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- Convenor:
-
Ambarish Mukherjee
(Burdwan University)
Send message to Convenor
- Track:
- Producing the Earth
- Location:
- Roscoe Theatre A
- Sessions:
- Thursday 8 August, -, -
Time zone: Europe/London
Short Abstract:
Different anthropogenic activities have led to depletion of valuable plant resources which are used as food, medicine & main source of livelihood for ethnic communities that constitutes major chunk of population in Eastern India and needs to be protected, restored, conserved & documented.
Long Abstract:
Human beings are dependent on plants & plant products from time immemorial as forest were their homelands. In addition, food & medicine plants are main source of livelihood & subsistence for the ethnic people, which constitutes the major chunk of population in Eastern India. This mass, also called the Forest Dependent Population, are very expert in utilizing wild plants for all sorts of needs in ways that are no longer known to urban people. Ethnic communities have their own very old traditionally established self managed health care system where crude forms of herbal drugs are used to alleviate/cure the sufferings. There are large number of wild plants being consumed by ethnic people in general and the tribes in particular to meet their dietary, therapeutic, nutritional, agricultural and various items used for their domestic needs. These plants are very rich in dietary nutrients such as proteins, carbohydrates, fats, oils, vitamins, amino-acids and minerals. Eastern India is very rich in ethnobotanical and medical anthropology. Such value based plants are depleting day by day due to various anthropogenic activities in the name of developmental projects and knowledge rich persons are being compelled to migrate from their homelands. There is an urgent need for protection, restoration, conservation of such plants and documentation of traditional knowledge of plants utilities before it is too late.
Accepted papers:
Session 1 Thursday 8 August, 2013, -Soma Chanda (BURDWAN UNIVERSITY,) Ambarish Mukherjee (Burdwan University)
Paper short abstract:
This ethnobotanical work undertaken since 2008 in different seasons in tribal dominated forested areas of Ayodhya hills in Purulia district of West Bengal State (India) documents ethnomedicinal uses of as many as 75 species of 51 angiospermic families against 56 human and four veterinary diseases.
Paper long abstract:
The present ethnobotanical work undertaken since 2008 in different seasons in tribal dominated forested areas of Ayodhya hills in Purulia district of West Bengal, documents ethnomedicinal uses of as many as 75 species of 51 angiospermic families against 56 human and four veterinary diseases. The information thus recorded during field surveys is totally based on primary sources, i.e. the knowledgeable informants and medicine men belonging to such tribes as Santhal, Munda, Bhumij, Paharia and Birhore. The scientific, family and local names of the concerned plants along with their parts used, diseases cured, mode of administration/applications, name of the tribe(s) from whom documented etc. have been inventoried. Analysis of crude drugs used in medicine preparation reveals use of 31 species of roots, 21species of stem, 29 species of leaves, four species of flowers, 11 species of fruits and 15 species of seeds. Besides these, adventitious roots of one species, whole plants of two species, rhizome of three species are also used. Furthermore, latex and gum obtained from eight species, also find medicinal use. Documentation of all these ethnomedicinal information is emphasized to be followed up by pharmacological screening and therapeutic proving for novel drug development.
Ratnesh Kumar (National Institute Of Foundry And Forge Technology, Hatia,ranchi)
Paper short abstract:
The old age traditional phytotherapy of the animals, once happened to be very cheap and popular in Jharkhand is presently fighting for it’s survival due to introduction of modern veterinary medicines & deforestation in the name of developmental projects. It needs immediate steps for its protection & continuity
Paper long abstract:
The aboriginal people of Jharkhand, particularly the schedule tribes that comprises of 27% of the total population, still depends on phytotherapy,( i.e. treatment of various diseases of animals by medicines derived from indigenous plants), for the treatment of various ailments of their animals like ox, cow,buffalo,goats, sheep, cock, hen, duck, dogs, pigs etc. The present paper illustrates the documentation of 22 plant species belonging to 18 families and applied for the treatment of 17 different diseases of various animals. The ethnic tribes of the state are well acquainted with these plants and are expertise to utilize them as drugs for veterinary purposes. The medicinal properties, method of drug preparation, dose and duration of drug application and other relevant information have been documented through direct dialogue with the local horopaths (tribal herbal medicine practitioners), and other knowledgeable persons of the area. The study reveals that leaf paste is the most common drug preparation and gastro intestinal disorders as the most common diseases followed with skin diseases.
