed that now practically every village man can come to town for his treatment because of the easy transport available. The long hassle by medicine man to please goddesses in the form of chicken, goat and locally prepared alcoholic drinks sometimes becomes harassment for poor villagers. This practice has compelled some village people to opt for taking help from city based medical practitioner and take allopathic medicines. It is evident that with such practices, medicine men will also disappear soon14 and the practice of healing by medicine men becomes a story for the coming generations.

Job performed as Religious head, perform all rituals, performs as medicine man and healer Religious head, perform all rituals, performs as medicine man and healer Religious head, perform all rituals, performs as medicine man and healer

CONCLUSION The study of indigenous herbal medicine serves to validate and enhance existing local uses and to provide clues to remedies having worldwide potential. Drug yielding plants are mostly used in crude form even today but with the advancement of pharmaceutical researches, there is increasing exploitation of our natural resources, the manufacture of proprietary and secret remedies, is now growing commercial industry. Anything that leads to greater utilization of our natural products deserves encouragement and by cultivating these crops, local people collect medicinal plants from a wide variety of habitats in all the studied villages, including forests, crop terraces and grazing areas. Based on our field investigations, it seems that loss of habitat of plant species due to increasing anthropogenic activities cause greater damage in the diversity resources of ethnobotanical and medicinal plant species in the region. Therefore, awareness and documentation of traditional knowledge was vitally important at present.


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Samuel et al. UJP 2013, 02 (01): Page 122-134 The reality that the population uses a large number of plants for a variety of illness suggests to us that the acquisition of medicinal plant knowledge is a dynamic process. Certain remedies are widely recognized and have biological and cultural significance. The interrelationship of psychological and physiological components in village medicinal practice would seem to encourage exploration. An obvious conclusion to be drawn is that deforestation would pose a threat to the local occurrence of these medicinal plant species. The increasing rate of firewood, fodder and timber collection is another cause of deforestation, which is an ever present danger in the vicinity of hill villages.

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7.

8.

9.

10.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Authors are very thankful to the tribal communities of Darjeeling Hills for sharing their traditional knowledge of Ethno Medicinal plants.

11. 12.

REFERENCES 1. Yonzone GS, Bharati P, Yonzon B, Bhujel RB. Ethnomedicinal plants of Darjeeling - Sikkim Himalayas. Proceedings of J. International Hort. Soc., 1985; 193-202. 2. Bhujel RB. Studies on the dicotyledonous flora of Darjeeling District. Ph.D. Thesis, University of North Bengal, 1996. 3. Rai S. Improved Management of Ginger Diseases. Project Report. Published by S. Rai, Principal Investigator, Uttar banga Krishi Viswavidhyalaya, Kalimpong, 2001. 4. Cowan AM, Cowan JM. The trees of Northern Bengal. Bengal secretariat Book Depot, Writers Building, Calcutta, 1929. 5. Bose TK, Das P, Maiti GG. Trees of the World. Vol. I. Regional Plant Resource Centre, Bhubaneswar, Orissa, 1998. 6. Yonzone Rajendra, Bhujel RB, Rai Samuel. Medicinal Wealth of Darjeeling Hills used

13.

14.

Against Various Ailments. Ad. Plant Sci. 2012; 25(II): 603 – 607. Rai LK, Sharma E. Medicinal plants of Sikkim Himalaya, Status, Uses and Potential. (Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun), 1994. Bhujel RB. Baidhya Chewang Pakhring Progress and Experience in his Chikitsalaya and research Center. Proceedings of Seminar on Herbal Drugs and Rural Health, Calcutta, 1995. Bennet BC. Plants and people of the Amazonian Rain forest - the role of Ethnobotany in sustanable development. Biosciences 42(8): 1992; 599-607. Biswas K. Chopra, RN. Common medicinal plants of Darjeeling and Sikkim Himalaya, Calcutta, 1956. Jain SK. Defillips RA. Medicinal plants of India. Vol. I, II. New Delhi.1991. Kala CP. Indigenous uses, population density and conservation of threatened medicinal plants in protected areas of the Indian Himalayas. Conservation Biology 2005; 19(2): 368-378. Yonzone Rajendra, Bhujel RB, Rai Samuel. Genetic diversity of Ethnobotanical and Medicinal plants resources of Darjeeling district, West Bengal, India. Int. Jur. of Adv. in Pharm. Res. (IJAPR). 2012; 3 (1): 713-729. Yonzone Rajendra, Bhujel RB, Rai Samuel. Genetic resources, current ecological status and altitude wise distribution of medicinal plants diversity of Darjeeling Himalaya of West Bengal, India. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine. 2012; S439 – S445.


