Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol. 4(2), April 2005, pp. 208-220

Traditional practices of herbal medicines in the Lahaul valleys, Himachal Himalayas

Virendra Singh* & N.S.Chauhan C S K Agricultural University, Hill Agriculture Research and Extension Centre Bajaura 175 125, , Himachal Pradesh Department of Forest Products, Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry Nauni 173230, , Himachal Pradesh. E-mail: [email protected] Received 24 February 2004; revised 7 February 2005

Observations on the traditional practices of herbal medicines were recorded in the villages of Lahaul, a semi-arid region of district Lahaul-Spiti, a dry temperate region of Himachal Himalayas. The information was recorded for the habitat, plant characteristics, plant part used of 43 plant species, belonging to 25 families and diseases treated in the Lahaul valley. Key words: Traditional practices, Herbal medicine, Lahaul valley, Himachal Pradesh IPC Int. C17: A61K35178; A61PI/02; A61P1I04; A6IPIIl2; A61PI1l4; A61P3/02; A61P11I04; A61P11I06; A61P111l4; A61P13/02; A61P131l2; A61P15/02; A6IPI7/02; A6IPI9/02; A61P27/02; A61P33110 Ethnobotany is a multidisciplinary science that deals almost the same terrain, vegetation & climate. It lies with a direct relationship between man and plants. among Tibet, Ladakh, Kinnaur, Lahaul & Kulu. Ethnobotanical studies have led to the introduction of Lahaul Spiti (North latitude 31°44' 57" and 33°42'54/1 new or less known potential medicinal herbs and and East longitude 76°56'29/1 and 78°41'34/1), a dry provided materials for the pharmacological and temperate Himalayan region of Himachal Pradesh. chemical research and new data on the locations and The region is mountainous. and rugged with the inner uses of drugs 1. Organized ethnobotanical studies in Himalayas lying on the North and mid Himalayas , have received attention only during the last few lying to the South with connecting ranges in East and decades"!'. The area of the present study lies in and West except for small opening in the West through around the valleys of rivers, Chandra, Bhaga, Chenab which the passes. The rise of mountains and Mayar in the Lahaul region of district Lahaul averages about 5480 msl highest peak reaching 6400 Spiti of Himachal Pradesh state. The present m. The river Chenab starts from Baralacha pass at information on the 43 medicinal plants used by the 4891 m where the two sources of rivers Chandra and local people of Lahaul region has been collected Bhaga are about 1.6 km apart and start off in opposite during past 2 years. This information on these plants directions making Chandra and Bhaga valleys till they were compared with the available literature and only meet at Tandi (2958 m) making a common river, new uses that have not been published earlier are Chandra Bhaga or Chenab which flows down through reported. Chamba district to Kashmir (Fig. 1). Lahaul is enclosed between high mountains which Study area forms a barrier against monsoon rains.Rainfall I This is a mountainous area located between Ladakh fluctuates from 100-700 mm yr- depending on place and Tibet in the North and the Kullu valley in the to place. The region experiences heavy snowfall (200- South. Lahaul begins 51 km North of Manali right 400 cm') during winter (November-March). The after crossing the Rohtang Pass (3978 m). Lahaul temperature of headquarter of the district, Keylong comprises an area of 6097 sq km and is situated on varies from a maximum of 2rC' in July and a the western side of the district. Spiti is the sub minimum of -16°C in February. The soil of the region division of Lahaul & Spiti district with its headquarter is sandy loam and varies from few cm to about one at Kaza. It is called "Little Tibet" because it has metre. The dry conditions of the region are responsible for the occurrence of the patches of *Corresponding author Betula utilis D. Don, Abies pindro Royle, Pinus' SINGH & CHAUHAN: HERBAL MEDICINES OF THE LAHAUL VALLEY 209

