Traditional uses of medicinal plants among the rural communities of Churu district in the Thar Desert, India Parveen ∗ , B. Upadhyay, Shikha Roy, Ashwani Kumar 1 Department of Botany, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur 302004, India Abstract The traditional uses of medicinal plants in healthcare practices are providing clues to new areas of research; hence its importance is now well recognized. However, information on the uses of indigenous plants for medicine is not well documented from many rural areas of Rajasthan including Churu district. The study aimed to look into the diversity of plant resources that are used by local people for curing various ailments. Questionnaire surveys, participatory observations and field visits were planned to elicit information on the uses of various plants. It was found that 68 plant species are commonly used by the local people for curing various diseases. In most of the cases (31%) leaves were used. The interviewees mentioned 188 plant usages. Those most frequently reported had therapeutic value for treating fever, rheumatism, diarrhea, asthma and piles. The knowledge about the total number of medicinal plants available in that area and used by the interviewees was positively correlated with people’s age, indicating that this ancient knowledge tends to disappear in the younger generation. Keywords: Tradational uses; Ethanobotanical survey; Churu; Thar Desert 1. Introduction Out of the total 4,20,000 flowering plants reported from the world (Govaerts, 2001) more than 50,000 are used for medicinal purposes (Schippmann et al., 2002). In India, more than 43% of the total flowering plants are reported to be of medicinal impor- tance (Pushpangadan, 1995). Utilization of plants for medicinal purposes in India has been documented long back in ancient literature (Tulsidas, 1631: Samvat; Charak, Drdhbala, 1996). However, organized studies in this direction were initiated in 1956 (Rao, 1996) and off late such studies are gaining recogni- tion and popularity due to fading of traditional knowledge and reducing plant population. Right from its beginning, the documentation of traditional knowledge especially on the medicinal uses of plants, has pro- vided many important drugs of the modern day (Anon., 1994; Cox and Ballick, 1994; Fabricant and Farnsworth, 2001). Even today this area holds much more hidden treasure, as almost 80% ∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +919414057484. E-mail address: Parveen [email protected]( Parveen). 1 Address: 2-Kha-14, Jawaharnagar, Jaipur, India. of the human population in developing countries is dependent on plant resources for healthcare (Farnsworth et al., 1985). In the rural areas of Churu, plants are the major source of local medicine for their well being. Information on folk medicinal uses of the plants has recently become of renewed interest in search for new therapeutic agent. A vast knowledge on medicinal plants exists as oral among the folklore and primitive societies of India, where a large number of potent medicinal herbs are found growing wild. Although, a great amount of ethnobotanical research work has been undertaken in various pockets of tribal and rural population scattered throughout the country, there is still much to be discovered. Ethnobotanical explorations play vital role in bringing to light information about such plant species from our rich flora that can be source of safer and cheaper potent drugs for the benefit of mankind. In country like India, according to reasonable estimates, 70 percent inhabitants still rely on herbs (Singh and Gautam, 1997). Nation witnesses 2500 species of plants from about 1000 genera which are used by traditional healers (Chandel et al., 1996). Ethnobotanical studies of different areas of Rajasthan state has been carried out by many workers of this field (Singh and Pandey, 1980, 1983, 1998; Joshi, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995; Mishra and Kumar, 2000; Trivedi and Nargas, 2000; Sharma, 2002a,b; Trivedi, 2002)
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Traditional uses of medicinal plants among the rural communitiesof Churu district in the Thar Desert, India
Parveen ∗, B. Upadhyay, Shikha Roy, Ashwani Kumar 1
Department of Botany, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur 302004, India
bstract
The traditional uses of medicinal plants in healthcare practices are providing clues to new areas of research; hence its importance is now wellecognized. However, information on the uses of indigenous plants for medicine is not well documented from many rural areas of Rajasthanncluding Churu district. The study aimed to look into the diversity of plant resources that are used by local people for curing various ailments.uestionnaire surveys, participatory observations and field visits were planned to elicit information on the uses of various plants. It was found that8 plant species are commonly used by the local people for curing various diseases. In most of the cases (31%) leaves were used. The interviewees
entioned 188 plant usages. Those most frequently reported had therapeutic value for treating fever, rheumatism, diarrhea, asthma and piles. The
nowledge about the total number of medicinal plants available in that area and used by the interviewees was positively correlated with people’sge, indicating that this ancient knowledge tends to disappear in the younger generation.
