Diversity of Potent Ethno-Medicinal Flora for Headache from North-Tarai Forests of (U. P.) India.

ABSTRACT

An ethno-medicinal survey was undertaken in the North Tarai Forests of Uttar Pradesh for the documentation of ethno-medicinal information of plants and herbs used for the treatment of various ailments in the area by traditional healers as well as rural inhabitants. The North Tarai region of U. P. has well blessed phytodiversity in its green natural forests as well as rich ethnic and rural communities. The rural inhabitants of the area are still far from modern civilization so they are totally dependent on forests for their various needs specially for healthcare. Due to the presence of rich traditional knowledge of medicine and great faith and belief on Ayurvedic and Siddha system of medicine the rural inhabitants use herbal medication. During the ethno medicinal survey we found one hundred forty plant species in which one hundred ten plant species belonging to ninety five genera representing fifty one families were reported which were being used for the treatment of headache. The present work was undertaken for the treatment of headache. The investigation was performed by collection of medicinal plants in consultation with local healers, rural dwellers, as well as medicine venders. Questionnaire method was adopted for the documentation of ethno medicinal information. Various medicinal plant parts viz. leaves, flowers, bark, latex, seeds, rhizome, root, as well as whole plant part were being used as ethnomedicine. Mostly medicines were used externally while somewhere also being used internally. For each plant species details of scientific name, author name, family name and vernacular name as well as method and mode of medicine administration are described in the text. In conclusion the North-Tarai region of U. P. disposes great diversity of medicinal plants as well as large phytotherapeutic knowledge which are to be scientifically investigated and needed to be conserved.