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wallichina A. B. Jackson, Picea smithiana Boiss., photographs of the plants (Fig. 2-21). The Cedrus deodara Loud. and Juniperus macropoda questionnaires included the questions for local name Boiss .. Farmers have also raised plantations of Salix of the plant, habitat, plant and method of preparing daphnoides ViII., Populus nigra Linn. and Juglans the mixture, treatment and diseases treated. Most of regia Linn. Important shrubs of Lahaul are the people were reluctant to share the information on Hippophae rhamnoides Linn., Rosa webbiana Royle, methods of use or doses as they felt it would be Fraxinus xanthoxyloides Wall., Cotoneaster spp. and misused commercially; they felt it goes against their Lonicera quinqualocularis Hardw. Pea potato and interests. All the persons interviewed were well- hops are important cash crops which are cultivated by respected male and trusted for their experience and over 14,000 tribals of the region" expertise. The observations on the habitats of the plants were also taken by visiting the site of growing Methodology plants which were further confirmed from these The surveys on the traditional application of herbal traditional doctors. In the following enumeration the medicines were conducted during 1999-2002 covering medicinal plants are arranged alphabetically all five valleys i.e. Chandra, Bhaga, Pattan, Mayar according to their botanical names followed by the and Tindi valleys of Lahaul. In each valley, study was local names and family. It is followed by a brief detail carried out in three villages. With the help of village of distribution, characteristics and local medicinal uses. chief (Pardhan) persons were contacted who were well known for their expertise in the traditional Observations medicines. Generally, each village of 25-80 families 1. Aconogonum alpinum (All.) Schur. has such 3-5 persons who utilize the plants for curing (Polygonaceae) various diseases. Questionnaires prepared in Locality: (Altitude 3260 msl) language were distributed to these traditional doctors, Distributed on the river sides and irrigated who were provided the specimens along with the areas. A tall (1-2 m) herbaceous plant with 210 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL. 4, No.2, APRIL 2005

Fig. 2 -Aconogonum alpinum Schur. Fig. 3 - Anaphalis triplinervis Sims ex CB.Clarke

Fig. 4 - Anemone rivularis Buch.-Ham. ex DC. Fig. 5 - Artemisia dracunculus Linn. SINGH & CHAUHAN: HERBAL MEDICINES OF LAHAUL VALLEY 211

Fig. 6 - Berberisjaeschkeana Schneid. Fig. 7 - Caltha palustris Linn.

Fig. 8 - Chenopodium foliosum Asch. Fig. 9 - Cercium falconeri 212 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL. 4, No.2, APRIL 2005

Fig. 10 - Geranium wallichianum D. Don Fig. 11 - Heracleum lallii Norman

Fig. 12 - Meconopsis aculeate Royle Fig. 13 - Myricaria squamosa Desv. SINGH & CHAUHAN: HERBAL MEDICINES OF LAHAUL VALLEY 213

Fig. 14 -Pedicularis oederi Vahl. Fig. 15 - Phlomis bracteosa Royle ex Benth.

Fig. 16 - Plectranthus rugosus Wall. Fig. 17 - Rheum emodiWal1. ex Meissn. 214 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL. 4, No.2, APRIL 2005

Fig. 18 - Rosa foetida Herrm. Fig. 19 - Sedum ewersii Ledeb.

Fig. 20 - Taraxacum officinale Weber ex Wiggers Fig. 21 - Verbascum thapsus Linn. SINGH & CHAUHAN: HERBAL MEDICINES OF THE LAHAUL VALLEY 215

