Abstract

ETHNOMEDICINAL HERBS USED FOR ORAL HEALTH AND HYGIENE IN NORTHERN PART OF PARSA DISRICT, NEPAL

Shila Singh*

Abstract

The present study was conducted to document the ethnomedicinal practices followed for oral health and diseases by people of Parsa district, and to suggest that the traditional knowledge should be integrated with modern dental care practices to formulate their sustainable utilization. An ethnomedicinal survey was conducted using specific questionnaire subsequent to personal interview to collect information from traditional healers, local inhabitants, ayurvedic practitioners and old people about the use of medicinal plants in oral care practices. This study identified 33 species belonging to 29 genera and 20 families commonly used by the people of this area to maintain oral health and hygiene and as remedy for dental diseases. Out of 33 plants few plants viz. Achyranthes aspera, Terminalia chebula, Acacia Arabica, Acacia catechu, Tabernaemontana divaricata, Woodfordia fruticosa, Achyranthes bidentata and Vitex negundo are more effective plants for treating dental problems. Valuable ethnomedicinal practices are fast disappearing from rural population. New generation is ignorant of this traditional knowledge. So, measures should be taken to document them and to increase the awareness among youngsters. This study will also be useful for the pharmacologists to isolate the active principles of these plants and incorporate it into the modern healthcare practices for easier and cheaper oral health treatments.

Keywords: Medicinal plants, Traditional knowledge, Oral hygiene, Oral diseases, Parsa district.