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eywords: Tradational uses; Ethanobotanical survey; Churu; Thar Desert
. Introduction
Out of the total 4,20,000 flowering plants reported from theorld (Govaerts, 2001) more than 50,000 are used for medicinalurposes (Schippmann et al., 2002). In India, more than 43% ofhe total flowering plants are reported to be of medicinal impor-ance (Pushpangadan, 1995). Utilization of plants for medicinalurposes in India has been documented long back in ancientiterature (Tulsidas, 1631: Samvat; Charak, Drdhbala, 1996).owever, organized studies in this direction were initiated in956 (Rao, 1996) and off late such studies are gaining recogni-ion and popularity due to fading of traditional knowledge andeducing plant population.
Right from its beginning, the documentation of traditionalnowledge especially on the medicinal uses of plants, has pro-
ided many important drugs of the modern day (Anon., 1994;ox and Ballick, 1994; Fabricant and Farnsworth, 2001). Even
oday this area holds much more hidden treasure, as almost 80%
f the human population in developing countries is dependentn plant resources for healthcare (Farnsworth et al., 1985). Inhe rural areas of Churu, plants are the major source of local
edicine for their well being. Information on folk medicinalses of the plants has recently become of renewed interest inearch for new therapeutic agent. A vast knowledge on medicinallants exists as oral among the folklore and primitive societiesf India, where a large number of potent medicinal herbs areound growing wild. Although, a great amount of ethnobotanicalesearch work has been undertaken in various pockets of tribalnd rural population scattered throughout the country, theres still much to be discovered. Ethnobotanical explorationslay vital role in bringing to light information about such plantpecies from our rich flora that can be source of safer andheaper potent drugs for the benefit of mankind. In country likendia, according to reasonable estimates, 70 percent inhabitantstill rely on herbs (Singh and Gautam, 1997). Nation witnesses500 species of plants from about 1000 genera which are usedy traditional healers (Chandel et al., 1996). Ethnobotanical
tudies of different areas of Rajasthan state has been carried outy many workers of this field (Singh and Pandey, 1980, 1983,998; Joshi, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995; Mishra and Kumar, 2000;rivedi and Nargas, 2000; Sharma, 2002a,b; Trivedi, 2002)
owever, information on the uses of plants as traditionaledicines has not been documented from different sectors of
he district.Keeping this in view, the present study was initiated, with
n aim to document the knowledge of rural people and folkloren the utilization of medicinal plants in remote areas of Churuistrict.
.1. Study site
Churu district is situated in the middle portion of the North-ast of Rajasthan between 27◦24′N to 29◦00′N latitude and3◦51′E to 75◦41′E longitude, occupying an area of about3,858 km2 (Fig. 1). The district is a part of the Thar Desert inndia, situated 400 m above the sea level. The district is wellnown for huge diurnal and seasonal temperature variationsrom −3 ◦C in winters to 50 ◦C in summers with shifting sandunes, erratic and scanty rainfall, and high wind velocity, havinghorny and poor vegetation. The sandy soil and bright sunlightre the two important natural resources abundantly available inhis region which are responsible for the development of theesert vegetation having variable medicinal properties. Gener-lly the folk people are well acquainted with these medicinalroperties (Jain, 1991; Kaushik and Dhiman, 2000).
. Methodology
.1. Surveys
In order to document the utilization of indigenous medicinallants, survey was carried out during the year, 2005 in the remotereas of Churu district in the Thar Desert, India. The survey was
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owing the study area.
pread across the seasons so as to get maximum information.he information on medicinal uses of the indigenous plants haveeen described after gathering informations from general localeople, experienced aged rural folk, traditional herbal medicineractitioners and local herbal drug sellers and concluded themy consulting literature. A total of 300 inhabitants were inter-iewed. The randomly selected 186 men and 114 women ofifferent ages from about 25 years and above (x = 57.92) werenterviewed in local language, i.e. Shekhawati. In addition directlant observation and identification was done with the help ofocal healers known as ‘gunis’. A structured questionnaire wassed to elicit information from the resource persons using stan-ard methods (Martin, 1995). Information on local name of thelant, plant parts used for curing disease their recipes and modef administration were recorded. Plants collected during the sur-eys were identified with the help of published regional floraBhandari, 1990; Shetty and Singh, 1993; Sharma, 2002a,b)nd by comparing voucher specimens with identified herbariumollections in the herbarium, Department of Botany, Universityf Rajasthan, Jaipur, India which is Internationally recognizederbarium known by acronym RUBL. From the collected datalist of plants of different families with their traditional uses,
lant part used, their recipes and mode of administration is pre-ared in alphabetical order of families and name of the plants infamily (Table 1).