This old age traditional method of treatment of various animal disorders is loosing its ground firstly with the inception of modern veterinary drugs and secondly due to depletion in forest area by indiscriminate cutting of trees for factories, ,new townships, erection of dams , open cast mining and finally many families engaged in this profession are facing starvation and other problems. Some steps for the protection and popularization of the old traditional phytotherapeutical methods of veterinary treatment in Jharkhand. is urgently needed. 248
Sushma Das Guru (Ranchi Womens College)
Paper short abstract:
The sacred relation of ethnical people and surrounding plants is well documented. Measures like introduction of protein rich soyabeans, mushrooms etc. in their food, Identification and standardization of therapeutic elements of the medicinal plants will enhance their health care system and nutritional status.
Paper long abstract:
In our country the life of ethnic communities is closely woven around the forest as from the pre-historic time plants are integral part of human civilization.
It is well known that the ethnic communities of Jharkhand are totally dependent on the forest for their day to day requirements. Due to their semi nomadic life and shifting of natural resources, the traditional agricultural practices are absent in their social fabric, hence they are solely dependent on forest plants for their survival. The underground roots, leaves, wild fruits, mushroom etc. are important and regular items of their food. This dietary habit has led undernourished and malnourished tribal communities.
It is suggested that to improve the nutritional status, these people should be motivated to cultivate high protein valued mushrooms, soya beans, etc. Such measures will positively improve the alarming health status in tribes and prevent high mortality.
W.H.O. has recognized about 20,000 medicinal therapeutic plants in the world of which 15 to 25% are available in India. Jharkhand has plenty of such medicinal plants in forest and are used by these ethnic communities. But as in past the exact nature of effective component has yet to be identified and standardized. The immediate task before us is to explore the valuable time-tested medicinal plants of Jharkhand. Secondly, actions like conservation of germplasm, cultivation of medicinal plants will not only generate income for them but also improve the health care system of the ethnic people.
Rameshwar Mahto (St Paul's College Ranchi)
Paper short abstract:
Ethnic tribes of Jharkhand are very expertise in consuming many wild plants of very high neutraceutical properties since past hundreds of years, which were not known by the common people of urban society. Such plants protect them from many diseases. Such plants needs protection, cultivation & popularization.
Paper long abstract:
All the thiry two ethnic tribe communities of Jharkhand are very expertise in consuming many wild plants of very high neutraceutical properties since long and such plants are still not known among the urban populace. Such plants are cheap, easily available and have high nutritional and medicinal value. Some of them are Moringa oleifera- rich in minerals & vitamins with high medicinal value, being good for blood pressure, sugar, blood purifier & heart problems;Centella asiatica- high nutrition and medicinal plant , used for various gastro-intestinal problems, spermatorrhoea, jaundice and mental disorders;Marsilea quadrifolia cures unsleepness and good for gastric and digestive disorders;Boerhaavia diffusa- for enriching haemoglobin level and heart problems; Phyllanthus amarus- controls loose motion, jaundice and lactation,Aegle marmelos- in sun stroke and gastric problems;Andrographis paniculata- in blood pressure and blood purifier;Twigs of Azadirachta indica, Pongamia pinnata, Psidium guavaja, Acacia nilotica are used as tooth brush and protects gums. These and many more such plants are consumed by ethnic tribes and are naturally being protected by many ailments/diseases/disorders,which the urban people donot get. This is due to unpopularity and fear pchycosis of the urban people. Therefore there is an urgent need for the protection, cultivation and popularization of such wild plants so that it should become common for the urban populace also. It will , thus become a source of income for the rural ethnic people by collection and cultivation and subsequently selling in the urban ares.