narrow lanceolate and long pointed leaves. Plant grows on grasslands cultivated area. A Flowers are white 1-2 rnrn and in clusters of slender erect herbaceous perennial with large 2-3 10-40 ern. ternate leaves and large terminal pyramidal Flowering: June-August branched cluster of tiny pinkish-white flowers. Uses: Flowers and leaves are crushed to make Flowering. July-August juice for relieving the kidney pain. Uses: Leaves and flowers are boiled in water and the extract is orally taken to treat dysentery. 2. Anaphalis triplinervis (Sims) C. B. Clarke (Asteraceae) 6. Berberis aristata DC. (Berberidaceae) Locality: Rohtang Pass (Alt 3978 m) Locality: Kukumseri (Alt 2730 m) Distributed on high altitude pasture lands Local name: Kerpameto (3100-4200 m). A dwarf plant (20-50 em) with A shrub usually 2 m in height grows in narrow lanceolate white wooly leaves of 4-8 ern cultivated areas and grasslands. It has arching size. It has solitary or few white flowers head of pale yellow branches, yellow flowers and leaves 1-1.4 em across with shinning white papery of 2.5-5 ern, which turn often red in October. spreading bracts. Stem highly thorny. Flowers of 6 rnrn size borne Flowering: June-September in clusters. Uses: Leaves and flowers are dried in sunlight Uses: An important plant for curing eye diseases and ground. The powder is taken orally to treat and other health problems. Root is crushed, boiled acidity. and the extract is used to treat lungs' problems like vomiting of blood. Fruit is used to treat 3. Anemone rivularis Buch-Harn. ex DC. dysentery. (Ranaunculaceae) Locality: Trilokinath (Alt 2790 m) 7. Caltha palustris L. (D.Don)(Ranunculaceae) Local name: Talpal Locality: Sakoli (Alt 2760 m) Growing along the water channels and Local name: Charmaphool grasslands. Plants of 20-100 em in height, silky Plant grows in open places grazing grounds pubescent herbs with basal leaves with rounded along the water channels on the slope. Plant is blade of 7-15 em, deeply 3-lobed, shallowly characterized by heart shaped leaves and terminal toothed. Flower 1.3-3 em, white. yellow shinning flowers of 2-4 ern across. Leaves Flowering: May and July are long stalked, blade 3-15 ern size and finely Uses: Whole plant is dried and made powder toothed. which is taken orally to cure asthma. Flowering: June-August Uses: Leaves and flowers are sun dried, powdered 4. Artemisia dracunculus Linn. (Asteraceae) and taken to cure cough. Locality: Gemur (Alt 3125 m) Local names: Chamarya, Pharmung 8. Chenopodium foliosum (Moench) Asch. Grows on the eastern aspect of Bhaga valley (Chenopodiaceae) along with Juniperus macropoda (2900-3300 m). Locality: Tindi (Alt 2573 m) The perennial herb of 30-70 em has anise-like A plant of 25-90 em grows in open places and odour. Leaves oblong acute green of 2.5-3.7 ern, cultivated areas. Plant is easily distinguished by Flower head globular 3 mm, short stalked forming its bright red fleshy fruit borne in dense stalk less spikes. clusters. Leaves are triangular and irregularly Uses: Seeds are eaten by horses. Leaves are made toothed and 2-5 ern in size. into paste and applied to treat wounds on the legs Flowering: June-September of animals. Also useful in treating dysentery and Uses: The whole plant is sun dried and powdered stomachache. to use for treating the urination disorders.

5. Aruncus dioicus (Walter) Fernald (Rosaceae) 9. Cerciumfalconeri (Hoon.f.) Petrak. (Asteraceae) Locality: Urgos (Alt 2890 m) Locality: Kukumseri (Alt 2730 m) Local name: Nalo Local name: Dhuwa and Kimali 216 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL 4, No.2, APRIL 2005