.2. Use frequency
The use frequency per species was estimated by calculatinghe proportion of plants cited and utilized in relation to the totalumber of interviewees.
Table 1Inventory of local knowledge regarding medicinal plants of Churu district in the Thar Desert, India
Family name Plant name (localname are given inparenthesis)
Part used Disease cured by theplant
Mode of administration Usea (%) Statusb Abundancec
Acyranthaceae Achyranthrus asperaLinn. (Lathjira)
Root Cough A pinch of root powder incombination with pepper andhoney is given in cough
11 W 4
Haemorrhoids Powdered roots mixed withhoney are given internally
Amaranthaceae Aerva tomentosaForssk (Bui, Buida)
Flowers, seeds Headache,rheumatism
Woolly seeds stuffed in pillowsrelieve headache and protectiveagainst rheumatism
15 W 3
Swellings Decoction of flowers and seedsapplied externally againstswellings
Amaranthus spinosusL. (Kateli)
Whole plant, roots Boils Root paste is applied externallyon boils
21 W 4
Toothache Decoction of herb is used formouth wash for toothache
Snake bite Drinking of root extract with thesame of Convolvulus trupethumhelps one to overcome the effectsof poisons of snake and insects
Piles A piece (2 cm) of root in blackthread is tied on left arm of apregnant to cure piles
The tubers are administered asfollows: tubers are washed andcut into slices and dried and thangiven in does of 180 gains beatenup with an equal quantity ofsugar in a glass of milk until itforms thick mucilage
8 W 2
Apocynaceae Carissa congesta L.(Karaunda)
Roots Rheumatism The roots in combination withother roots are used inrheumatism
4 W 2
Nerium indicum Mill.(Kaner)
Leaves roots Chancre, ulcers andleprosy
The roots are made into a pastewith water and are appliedexternally
18 W 3
Piles A paste of roots is appliedexternally on piles
Ring worm and otherskin diseases
The paste of its leaves with oil ofits root bark is used
Termination ofpregnancy
The roots is used for procuringabortion both by local applicationand internal administration
Fruits, seeds Typhus fever The juice of the fruit is given asan antiseptic in typhus fever
18 C 4
Intestinalinflammation
An emulsion of the seeds is madeinto a poultice with the poundedleaves and applied hot in cases ofintestinal inflammation
Cucumis melo (Roxb.)Duthie and Fuller
Fruits, seeds Chronic eczema The whole fruit is eaten daily 9 C 4
(Kharbuja) Tympanitis Bruised seeds are applied aspoultice in cases of tympanitis inchildren
Cucumis sativus L. Fruits, seeds,leaves
Throat affections The leaves boiled and mixed withcummin seeds, roasted andpowdered, are administered
7 C 2
(Khira) Pitta, general debility The fruits and seeds are usedLagenaria siceraria(Mal.) Standley(Kashiphal)
Leaves, seedsroots
Jaundice A decoction of leaves mixed withsugar is given
3 C 2
Rheumatism Seed oil is usedHeadache The paste of roots in water is
applied externallyConstipation The tender shoots are eaten as
vegetable in constipationLuffa acutangula(Linn) Roxb.(Kalitori)
Leaves roots Granularconjunctivities.
