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Folk Medicine as Practiced in Bagha Upazila of Rajshahi District, Bangladesh

Md. Hasibul Islam
Plant Taxonomy Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh

A.H.M. Mahbubur Rahman*
Plant Taxonomy Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The present paper focused on medicinal uses of plants by the local people of Bagha upazila of Rajshahi district, Bangladesh from July 2015 to October 2016. The information about medicinal uses of rural people was collected through interview. A total of 45 plant species under 44 genera and 30 families have been documented which were used for the treatment of 52 categories ailments/diseases. These medicinal plants were used by the rural people for the treatment of various diseases like anemia, asthma, blood pressure, boils, burning sensation, chicken pox, cough, constipation, diabetes, diarrhea, dysentery, eczema, fever, gonorrhea, headache, heart disease, hair disease, jaundice, leprosy, piles, skin disease, sexual weakness, stomach pain, scabies, snake bite, toothache, ulcer, wounds and others. The results of the study revealed that the local peoples had rich knowledge of medicinal plants and were using the plants for their primary healthcare.

Keywords: Folk Medicine, Medicinal Plants, Drug Discovery, Bagha, Rajshahi, Bangladesh

Location: Bagha upazila of Rajshahi district, Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-07-2015

End Date: 00-10-2016

Program Area: Development of Host and Medicinal Plants

Commodity: Medicinal Plants

Objectives:

The objective of this study was to document the medicinal practices of local people to cure important diseases in Bagha upazila of Rajshahi district, Bangladesh.

Methodology:

Study area: Bagha is an upazila of Rajshahi district in the division of Rajshahi, Bangladesh. It is located at24°11′30″N 88°50′00″E24.1917°N 88.8333°E. The climate of this area is generally tropical wet and dry climate, characterized by high temperatures, heavy monsoon, moderate rainfall and high humidity. The hot season commences early in March and continues till the middle of July. The maximum mean temperature observed is about 32 to 36 °C during the months of April, May, June and July and the minimum temperature recorded in January is about 7 to 16 °C. The highest rainfall is observed during the months of monsoon. The annual rainfall in the district is about 1,448 millimeters (BBS, 2011). Data collection: A total of seventeen field trips were made for the documentation of medico-botanical knowledge during July 2015 to October 2016. During the field interview, the information was noted in the documentation data sheet. All the information regarding plant species, biological forms, habitat, local names and uses were documented. Medicinal information was obtained through semi-structured interviews with knowledgeable people such as local Kabiraj and elderly people. A total of 97 informants having an age range 19- 68 years were interviewed using semi-structured interviewed method. Professionally they were peasant, day labor, farmer, betel leaf cultivators, house wives, medicine men, small shop keepers etc. Among them 39 were female and rest 58 were male. Regular field studies were made in the study area during the period. Plant specimens were collected with flowers and fruits and processed using standard herbarium techniques (Alexiades, 1996). Plant identification: The identification of plant specimens was achieved through the help of taxonomic experts and by comparison with the identified herbarium specimens and available literatures, i.e. Ahmad et al. (2008-2009), Hooker (1875), Prain (1903), Kirtikar and Basu (reprint, 1987), Huq (1986) and Pasha and Uddin (2013). The voucher specimens are deposited at the Herbarium, Department of Botany, Rajshahi University for future reference.

Source of Information: Plant Environ. Dev. 6(I):14-23, 2017 (January)

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The result of this information showed that these local people of Bagha Upazila of Rajshahi still depended on medicinal uses of plants for the treatment of anemia, asthma, blood pressure, burning sensation, chicken pox, cholera, cough, diarrhea, dysentery, diabetes, dog bite, eye infection, fever, gonorrhea, headache, indigestion, jaundice, leprosy, malaria, mouth ulcers, piles, paralysis, skin disease, scurvy, toothache, vomiting, wounds and many other diseases. From the result, it was revealed that the collective efforts of ethno-botanists, phyto-chemists, pharmacologists and Pharmacolognostical are needed to document and evaluate the efficacy and safety of the claims. To test the scientific validity of the herbal preparation or drugs, clinical studies are required to be conducted. This can establish the therapeutic properties of those preparations for safe and longer use. Moreover, the indigenous knowledge and uses of medicinal plants of a particular area have to be analyzed to develop appropriate management ex situ and in situ conservation measures for better utilization of natural resources.

Knowledge Management: Journal