Grows in cultivated area and open places. A Flowering: May-September tall (0.5-1.0 m) perennial, whole plant covered Uses: Leaves and flowers are sun dried and boiled with whitish spines showing a silvery appearance. in water. The extract is used in curing the kidney Leaves liner acute with triangular toothed or pain and cleaning the hands. lobed margins with spines. Flower head globular, cream coloured 7-9 em across with several spines 13. Cotoneaster microphyllus Wallich ex Lindley of 2-3 em length. (Rosaceae) Uses: Leaves and flowers sun-dried and Locality: Kukumseri (Alt 2730 m) powdered. Powder is taken orally to cure swelling It is a prostrate shrub. White flowers, 8 mm of head due to acidity. across, solitary, Leaves 6-13 mm, ovate to elliptic, fruit scarlet. Much branched stems. 10. Codonopsis clematidea (Schrenk) C.B. Clarke Flowering: June-August (Campanulaceae) Uses: The fruits are used to regulate the Locality:Darcha (Alt. 3260 m). menstruation cycle. Plant grows on riversides and cultivated places. A perennial aromatic herbaceous plant of 30-100 14. Cynoglossum glochidiatum Wallich ex Benth em height with short leaves of 1.5-2.7 ern, bluish (Boraginaceae) white solitary, bell-shaped flower with pink or Locality: Kukumseri(Alt 2730 m) brown rings within and 1.4-2.5 ern long corolla Local name: Gava with recurved lobes. Plant grows in cultivated places and grazing Flowering: July-September lands. An erect plant with simple or branched Uses: Leaves and flowers are crushed in water stems of 20-40 ern in height. Flowers bright blue and the extract is applied to kill the lice of sheep. and 8 mm across with spreading rounded lobes. Leaves are used to cure the joints' pain. Fruit is Lower leaves lanceolate and upto 5 ern or more made into paste and applied on the abscess. and stalked. Upper leaves smaller and stalkless. 11. Colchicum luteum Baker (Liliaceae) Flowering: June-August Locality: Kukumseri (Alt. 2730 m) Uses: Leaves are made into a paste and applied to Local name: Kukum treat abscess. The small plant (10-30 em) grows In open places cultivated places and forests. Flowers 15. Delphinium cashmerianum Royle solitary or two with golden yellow, petals of 2 em (Ranunculaceae ). long, appearing from the ground with the young Locality: It grows on sloppy lands. In Chaling narrow oblong blunt leaves of 15-30 em in length. (3100 m) Corm cylindrical and covered with several brown Leaves deeply lobed, 3-5 ern across. Flowers scales. bluish-purple with a stout spur of 1.5-cm. Flowering and Fruiting:March-June Flowering: August-September Uses: Flower and corm are sun dried, powdered Uses: Leaves and flowers are crushed in the and used in treating weakness. boiling water and the extract is used to cure dysentery and fever. 12. Convolvulus arvensis Linn. Field Bindweed (Solanaceae) 16. Dipsacus inermis Wallich (Dipsacaceae) Locality: Urgos (Alt. 2850 m) Locality: Gispa (Alt 3100 m) Local name: Dhechigmendo Local name: Ghati Plant grows in open places, cultivated areas and Grows in shrub beries, open places and grasslands. Plant (1-2 m) is a slender spreading or cultivated areas. A robust perennial plant with climbing perennial with distinctive arrow shaped opposite pinnately lobed leaves and globular lanceolate leaves and broadly funnel-shaped heads of 2-3 em across, numerous cream-coloured purple flowers with white or pale yellow centers flowers borne on long leafless stalks.Leaves of Flower solitary, axillary, borne on stalks. Leaves 10-25 ern, elliptic toothed, stem angled, up to 180 2-7 ern, ovate or lanceolate with two spreading em in length. triangular basal lobes. Flowering: June-September SINGH & CHAUHAN: HERBAL MEDICINES OF THE LA HAUL VALLEY 217