The juice of fresh leaves isdropped into eyes
13 C 2
Splenitis,haemorrhoids, pilesand leprosy
The pounded leaves are appliedlocally
Gonorrhoea The root with equal parts of rootof Hibiscus rosa-sinensis andHemisdesmus indicus is givenwith milk, cummin and sugar
Luffa aegyptica Mill.(Ghiatori)
Seeds, fruits Piles The fruits are cooked with thewhole plant of Raphanus sativuswithout salt and oil and are eatenwith curd thrice a day for 3–7days to cure piles
16 C 2
Skin diseases The oil obtained from its seeds isused
Momordica charantiaLinn. (Karela)
Whole plant,leaves, fruits, roots
Scabies and othercutaneous diseases
The whole plant combined withcinnamon, long pepper, rice andthe oil of Hyrocarpus wightianais employed externally
37 C 2
Night blindness The leaf juice is externallyapplied round the eyes
To reduce blood sugar One spoonful of fruit paste inwater is taken internally
Piles A paste of the roots is appliedexternally over piles
Euphorbiaceae Acalypha indica(Kuppi, Kokli)
Leaves Scabies The decoction of leaves mixedwith common salt is applied toscabies
7 W 3
Emblica officinalisGaertn. (Amala)
Leaves, fruits,bark, seeds
Chronic dysentery The infusion of leaves mixedwith fenugreek seeds is given
38 W 2
Bacillary dysentery A ‘sherbat’ prepared from thefruits with lemon juice is taken
Gonorrhoea The juice of the bark combinedwith honey and turmeric is used
Table 1 (Continued )
Family name Plant name (localname are given inparenthesis)
Part used Disease cured by theplant
Mode of administration Usea (%) Statusb Abundancec
Leucorrhoea The powder of seeds taken twicea day for a week to cureleucorrhoea
To stop nose bleeding Seeds fried in ghee and ground in‘conjee’ are applied as ‘lep’ to theforehead to stop nose bleeding
Eubhorbia hirta Linn.(Dhudhi)
Whole plant,leaves
Leucorrhoea About 20 leaves are crushed andthe extract is given orally withhoney once a day in the morning
24 W 2
Cough, asthma The drug is administered in theform of liquid extract of tincturewith labelia or senega in thetreatment of coughs and asthma
Dysentery, colic The juice of plant is usedJatropha curcas(Ratanjot)
Leaves To promote lactation The leaves locally applied to thebreasts
6 W 2
Gum boils The sticks of this plant are usedas tooth brushes to strengthen thegum and to cure gum boils
Jatropha gossipifolia(Ratanjot)
Leaves Guinea worm Leaves are tied locally intreatment of guinea worm
3 W 3
Phyllanthus niruriSensu Hook. f.(Bhuian anvala)
Leaves, latex Skin affections,swelling and ulcers
Leaves mixed with salt appliedlocally to skin affections,swelling and ulcers in the form ofpoultice. The latex is beneficial inindolent ulcer
9 W 3
Chronic dysentery Infusion of young tender leaves isgiven
Ricinus communisLinn (Erand)
Leaves seeds Boil and carbuncle The leaves are tied on the boil andthe carbuncle in order to burst it
26 W 4
Rheumatism The seed paste as a poultice isapplied on sores and gout orrheumatic swellings
Stomach-ache Infusion of the leaves is used
Fabaceae Acacia nilotica Delile(Kikar)
Bark tenderleaves, pods
Ulcer Powder of bark is appliedexternally in ulcers
Roots Dysentery A decoction of its roots is givenin dysentery
19 W 3
Leucorrhoea Roots pasted in rice water aregiven for three days inleucorrhoea
Wounds Ash of the roots along withmustard oil is applied on wounds
Rhamnaceae Zizyphus nummularia(Brum. f.) Wt. et Arn.(Ber)
Root, leaves, bark Gout and rheumatism The juice of the root bark isapplied externally
28 W 4
Fever The decoction of the root is givenin fever
Wounds and ulcers The root powder is applied to oldwounds and ulcers
Diarrhea The powder of the stem bark isused
Abscess, boils andcarbundes
A paste of the leaves and twigs inapplied externally
Salvadoraceae Salvadora persica L.(Pilu)
Leaves Rheumatism The leaves heated and tied up inthin cotton cloth are applied inrheumatism
9 W 4
Table 1 (Continued )
Family name Plant name (localname are given inparenthesis)
Part used Disease cured by theplant
Mode of administration Usea (%) Statusb Abundancec
scurvy The juice of leaves is given inscurvy
Solanaceae Datura stramoniumLinn. (Dhatura)
Fruits, leaves Spasmodic asthma The smoking of the dried leavesand stem in a pipe is foundsuccessful in relieving spasmodicasthma and kindered affections
28 W 2
Inflammation ofbreast
A paste of its fruits with turmericis used
Rheumatism,lumbago, painfultumours, glandularinflammations such asmumps
The local application of daturaleaves proves most serviceable inrelieving pain when applied inthe form of poultice
Solanum indicumAuct. non Linn.(Baigan Kateli)
Seeds Dysuria The decoction of the seeds giventwice daily
28 W 2
Toothache The vapour of the burning seedsrelieves toothache
Solanum nigrum Linn.(Makoi)
Roots To enhance fertility The roots with small amount ofsugar are boiled in water and aregiven to women to enhancingfertility
4 W 2
Withania somniferaDunal (Ashgandh)
Root Spermatorrhoea anddebility
