Ethnobotanical data documentation of Keshkal, Chhattisgarh, India

Abstract

Chhattisgarh is a medicinal plant rich state and the medicinal plants are utilized in a sustainable manner by traditional healers in the treatment of incurable diseases. Keshkal is the forest division of Kondagaon District near Kanker district. Traditional healers of this area are very active and treating human diseases effectively. But now days exploitation of the herbal plants is increased and threatening their diversity in this area. Present survey was carried out to document the traditional knowledge of healers and to save the medicinally important plants. The plants used by the four Vaidyas of Keshkal were studied, in which we found that the method of making the medicine used and the treatment of diseases was slightly different, but all had a passion for working in connection with nature. In the process of traditional healing, it was found that ache problems, diabetes, energy tonic, kidney stone, diseases related to men and women were treated more than other diseases. It was also found in the present work that the leaves and roots of 49 medicinal plants of 30 families were used more than other plant parts for medicine. Keeping in mind the knowledge privacy of traditional healers, the methods of making medicines by them have not been included in the presented publication.