Traditional wound healing plants of Kasaragod district, Kerala state, India

Abstract

Folk medicine or traditional medicine is one of the natural health care systems have been practicing by all human cultures from the beginning of civilization. Biodiversity existing in each area also plays an inevitable role in the development of such healthcare practices. The organized healthcare systems like Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani etc. are developed as a result of empirical reasoning using rich biodiversity of our country. Kerala, the southern most tip of the subcontinent is also blessed with one of the most luxuriant vegetation and its diversity, its indigenous people has learned to utilize this rich biodiversity to meet the primary healthcare needs for the millennia. In the present communication authors throw light on the contribution of local health practitioners and indigenous knowledge holders in herbal medicine practice especially for wound healing. The present paper deals with 52 single plant remedies and 10 polyherbal formulations which are used by the local healers, traditional practitioners and TK holders of Kasaragod district for the treatment of various kinds of wounds. For each species botanical name, family, local name, parts used, method of preparation and dosage have been recorded.