The powder of the root is givendaily with sugar, honey and longpepper in the doses of 1.7 g daily
37 W 2
Scrofula andconsumption
A decoction of the root is usedwith long pepper, ghee and honey
To stop habitualmiscarriage
A decoction of its root with blackpepper and alligator pepper is aneffective remedy for toning upthe uterus of women whohabitually miscarry
Verbinaceae Clendendrumphlomidis Vent. (Arni)
Leaves, root Syphilis The leaf juice is given in syphilis 14 W 3
Measles andgonorrhoe
The decoction of the roots isgiven as bitter tonic for childrenduring convalescenece frommeasles and given in gonorrhoea
Lantana camara L.Moldenke (Gendi)
Leaves Rheumatism A decoction of the leaves isapplied
4 W 2
Tetanus About half cup of plant decoctionwith a little quantity of ‘kalanamak’ is taken twice a day tillrelief
The healing ofwounds and fistula
The bruised leaves are used topromote healing of wounds andin fistula
Zygophyllaceae Peganum harmala(Harmal)
Seeds Asthma, colic andjaundice
The powder of seeds is a goodanodyne and the watery infusionis similarly useful
8 W 2
Tribulus terrestrisLinn. (Gokhuru)
Whole plant,fruits, stem
Gleet,spermatorrhoea,impotence
The dry fruits are powdered andare given in doses of 18 g withsugar and black pepper
25 W 4
Gonorrhoea The infusion of the stem is usedGravels, gout andkidney diseases
A decoction of the plant is used
a Use (%) refers to percentage of people that use the plant in relation to total interviewees.b Status refers to w: wild; c: cultivated plant.c Abundance—1: rare, 2: common, 3: fairly common, 4: abundant.
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.3. Plant categorization
Plants were classified in the categories of wild or cultivatednd also classified into different types of growth forms (herbs,hrubs and trees).
.4. Abundance of the plant species
Abundance is the number of individuals of any species perampling unit. Depending upon the number of plants, abun-ance is divided in four arbitrary groups. The groups are—rare,ommon, fairly common and abundant.
.5. Knowledge about plants and their uses
The Spearman rank correlation was used to analyze thenowledge about medicinal plant and its correlation with agef survey samples (P < 0.005).
. Results
The study reveals that more than 80% of the rural peopleepend for their primary healthcare on folk medicine, mainlyf plant origin. According to survey, the people of Churu dis-rict used 68 different plant species belonging to 32 families foruring various ailments, out of which 28 were herbs, 16 shrubs,3 trees and 11 climbers and twinners. The study has broughto light some 188 folk recipes, used currently by the traditionalealers of various cultures in Churu district of Rajasthan for cur-ng or alleviating different diseases and ill conditions. In most ofhe case (31%), leaves were used for curing ailments followedy roots, seeds and whole plant (Fig. 2). Flowers, gum and latexere the least used plant parts. The usual methods of applica-
ions are as decoction, paste and powder. These are administered
nternally (57%) or applied externally (43%). Most of the recipes70%) include only one plant, however many preparations arehe combination of several herbs. The information on scientificame, local name of the plant, family of the plant, plant part
tseg
Fig. 3. Number of plants used fo
Fig. 2. Pie diagram showing plant parts used for medicines.
sed to cure and mode of administration has been provided inable 1.
These plants were used for curing a total of 78 diseases rang-ng from simple stomach-ache to highly complicated male andemale urinogenital disorders. Even jaundice and kidney stonesere treated by them. Maximum number of plants was used
or curing fever and rheumatism followed by piles, diarrhea andysentery, asthma and ulcer (Fig. 3). It was also found that differ-nt parts of a single plant may be used for curing many ailments,or example Citrullus colocynthis, a creaper which is used foruring leucoderma rheumatism, paronychia, amenorrhoea andonstipation. Similarly, Zizyphus nummularia, a shrub roots,eaves and bark are used for treating different ailments (Table 1).
During the survey, it was observed that a more number oflants are used for curing female urinogenital problems com-ared to males. It was also found that people were hesitant inisclosing their knowledge. It is this knowledge that provides
hem recognition in the society and hence they do not want tohare it. In many cases, it was also found that a bit of this knowl-dge has been lost during transmission in folklore from oneeneration to other. The villagers themselves said that, com-
r treating various ailments.
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ared to them their forefathers knew much more. It was alsoound that the local people are much concerned about the reduc-ion of medicinal plants in the wild. Due to recent global shiftowards herbal medicines, the pressures on the plant resourcesn nature have increased and the market is also fast expanding.