Uses: Flower is pounded in to a paste with 2l. Geranium pratense L. (Geraniaceae) rapeseed oil and applied on the abscess. Locality: Kukumseri (Alt 2750 m) Plant is found in meadows and cultivated 17. Epilobium latifolium L.(Onagraceae) places. A herbaceous plant of 15-50 em length. Locality: Urgos (Alt 2900 m). Bluish purple flowers are in pairs, 2.5-4 em Local name: Chama Chung Chu across. Leaf blade 3-5 ern across, divided deep Plant grows along the water channels and stony upto base into 5-7 ovate toothed lobes. places. Pink flowers up to 5 em across with Flowering.: June-August rounded short stalked petals, leaves narrow- Uses: Roots and flowers are powdered and used elliptic, 4-8 em having stems usually to 40 em and to treat asthma and lungs pain. The paste is used spreading or straight. to blacken the hair. Flowering: July- September Uses: Flowers and leaves are pounded into a paste 22. Gnaphalium affine D. Don (Asteraceae) and applied for joint pain, abscess and to cure Locality: Sansha (Alt 2900 m) headache. Local name: Parvah The plant is a common weed in the farmers' 18. Fraxinus xanthoxyloides Wallich (Oleaceae) fields. A plant of 30 cm, flower head globular, Locality: Kukumseri (Alt. 2730 m) bright glistening yellow 3 mm across, in dense Local name: Sanjal rounded solitary or branched clusters, borne on Small tree grows on lower slopes and open erect wooly stems with wooly-haired leaves. fields (2000-2700 m) in Lahaul. Leaves with 5-11 Leaves are oblong,2-5 em, gray or white felted, small ovate-lanceolate 3-4 em long leaflets. half clasping several stems and tufted. Flowers in dense stalk less clusters. Petals absent. Flowering: April-October. Fruit in clusters of each of 3-4 ern; wood hard and Uses: Leaves are pounded into a paste and applied used in making agricultural implements. on bums. Flowering: April Uses: Bark of the main branches is removed and 23. Heracleum lallii Norman (Umbelliferae) boiled in water. The extract is used to treat Locality: Trilokinath (Alt 2780 m) stomachache in the livestock. It is also used to Local name: Rawah, Padava. treat fractured bones. Plant grows in open places, cultivated places 19. Galium verum L. (Rubiaceae) and grasslands. A perennial plant up to 2 m in Locality: Kukumseri (Alt.2730 m) height, large pinnately lobed leaves of 15-65 em Grows in cultivated areas. A herbaceous plant in size, with leaf blade upto 18 cm long and of 30-110 em height, leaves 1-2 em, 6-8 in each, leaflet of 6 em. Flowers white. Fruit oblong, whorled, leaner acute, usually hairy above. margin normally winged. Flowers yellow, 2-4 mm across, numerous in a Flowering: May-June rather dense branched terminal cluster. Uses: Flowers and leaves are pounded into a paste e Flowering: June-August and applied on forehead to cure headache. Uses: Flowers are sun dried and powdered. 24. Lespedeza gerardiana Graham ex Maxim Powder is taken orally to cure fever and cold. (Leguminosae) 20. Gentianella moororoftiana Wallich ex. G.Don Locality: Urgos (Alt 2870 m) (Gentianaceae) Local name: Nakesar. Locality: Urgos (Alt 2880 m) Plant grows in cultivated area and grasslands. Local name: Tikta A small under shrub up to 1 m with many dense Plant is found in open places and cultivated clusters of yellow flowers with purple tips areas. Leaves l.5-3 ern. Plant 5-25 em with many arranged along the stem. pale blue flowers of 3 ern. Corolla tube funnel Flowers several, petals 1-l.5 ern, calyx silky shaped. haired, leaflets oblanceolate to linear- oblong. Uses: Flowers and leaves are pounded and used in Flowering: August-October curing backache and headache. The extract is Uses: The whole plant is pounded into a paste and useful in treating fever, cough and acidity. applied on burns and abscess. 218 INDIAN J TRADITIONALKNOWLEDGE, VOL 4, No.2, APRIL 2005