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Table 3: Ethno medicinal plants used by the people of Darjeeling Hills of Eastern Himalaya of India with botanical names, availability status, parts used and disease they cures

Sl. No.

Botanical name of the plant used with family name

Local & tribal name

Locality of availability

1

Abroma augusta L. (Sterculaceae)

N: Sano Kapasi L: Tanglu kung

Algarah, Pedong, Takdah

2

Achyranthes aspera L. (Amarantaceae)

N: Apamarga L: Lassi

3

Aconitum bisma (Buch.-Ham.) Rapaics (Ranunculaceae)

N: Bikuma

4

Acorus calamus L. (Araceae)

N: Bojho L: Raklop

5

Adhatoda vasica Nees (Acanthaceae)

N: Asuro L: Tham chyor

Mungpoo, Lebong, Kurseong Sandakphu, Kalpokhari, Tonglu Lava, Pedong, Mungpoo, Sunduk Bong Busty, Bijanbari, Rambi Throughout subHimalayan regions of Darjeeling hills Kalimpong, Darjeeling and Kurseong

6

Ageratum conyzoides L. (Asteraceae)

N: Ilamay L: Nambuyu Myk

7

Ageratina adenophora (Spreng.) King & Robinson (Asteraceae)

N: Kalo banmara L: Muknak

8

Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f. (Liliaceae)

N: Ghew Kumari L: More

Pudung, Samalbong, Peshok

9

Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. Br. (Apocynaceae)

N: Chhatiwan L: Mikyum Kung

Teesta bazaar, Sevoke,

Habit & status Terrestrial shrub [Frequent] Terrestrial herb [Sparse] Terrestrial herb [Endangered] Annual shrub [Frequent] Terrestrial Shrub [Frequent] Terrestrial Herb [Common and Abundant] Terrestrial herb Abundant Terrestrial Herb [Commonly cultivated] Tree [Sparse]

Parts used

Used against disease/ailments

Roots

Female genital diseases

Roots

Food poisoning, toothache, piles, hysteria

Roots and rhizome

Food poison, intestinal ulcer, gastric

Rhizome

Gout and rheumatism

Leaves

Chronic bronchitis, cough expectorant, asthma, scabies, rheumatic pain.

Shoot and fresh leaves

Wounds, diarrhoea, skin diseases

Young shoots and leaves

Cuts and wounds, jaundice

Leaves

Burns (vapour and flame)

Bark

Malaria, diarrhoea, dysentery and snake bite.


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10

11

12

13

14

Anthocephalus indicus A. Rich (Rubiaceae)

N: Kadam

Artemisia dubia Wall. ex Besser (Asteraceae) Astilbe rivularis D. Don (Saxifragaceae)

N: Titepate L: Teknale B: Salawa

Bauhinia vahlii Wight & Arnott (Caesalbinoideae) Bergenia ciliata (Haworth) Sternberg (Saxifragaceae)

N: Buro okhati L: Thyukung mone N: Koiralo L: Raan N: Pakhanbet L: Pakham

15

Bischofia javanica Bl. (Bischofioceae)

N: Kaijal L: Angu saku Pote

16

Buddleja asiatica Lour. (Buddlejaceae)

N: Bhimsenpate L: Pandam

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Malbazar, Bagragote Seukbir Khani, Relli Pala, Munsong Kalimpong, Darjeeling, Kurseong Lava, Rimbik, Rammam, Manaybhanjang Mungpoo, Kalijhora, Relli Forest Labha, Ghoom, Manaybanjang, Sukiapokhari Sub-Himalayan regions of Darjeeling hills Sevoke, RatayMakum, Takdah, Suruk, Samalbong

Small Tree [Sparse] Annual subshrub [Frequent] Annual Subshrub [Sparse] Tree [Sparse] Annual Herb [Frequent] Perennial Herb [Sparse] Shrub [Frequent]

Leaves and stems Leaves

Rhizome

Stomatitis and pyorrhoea Whooping cough, headache, nose bleeding and measles Bodyache, rheumatic pain and tonic for mother after child birth.

