Abstract

SURVEY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS OF HARSIL VALLEY (DISTRICT UTTARKASHI) W.S.R. TO NIGHANTUS AND ETHNO-MEDICINE

Manjeet Singh Rawat*, Dr. Suresh Chaubey, Dr. Ramesh Chandra Tiwari, Dr. Gajendra Singh

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Abstract

Since prehistoric times, plants have been a fundamental resource for human survival, providing food, shelter, and medicine. Medicinal plants play a significant role in healthcare practices among tribal and rural communities. These communities possess extensive knowledge on the effective treatment of various health problems solely through the use of plant parts. This knowledge, which is passed down orally through generations, is invaluable. Therefore, an effort was made to assess the ethnomedicinal information of Plant species used by the local residents of Harsil Valley Region in the Uttarkashi District of Uttarakhand. The information presented in this paper was collected through extensive field visits in the forests, meadows, valleys and nearby villages, and interviews with local residents who possess knowledge about medicinal plants. The primary aims of this research are to document the traditional ethnomedicinal uses of these plants by local communities, and compare this knowledge with historical Ayurvedic texts. The data collection period extended from October 2022 to May 2025. A total of 63 plant species were collected during the field visit and reported to possess ethnomedicinal properties by the local dwellers. These plants are used by the community for their primary healthcare needs. The plants utilized for various purposes are listed along with their Botanical name, family, local name, and ethno-medicinal importance. This study suggests that the inhabitants of Harsil valley possess a profound traditional knowledge regarding the medicinal use of plants. Documentation of this knowledge could potentially pave the way for further pharmacological research.

Keywords: Medicinal plants, Ethno medicine, Health, Local Dwellers, Species.