25. Lonicera quinquelocularis Hardw. A plant of 25-100 ern in height with blue (Caprifoliaceae) purple flowers in dense whorls crowded into long Locality: Kukumseri (Alt 2730 m) terminal spikes of 5-10 em length.Flower of 7-11 A tall shrub, 2-3 m in height grows in mm. Leaves of 2-5 ern, stalked, ovate acute to cultivated areas, open areas and grasslands. triangular, lanceolate, coarsely saw-toothed. Leaves 3-6 ern, ovate to broadly lanceolate and Flowering: July-September with pairs of cream-coloured flowers turning Uses: Flowers are sun dried, powdered and are yellow in axillary stalk less clusters and white orally taken to treat cough and weakness. Flower translucent fruits. extract is also used to treat the eye problems. Flowering: August-October Uses: Fruits are crushed, made into a paste and 30. Oxytropis mollis Royle (Legunimosae) applied on the boils. Locality: Gemur (Alt 3175 m) Local name: Sanna Plant grows in stony places or slopes. Aerial 26. Meconopsis aculeata Royle (Papavaraceae) stems very short, flowers 10-15 mm, often purple Locality: Rohtang (Alt 3978 m) fading to blue in long stalked clusters. Leaflets Local name: Kahiharu ovate elliptic or lanceolate, 6-17 mm, silky haired. Grows in stones, meadows and high altitude Flowering and fruiting: May-June pastures. Plant up to 65 ern in height, leaves deep Uses:Leaves are pounded into a paste and applied pinnately lobed. Flowers few, light blue 5-7 ern to treat the swelling of hands and abdomen. across. Capsule ovate to oblong, 1.5 cm across, bristly and haired. 31. Pedicularis oederi Vahl (Scrophulariaceae) Flowering: June-August Locality:Gemur (Alt 3175 m) Uses: Leaves are ground into a paste and applied Plant grows along the Juniperus macropoda to treat the swelling of legs due to long walk. trees in Bhaga valley. Plant of 30-70 em in height, with pinnately cut leaves, stalked, the blade 5-10 em with numerous toothed lobes.Flowers light 27. Mentha longifolia L. (Labiatae) yellow to purple; borne in a dense oblong, cluster. Locality: Kukumseri (Alt 2730 m) Corolla tube up to twice as long as calyx, the Local name: Chrup upper lip oblong with a rounded apex and longer Plant is distributed in irrigated fields along with than the broad 3 lobed lower lip. water channels. A plant of 25-95 em highly Flowering: July-September aromatic with blue flowers in many distant whorls Uses: Leaves and flowers are sun dried, powdered in a terminal spike. Flowers 2.5 ern long. Leaves and taken orally to relieve kidney pain. Roots are oblong-lanceolate, 7-15 ern in size, obscurely also used same way to treat the pain in lungs. curved. Flowering: July-August Use: Leaves are pounded into a paste and applied 32.Phlomis bracteosa Royle ex Benth (Labiatae) on the wound. The paste is wormicide. Locality: Trilokinath (Alt 2800 m) Local name: Ghasangsan 28. Myricaria sqamosa Desv. (Tamaricareae). Plant is found in the cultivated fields and Locality: Darcha (Alt 3250 m) grasslands. Plant of 15-90 em in size with 4-9 cm Local name: Humbo,Dona long leaves, stalked, hairy, heart shaped toothed. An under shrub grows on river beds and sides. Pink flowers forming an interrupted spike. Plant up to 2 m in height, has small pink flowers Flowers crowded in to large whorl of 2.3-4.2 cm in lateral spikes of 3-5 em. Leaves 2-6 mm long across. and glaucous. Stem light brown. Flowering: July- August Fiowering: June-July Uses: Leaves and flowers are sun dried, powdered Uses: Leaves are pounded into a paste and used to and used to treat arthritis. treat the absciatic pain. 33. Plantago tibetica Hook f. (Plantaginaceae) 29. Nepata laevigata D. Don (Labiatae) Locality: Kukumseri (Alt 2730 m) Locality: Gemur (Alt 3175 m) Small plant grows in cultivated areas and Local name: Neugra meadows. Leaves ovate-Ianceolate, usually 5 SINGH & CHAUHAN: HERBAL MEDICINES OF THE LAHAUL VALLEY 219