.1. Medicinal plants used verses sampling age
The knowledge about the total number of medicinal plantsvailable in that area and used by the interviewees is posi-ively correlated with their age (Spearman rank correlation test,= 0.57 and 0.51, respectively, P < 0.05). Elderly people men-
ioned and utilized more variety of medicinal plants comparedo younger generation. Similarly the women knew more about
edicinal plants and also practiced them compared to men.
. Discussion
Traditional phototherapy is an art practiced by few elderlyeople (medicine men) whose empirical knowledge is respectedy everyone in the village. They are familiar with the sign andymptoms of various common diseases and ill conditions andlaimed to cure or allay symptomatically these maladies withhe locally available plant drugs. It was emphatically noted dur-ng the survey of Churu district that these healers now representdisappearing oral tradition which is not passed on to the nexteneration, obviously because the younger generation usuallyonsider the belief in plant remedies a sort of superstition andess effective compared to modern medicine. Moreover, modern
edical facilities are now making in roads into these traditionaledicines. So, the folk faith on medicinal plants in now disap-
earing. It was therefore, considered important that this valuablenowledge regarding folk medicinal uses of plants be recordedefore these time tested uses of herbal drugs are lost forever,ecause of ever dwindling number of medicine men and indis-riminate use of plants, leading to rapid loss of many plantpecies.
Many of the plants that are used by the local people in Churuistrict find mention in ancient medicinal literature and are alsosed in different medicinal systems such as, the Ayurveda andnani. For example Citrullus colocynthis that is used by the
ocal people for curing rheumatism and leucoderma finds men-ion in Ayurveda for curing the same diseases. It is one of the
ain ingredients of ‘Narayan Churna’ and ‘Sukhvirechani vati’he ayurvedic medicines. In Unani system of medicine it issed for curing ‘kala-azar’ (Guha Bakshi et al., 2000). Simi-arly Momordica charantia, which the local people use for pilesnd blood diseases, is also used for curing asthma, ulcers andronchitis in Ayurveda. In Unani it is used for curing syphilisnd rheumatism (Kritikar and Basu, 1981).
The data recorded during this study were compared with theelated literature (Watt, 1889–1892; Kirtikar and Basu, 1935;non.,1948–1976; Nadakarni, 1954; Chopra et al., 1956, 1969;
atyavati et al., 1976; Agarwal, 1986; Jain, 1991; Asolkar etl., 1992) and also recently published reports on the traditionaledicinal uses of the plants (Sebastine and Bhandari, 1984;hekhawat and Anand, 1984; Katewa et al., 2001, 2004; Jain
A
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t al., 2005; Muthu et al., 2006). And it was found that most ofhese plants are already known for similar uses. However, theirecipes and the method of use in the majority of cases are dif-erent also the ingredients added and method of preparation areoncerned. Some additional indigenous uses for some of thesepecies have been recorded and given in the table.
The survey result that women having more knowledge aboutedicinal plants and more in use of them can be attributed to the
act that unlike men, women are hesitant to disclose their gyneco-ogical problems and therefore find treatment in the communitytself. Besides they are full time busy in household jobs as wells in farms, hence have little time to go to professional allopathicoctors. And the elderly people know more about the medicinallants and their values over younger generation because theyere more close to nature, more rigid in traditional belief and
ess influenced by magic allopathic drugs because of their longerm harmful effects.
The use of plants in medicine is booming up. Now in theeveloped countries also people are returning to nature. Use ofraditional medicine is the mainstay of primary healthcare, virtu-lly in all developing countries. The reasons for the frequent usef traditional medicine being (i) the strong association of peopleith local flora and their belief on traditional knowledge regard-
ng plants as medicine, (ii) easy availability of local medicinallants, (iii) relatively poor access to allopathic drugs and theirigh cost and (iv) lower economic profile of the rural people.
. Conclusion
It can be concluded from the study that the district has highlypecialized indigenous vegetation with varied medicinal values.his district has great potential for cultivation of these xero-hytic medicinal plants. Biodiversity in the district is under theerpetual stress of drought and unsustainable use.
The rural people of Churu district inherit a rich traditionalnowledge and documentation of this knowledge has providedovel information from the area. This will not only provideecognition of this undocumented knowledge but will also helpn conservation of such rare, gradually vanishing importantesert species. It will also provide new pharmacological dimen-ions for better health care of the human being regarding manyilments.
cknowledgement
The grant of CSIR-JRF to Ms. Parveen is gratefully acknowl-dged.
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