Abstract

A STUDY OF FOLK MEDICINAL PRACTICES IN DEBASHUR VILLAGE, GOPALGANJ DISTRICT, BANGLADESH

Nupur Mondol, Samiun Alam Patwary, Meem Mustarin Shandhi, Tania Khatun, Khoshnur Jannat and Mohammed Rahmatullah*

Abstract

Background. Among the various health professionals of Bangladesh, folk medicinal practitioners possibly form the most numerous group using various forms of therapy to cure diseases. In a few words, a folk medicine practitioner (FMP) is usually a common person who practices medicine without any acknowledged degree in medicinal practice. What is an important feature of FMPs is that diverse methods but all of which for the most part use plants are used by them for treatment. These phytotherapeutic practices can form, if properly documented, a vast repository of knowledge of plant-based medicines. Methods. The objective of the present study was to document the phytotherapeutic practices of a FMP in Debashur village, Gopalganj district, Bangladesh. Interviews were carried out with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire. Results. The FMP was found to use 17 plants distributed into 15 families for treatment of diverse diseases like helminthiasis, gastrointestinal disorders, bone fracture, pain, wounds, skin infections, leucorrhea, typhoid, malaria, and cholera. Conclusion. The plants used by the FMP are important towards discovery of new drugs, which is more desirable in recent times considering that new drugs are needed to combat drug-resistant vectors causing diseases like malaria and typhoid.

Keywords: Folk medicine, medicinal plants, Debashur, Gopalganj, Bangladesh.