ribbed, toothed tapering downwards in a short Grows in cultivated areas. A herbaceous plant stalk. Spike cylindrical, stamens protruding. of 1-2 m I height, with a leaf of 30-50 em stalk Capsule containing 2-4 seeds. and broadly ovate, blade with a heart-shaped Flowering: May-September base. Much branched clusters of small radish- Uses: Besides the traditional use in treating the purple flowers borne in an inflorescence of 15-30 constipation, the leaves are also used in treating em in length. the abscess. Flowering: June-July Uses: Flowers are sun dried, powdered and taken 34. Plectra nth us rugosus Wallich ex Benth (Labiatae) orally to cure the indigestion. Locality: Tindi (Alt 2575 m) Local name: Pasak 38.Rosafoetida Herrm (Rosaceae) Found in cultivated fields and grasslands. An Locality: Keylong (Alt 3000 m) erect branched leafy shrub or under shrub up to Local name:Gulab 150 ern with ovate wrinkled hairy leaves and Plant is liked for its beautiful rich scented many small white 2-lipped flowers. Leaves yellow flowers. A native of western Asia, has coarsely toothed 2-4 em, conspicuously white or now naturalized in the cultivated areas of gray-wooly beneath in contrast to the green Keylong. wrinkled upper surface. Flowering: June-September Flowering: May September Uses: Fruit is used to treat dysentery and Uses: Leaves are sun dried, powdered and taken weakness. Fruit is also taken orally to treat. orally for the purification of blood, stomachache and acidity. 39. Salvia campanulata Wallich ex Benth (Labiatae) Locality: Tindi (Alt 2575 m) 35. Polygonum amplexicaulis D.Don (Polygonaceae) Plant is distributed in forests, shrubberies and Locality: Urgos (Alt 2890 m) open places. A plant of 25-75 em, flowers large, Local name: Rambha and Raja ka phool yellow, 2-3 ern, 2-liped. Ovate, heart-shaped Plant is found growing in shrubberies, open toothed long stalked leaves. places or slopes and alpine pasturelands. A Flowering: June-July slender erect perennial plant of 100 ern, with Uses: Leaves and flowers are sun dried, powdered ovate, heart-shaped clasping upper leaves tapering and taken orally to cure fever and cough. to a long point and slender terminal 5-15 em long spikes of pink, deep red 3-6 cm long flowers. 40. Scorzonera virgata DC (Asteraceae) Flowering: July-August Locality: Urgos (Alt 2880 m) Uses: The whole plant is sun dried, powdered and Local name: Chatis taken orally to treat the physical weakness and Plant grows in cultivated areas and grasslands. acidity. It is a small slender perennial, much branched, forming a large clump with narrow grey-green, 36. Ranunculus difJusus DC (Ranunculaceae) entire 1-4 mm broad, 5-15 em long with margin Locality: Urgos (Alt 2890 m) inrolled leaves. Solitary terminal long stalked Local names: Falangja ka phool, chesa bright yellow heads with narrow cylindrical Distributed in shrubberies, open places and involucres. Floret 5-8, 2.5-3 ern long, involucre forests. A softly hairy spreading plant with yellow bracts slender, blunt with papery margins. flowers of 1.0-1.5 em across. Leaf blade heart- Flowering: July-August shaped 2-5 em long, stalked, deeply 3-lobed with Uses: Flowers are sun dried, powdered and taken acute teeth. orally to cure cough and weakness. Flowering:April-July Uses: Leaves and flowers are powdered and used 41. Sedum ewersii Ladeb (Crassulaceae) to treat swelling of tongue, bums, cough and cold. Locality: Tindi (AIt 2525 m) Plant grows in stony slopes and cultivated 37. Rheum emodi Wallich (Polygonaceae) fields; plant of 10-70 ern can be identified by its Locality: Kukumseri (Alt.2730 m) small (1.2-2.5 ern) flat fleshy, blue-green leaves Local name: Chukri borne on spreading stems. Leaves are ovate to 220 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL 4, No.2, APRIL 2005

