Medicinal plants used by shepherds in Trans-Himalayan Rakchham-Chitkul Wildlife Sanctuary in Baspa Valley of Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh, India / Plantas medicinales utilizadas por los pastores en el Santuario de Vida Silvestre Rakchham-Chitkul Trans-Himalayan en el distrito de Baspa Valley of Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh, India

The present study deals with the ethnomedicines used by migratory shepherds in an Indian Trans-Himalayan area. Shepherding depends on traditional healthcare practices. A non-probabilistic sampling technic was used for the selection of the research participants; the information was collected through 8 extensive field visits. The data was analyzed by the interpretation of the interviews since a qualitative as well as quantitative perspectives. A comparison with previous studies in the area was donebased on literature research. The results of this study show that shepherds in tribal areas are highly dependent on medicinal plants, they report the use of 58 taxa to handle their main health problems. They prefer 20 taxa, to treat; coughs, asthma, colds, throat complaints, general pain, fever, dysentery, diarrhea and urinary infections, which are the main reported illnesses. Mainly they use the fresh plant juices of these taxa. Two health issues are remarkable highblood pressure and jaundice.

El presente estudio trata sobre las etnomedicinas utilizadas por los pastores migratorios en una zona india transhimalaya. El pastoreo depende de las prácticas sanitarias tradicionales. Se utilizó una técnica de muestreo no probabilístico para la selección de los participantes de la investigación; la información se recopiló a través de 8 extensas visitas de campo. Los datos fueron analizados mediante la interpretación de las entrevistas desde una perspectiva tanto cualitativa como cuantitativa. Se realizó una comparación con estudios previos en el área basada en la investigación de la literatura. Los resultados de este estudio muestran que los pastores en áreas tribales son altamente dependientes de las plantas medicinales, informan el uso de 58 taxones para manejar sus principales problemas de salud. Prefieren 20 taxones para tratar; tos, asma, resfriados, molestias de garganta, dolor general, fiebre, disentería, diarrea e infecciones urinarias, que son las principales enfermedades reportadas. Principalmente utilizan los jugos de plantas frescas de estos taxones. Dos problemas de salud son la hipertensión arterial y la ictericia.

Diversity of ethnomedicinal plants in Churdhar Wildlife Sanctuary of district Sirmour of Himachal Pradesh, India

Himachal Pradesh has a great altitudinal range (300–7,000 masl), with varied species, habitats, communities,populations, and ecosystems. There are more than 3,400 different species of plants are reported to be found inHimachal Pradesh. In the state, excess of thousand plant species identified as aromatic and medicinal appear intemperate forests, Shiwalik hills, alpine and sub-alpine pastures. Majority of the inhabitants in Himachal Pradeshbelong to different communities and cultures, with specific traditional knowledge. In the remote areas, especiallyhigh-altitude regions are contemporary medical amenities, and therefore tribal and rural society mainly depends onnative medicinal plants. Herein, we compiled 41 medicinal plant species belonging to same or different families usedby migratory shepherds in Churdhar Wildlife Sanctuary of district Sirmour in Himachal Pradesh. This survey will helpthe medicos, pharmaceutical industry for refining the public healthiness amenities, and maintenance of wild medicinalplant prosperity of the studied zone.