Roots

Blood purification

Leaves, Roots and rhizome Undergrou nd juicy fruits

Tonic for woman during child birth, dysentery, menstrual disorder

Leaves, flowers and stem

17

Calotropis gigantea (L.) Dryander (Asclepiadaceae)

N: Aank L: Aamik

Sindebong, Mungpoo, Munsong

Perennial Herb [Sparse]

Whole plant

18

Cannabis sativa L. (Cannabinaceae)

N: Bhang, ganja L: Tanku

Kalimpong, Darjeeling

Biannual Shrub [Common and

Shoots


Sores, tonsillitis, throat pain

Skin diseases and as an abortification Joint pain and swelling, gout and sciatica, skin diseases, leprosy, leucoderma, ulcers, bronchitis, asthma, purgative, anthelmintic, antifungal Insomnia, diarrhoea and dysentery, hysteria, asthma, neuralgia, stomachic,

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Cultivated] Centella asiatica (L.) Urban (Umbelliferae)

N: Ghod tapre L: Unlip B:Batukay Chachang

20

Cinnamomum tamala (Hamitton) Nees (Lauraceae)

N: Tej pata L: Adum Lope

21

Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. (Cuscutaceae)

N: Akasbeli L: Taklyang byuk

19

22

23

Curcuma longa L. (Zingiberaceae)

Cynadon dactylon (L.) Pers. (Gramineae)

Throughout subHimalayan, foot hills and plains of W.B. Suruk-Samthar, Algarah, Sansay bhalukhop Suruk, Seokbir khani, Teesta Valley

Perennial Herb [Abundant in wild]

Leaves or whole plant parts

astringent, hypertension, diabetic, indigestion Pneumonia, throat pain, tonsillitis and memory improvement, piles, heart troubles, leprosy

Perennial Tree [Frequent]

Bark

Intestinal disorder

Parasitic Herb [Sparse]

Whole plant parts

Jaundice, rheumatism and itching

Throughout subHimalayan and foot hills of W.B.

Biannual Herb [Common in cultivation]

Rhizome

Pneumonia, cough and skin diseases, blood diseases, urinary disorders, leucoderma, laxative, dropsy, hysteria, smallpox

N: Dubo L: Pong Muk

Throughout Darjeeling Hills

Perennial Herb [Abundant in wild]

Shoot and leaves

Nose bleeding, cut and wounds, Diarrhea, dysentery and urino-genital disorder

N: Kalo Dhaturo L: Klahaw book

Samalbong, Sindebong, RelliPala, Kalijhora.


Charkholay, Kalimpong, Bhalukhop, Suruk. Kagay, Takdah, Pedong,

Perennial Herb [Abundant in wild] Perennial Herb

N: Hardi L: Manga

24

Datura metel L. (Solanaceae)

25

Drymaria cordata Wild. ex Roem & Schutt. (Caryophylacea)

N: Abijalo

26

Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. (Compositae)

N: Bringaraj L: Saku muk

Leaves and seeds

Skin diseases, pyorrhea, Hydrophobia, rheumatic swelling and acute pain

Whole plant parts

Cold, high fever and influenza

Leaves and roots

Skin diseases, elephantiasis, headache, cough, respiratory


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27

Emblica officinalis Gaertn. (Euphorbiaceae)

N: Rukh amala L: Saku Pote

28

Equisetum debile Roxb. ex Vaucher (Equisetoceae)

N: Kurkury jhar L: Mungu Takchong B:Chokhilimma

29

Heracleum wallichii DC. (Umbelliferae)

N: Chimphing L: Shyambone B: Chimbhi

30

Imperata cylíndrica (L.) Reauselel (Poaceae)

N: Siru/Khar L: Nyong B: Langwa

31

Kaempferia rotunda L. (Zingiberaceae)

N: Bhuichampa L: Ribirik

32

Kalanchoe spathulata DC. (Crassulacea)

N: Hathi Kane L: Tyangmung

33

Leea robusta Roxb. (Vitaceae)

N: Galeni L: Punthum

34

Mentha viridis (Tourn) L. (Labiatae)

N: Padina L: Syumane

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Mungpoo, Sevoke, Rambi

[Sparse]

Ratay-Makum, Sukbir khani, Relli-Pala busty.