opposite. It also bears dense domed clusters of region, which is likely to benefit the tribal people of numerous pink flowers of 5-8 mm in size. the state. Some of the important wild medicinal plants Flowering: July-September of this region are Aconitum heterophyllum Wall. ex Uses: Flowers are pounded into a paste and Royle, Podophyllum hexandrum Royle, Picrorhiza applied on forehead to treat the headache Leaves kurroa Royle ex Benth and Dactylorhiza hataginea and flowers are sun dried, powdered and taken to (D. Don) Soo., which are being illegally collected treat the pain in lungs and weakness. from the region. However, these plants are highly under pressure due to over-exploitation,' illegal 42. Taraxacum officinale Wigg (Asteraceae) collection, agricultural expansion, deforestation and Locality: Kukumseri (Alt 2730 m) grazing. Already some plants like Meconopsis Local name: Quathi aculeata Royle are facing extinction and rarely seen. A small plant of 10-30 em grows in cultivated Further, opening of a tunnel under the Rohtang pass areas, open slopes and alpine pastures. in next 4-5 years to reduce the journey from Manali to Uses: Root is sun dried, powdered and taken Lahaul by three hours, is likely to put these rare and orally to cure backache. important plants under more pressure due to more 43. Verbascum thapens L. (Scrophulariaceae) inflow of tourists. It is high time that appropriate steps Locality: Tindi (Alt 2575 m) be taken on the scientific cultivation, conservation Plant grows on rocky slopes and, cultivated and economic utilization of this important wealth of areas. It has an erect leafy stem with a slender nature which will also benefit the poor tribals of this wooly spike of many yellow flowers of 2-2.5 em part of Himalayas. and oblanceolate pale yellowish -gray wooly leaves. Acknowledgement Flowering. : June-September The authors are thankful to tribals, farmers, village Uses: Leaves and flowers are sun dried, powdered elders and local doctors (Vaidhs) of Lahaul, in sharing and taken orally to treat vomiting. their precious knowledge on local uses of the plants in treating various diseases. Discussion The Lahaul is a part of cold desert Himalayas References which is considered a remote and hard region of IJain S K, A Manual of Ethnobotany (Scientific Publishers, Himachal Pradesh. The present study is a brief Jodhpur) 1987. 2 Jain S K, Studies on Indian Ethnobotany-plants used in account of some plants traditionally used in local medicines by tribals of Madhya Pradesh, Bull Regional Res medicines by the tribals, farmers and local doctors. Lab, Jammu, (1963), l. They generally use different plants in a particular 3 Jain S K, Medicinal plant-lore of the tribals of the Bastar. ratio to treat various types of the health problems and Econ Bot, (1965),19. 4 Jain S K, Medicinal Plants (National Book Trust, New avoid giving the complete details about the methods Delhi), 1975. as well as the composition of the mixture. They 5 Jain S K, Observations on ethnobotany of the tribals of explained that many people are contacting them to Central India, in: Jain S K (ed.), Glimpses of Indian know about these plants and exploit them Ethnobotany (Oxford and IBH Publishing Co, New Delhi), commercially. Instead, they suggest proper action in 1981. 6 Jain S K, Observations on the ethnobotany of the Tons valley the conservation of these rare plants of high medicinal region in the Uttarkashi district of the northwest Himalayas, values. However, such surveys conducted on the India, Mountain Res Dev, (1991) 11 (2). traditional uses of plants in treating various diseases 7 Patel M B & Mehta P J, Some folk medicines of Dangs, by these village folks have proved very beneficial as Gujarat state. Bull Med Ethnoobot Res, (1980) I. 8 Rao R R, Medico-botany of some Mysore plants, J Res Med this is their precious knowledge which is of course on Yoga Homeopath, (1978) 13. the verge of disappearance along with these rare 9 Singh V & Pandey R P, Medicinal plants lore of the tribals of plants. One medicinal plant Kuth (Saussurea lappa C. Eastern Rajasthan, India, J Econ Taxon Bot, (1980) I, B. Clarke) had been successfully cultivated and 10 Malhotra C L & Balodi B, Wild medicinal plants in the use exported to China up to 1962. Recently, based on the of Johari tribals, J Econ Taxon Bot, (1984) 5. II Nautiyal S, Some medicinal plants of Garhwal hills, A traditional knowledge of the village folks cultivation traditional use, J Sci Res Plants Med, (1981) 2. and commercial utilization of sea buck thorn 12 Negi S S, Cold Deserts of India (Indus Publishing Co, 5-FS, (Hippophae rhamnoides Linn) have started in the Tagore Garden, New Delhi 110027),2000