Tree [Sparse in wild]

Fresh and Dried fruit

Perennial Herb [Frequent]

Whole plant parts

SinjeeSamalbong, Kagay and Lingsay busty Manaybhanjang Gairibas, Tonglu, Kalpokhari and Lava forest Throughout Darjeeling Hills Samthar, Sinjee, Mungpoo, Sunduk, Peshok, Mirik Mahakal Dara, Sindebong, Takdah, Gumbadara Pudung, Seokbir Khani, Samalbong, Suntalay Rambi, Suruk, Sinjee

diseases of children Indigestion, vomiting, constipation, high fever, eye diseases, diarrhoea, dysentery and vomiting Kidney and urinary disorder, wounds and ulcer, nose bleeding

Annual Herb [Sparse in wild]

Seeds

Nausea, cough and colds, influenza and bodyache

Perennial Herb [Abundant]

Roots and young leaves

Intestinal worms in case of childrens, anti cancer, lungs problems, antiviral, jaundice, kidney problems

Annual Herb [Frequent]

Rhizome

Bone fracture, gout and rheumatism

Stem and Perennial herb leaf [Sparse]

Burns and skin diseases

Annual Shrub [Frequent]

Diarrhoea and wounds of cattle

Biannual Herb [Sparse]

Roots

Roots and


Diarrhoea and fever

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Leaves N: Buhari jhar, Lahawati L: Nyom Muk

Kalimpong, Relli forest, Suruk, Deorali (Kalimpong)

36

Mussaenda treutleri Stapf. (Rubiaceae)

N: Sitalu L: Tamabba

Peshok, Mangmaya, Peshok, Kafer,

37

Ocimum sanctum L. (Labiatae)

N: Tulasi L: Reep

38

Oxalis corniculata L. (Oxalidaceae)

39

Paederia foetida L. (Rubiaceae)

N: Biri lahara L: Takpaed Rik B:

40

Physalis peruviana L. (Solanaceae)

N: Aankha tarue L: Aamk satboo

41

Plantago erosa Wall. (Plantaginaceae)

N: Jebre jhar L: Aali Muk

42

Plumbago zeylanica L. (Plumbaginaceae)

N: Chitu L: Rangkeen

35

Mimosa pudica L. (Mimosoideae)

N: Chariamilo L: Afu Shyot Muk

Pedong, Takdah, St. Marry’s hill, Mangwa, Teesta valley, Algarah Dungra Busty, Algarah, Mirik Throughout the Sub-Himalayan Regions of Darjeeling Hills Sepkhola, Relli forest, Kumsi forest, Teesta river sides Mungpoo, Tindharey, Jholung Kalimpong 8th Mile, Durpin Hill, St. Marry’s hill Kalimpong 12th Mile, Algarah, Suruk, Pedong,

Annual Herb [Frequent] Perennial shrub [Common in wild] Perennial Herb [Sparse in cultivation]

Leaves, roots and seeds Roots and shoots

Wounds, boils, swelling and hypertension, leucoderma, fatigue, asthma, jaundice, ulcer, and piles Jaundice, burning urination, cough & cold

Young shoots, Leaves, Roots

Tonsillitis, gastritis, abdominal ulcer and skin diseases

Perennial Herb [Frequent in wild]

Freshly collected leaves

Ophthalmic infections, dysentery and stomach disorders, skin diseases, appetite

Perennial Herb [Common]

Roots, leaves, fruits

Heart trouble, abdominal palpitation, toothache, diarrhea and dysentery, eye diseases, laxative

Leaf

Fever, pneumonia, intestinal worms, urinary trouble

Roots and leaves

Amoebic dysentery, tonsillitis and fever, toothache, rheumatism, stimulant, tonic

Roots (both fresh and dry)

Bone fracture, food poisoning and gastritis, leprosy, paralysis

Perennial Herb [Sparse] Perennial Herb [Frequent] Pereannual Herb [Sparse]


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43

44

Rhus chinensis Miller (Anacardiaceae) Rubia manjith Roxb. ex Fleming (Rubiaceae)

N: Bhakimlo L: Tanghill Pote B: Mahada N: Majeeto L: Wing B: Sungto

45

Rubus calycinus D. Don (Rosaceae)

N: Bhalae Aiselu L: Kasym B: Wäishi

46

Solanum nigrum L. (Solanaceae)

N: Jangali bihin L: Sahore pote

47

Swertia chirayita (Roxb. ex Fleming) Karsten (Gentianaceae)

N: Chirouto L: Aaatim lope B: Khakläckwa

48

Tagetes patula L. (Asteraceae)

N: Saipatri L: Hik ti rip

49 50

Taxus baccata L. (Taxaeceae) Terminalia bellirica (Gaertra) Roxb. (Combretacea)

N: Dhangray salla N: Barra L: Katnome pote

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Takdah Suruk, Pudung, Teesta, 7th Mile Kalimpong, Chetrey Dello Hill, Kalimpong, Manaybhanjang, Rammam. Hill Top, Kolbeong, Nokdara, Algarah Siliguri-Sevoke, Darjeeling, Kalimpong Lava, Rachela, Rammam, Gorkhey Sevoke, Rambi, Kambal, Algarah, Kagay, Kafer Rachela, Rammam Kumsi forest, Relli, Sevoke, Kalijhora.

Tree [Frequent]

Mature Seeds

Gastritis, dysentery, indigestion, colic, swelling, wounds, paralysis

Annual Herb [Sparse]

Root and whole plant parts

Jaundice, curing boils, menstrual disorder

Perennial Shrub [Sparse]

Fresh Roots

Tonsillitis

Annual Herb [Frequent] Biannual Herb [Rare]

Leaf, berries

Fevers, diarrhoea and heart diseases

Whole plant parts

Fever, intestinal worm, appetite and skin diseases

Flowers

Pneumonia, anorexia and throat pain, piles, ulcers, boils

Arils and leaves

Breast cancer and expectorant

Perennial tree [Sparse]

Fruits

Piles, diarrhoea and fever.

Fruits (both fresh and Cough and tonsillitis dry)

Biannual Herb [Common in cultivation] Perennial tree [Rare]

51

Terminalia chebula Retzius (Combretaceae)

N: Harra L: Salim pote

Samalbong, Kalijhora, Najoke,

Tree [Sparse]

52

Thysanolaena latifolia (Roxb. ex Hornem) Honda (Graminae)

N: Amliso L: Pishore B: Sallay

Rambi forest, Soreng, Gorubathan

Perennial herb Fresh roots [Common]


Abortion and boils

133


53

Urtica dioica L. (Urticaceae)

N: Sisnu L: Kujhu B: Choko

54

Viscum articulatum L. (Loranthaceae)

N: Harchur L: Mone

Woodfordia fruticosa (L.) Kurz. (Lythraceae)

N: Dhangero

Zanthoxylum acanthopodium DC. (Rutaceae)

N: Bokay timbur L: Naru pote B: Khâkcħanğ

Zingiber officinale Rosc. (Zingiberaceae)

N: Adua L: Hing B: Baychuk

55

56

57

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Lava, Charkhol forest, Sukiapokhari, Jorebangla

Perennial Shrub [Frequent]

Lava, Rachela forest areas

Parasitic Shrub [Endangered]

Sevoke, Pudung, Relli, Kumsi forest

Perennial Shrub [Sparse]

Sirikhola, Darjeeling, Bong busty, Samalbong, Pudung Mangzing, Pedong, Samalbong, Soreng, Makum

Inflorescen ce, young Shoots and leaves Whole plant parts

Hypertension, gout, urine bleeding and appetizer.

Sprains and fractures

Flowers (both fresh and dry)

Dysentery, internal hemorrhage and wounds

Small tree [Rare]

Fruits and Seeds

Stomach disorders and cholera, toothache, anthelmintic, carminative, mouth freshener


Rhizome

Throat pain, voice harshness and cough and cold.

Abbreviation used: N: Nepali; L: Lepcha; B: Bantawa (language of Khambus/ Rais)

Source of support: Nil, Conflict of interest: None Declared


134