Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol. 3(4), October 2004, pp. 351-357

Ethnomedicinal survey of Uri, Kashmir Himalaya

Z S Khan, A A Khuroo* and G H Dar Centre of (COPT), University of Kashmir, Srinagar 190 006, Jammu & Kashmir E-mail: [email protected] Received 6 October 2003; revised 15 April 2004

In the contemporary global milieu, the documentation of the biological resources and the associated indigenous knowledge existing within a country has assumed highest priority. The present paper records ethnomedicinal value of 27 plant species belonging to 20 families, in vogue, from the study area. Each plant species included, contains information regarding crude drug preparation and its method of use. Such documentation would be helpful in terms of com- mercial production of drugs, readily accessible health care to larger population, sustainable use and above all, safeguard from bio-piracy. Keywords: Indigenous knowledge, Medicinal , Ethnomedicine, Kashmir. IPC Int. Cl.7: A61K35/78, A61P1/04, A61P1/10, A61P11/10, A61P13/00, A61P13/02, A61P15/06, A61P15/14, A61P17/02, A61P17/10, A61P19/02, A61P27/02, A61P27/12, A61P33/10.

From the very earliest days of civiliza- About 70% of the identified medicinal tion, mankind has turned to plants for plants of Indian Himalaya are exposed to healing, a tradition that has survived the destructive harvesting6. Recently our arrival of modern medicine and found country enacted a number of legisla- new strength at the end of 20th century1. tions7-9, in compliance with CBD and Even today, 80% of the world’s popula- WTO, in order to prevent the unfair ex- tion relies on traditional plant medicine2. ploitation of biological wealth of the na- As elsewhere, in India too, the medicinal tion. These legislations, inter alia, enjoin use of plants has been practiced from ae- for immediate chronicling of the coun- ons by various rural and tribal communi- try’s biodiversity and the associated in- ties through the systems of Ayurveda, digenous knowledge. Siddha and Unani3. Need has been felt for Kashmir Himalaya in our country har- the speedy documentation of the prized bours a treasure house of the medicinal indigenous knowledge from the emerging plants10. Many studies have been carried threats of the destructive over-harvesting, out from time to time to document ethno- habitat degradation and bio-piracy4,5. botanical information from different areas 11-23 —————— of this region . Since no such study has *Correspondent author been carried out in the present study area 352 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL. 3, No. 4, OCTOBER 2004

Fig. 1—Map showing the location of Uri, Jammu and Kashmir till now, an attempt has been made to field trips were carried out to the study document the ethnomedicinal uses of area during 2001-2003 (Plate 1). Standard plants. methodology was used to elicit the eth- Uri tehsil in Baramulla district of nomedicinal knowledge of plants from Jammu and Kashmir is about 100 km to the local people26-28. Mostly, local herbal- the north-west of Srinagar and lies at 34° ists called “Hakims” and other experi- 5´ N latitude and 74° 5´E longitude24. Al- enced people were taken to the field for titude of the study area ranges from 1380 identification of medicinal plants used in to 3300 masl. The areas at higher eleva- folklore. All the relevant information, in tion being hilly, display an uneven topog- particular the method of use, of each me- raphy with interspersed side valleys dicinal plant species was recorded in a (Fig. 1). In comparison to rest of the field notebook. To bring an element of Kashmir valley, there are 4 well-defined accuracy, the information was cross- seasons a year; however the winters are checked with elderly people. Specimens shorter and relatively milder. Summers of medicinal plants collected from each are longer, hot and dry. Most of the pre- locality were provided with a collection cipitation occurs during winter and in the number for future reference. The plant early spring25. specimens collected were processed at the laboratory of COPT, and identified with Methodology the help of available literature29-31. The During the course of present study, identified plant species have been depo- KHAN et al: ETHNOMEDICINE OF KASHMIR HIMALAYA 353

Plate 1 354 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL. 3, No. 4, OCTOBER 2004

sited in the Kashmir University Herbar- 6. jacquemontii Blume, syn. ium (KASH). A. cornutum Schott, (), Shah- Medicinal plant species of the area dad 506, “Happat-makai” (Plate 1). have been enumerated below in an alpha- Rhizome ground with edible oil forms betical order. Each plant species is pro- a paste, which is used for massage pur- vided with its scientific name, followed poses in order to regain muscular strength sequentially by author citation, synonyms and in skin problems such as blisters, (if any), family name, specimen exam- pimples, etc. ined, local name, crude drug preparation 7. Arnebia benthamii (Wall. ex G. Don) (wherever available) and its use. I. M. Johnston, syn. Echium benthami 1. Achillea millefolium Linn. (As- Wall., Macrotomia benthami (Wall. ex teraceae), Shahdad 200, “Bergeur” G. Don) DC., (Boraginaceae), Fresh leaves are chewed for 5-10 min- Shahdad 502, “Kah-zaban” (Plate 1). utes to palliate the toothache, and also as mouth-freshener. Whole plant is used for increasing lac- 2. Aconitum heterophyllum Wall. ex tation. Lukewarm extract, obtained after Royle (Ranunculaceae), Shahdad 307, boiling the whole plant in water is given “Patris” to nursing mothers to enhance their milk Roots are used for curing abdominal production. Also the root extract stirred disorders. Extracts of roots are blended up with hair oil is useful in checking the with water or milk. Two spoons of the hair fall. decoction made are sipped at bed time 8. Asparagus filicinus Buch.-Ham. ex D. daily for two weeks. Don (Liliaceae) Shahdad 259, 3. Ajuga parviflora Benth. (Lamiaceae), “Haleon” Shahdad 366, “Ratijadi” Liquid extract derived by boiling the Administration of about 1-2 spoons of seeds in water is given to expecting whole plant aqueous extract daily for a women for ease in delivery. fortnight serves as diuretic and purgative. 9. Cannabis sativa Linn., syn. C. indica 4. Allium sativum Linn. (Liliaceae), Lamk., (Cannabinaceae), Shahdad Shahdad 505, “Rohun” 367, ‘Bhang’ Bulbs are used for curing skin diseases. Dried leaf powder is mixed with egg- Fresh bulbs are ground into a poultice, yolk and then cooked to form an omlette. and rubbed along the affected part of the The latter is taken to regulate the erratic body for a month. menstrual cycle in women, and also to 5. Androsace rotundifolia Hardw. (Pri- check the night urination in children. mulaceae), Shahdad 105, ‘Uzm posh’ Extract of rhizome added to a diluted 10. Cichorium intybus Linn. (As- solution of common salt is used as eye teraceae), Shahdad 268, “Jugli-hand” drops for curing a number of ophthalmic Root extract combined with sugary wa- diseases such as cataract, etc. ter is given 2 spoons daily at bedtime for 15-20 days for curing typhoid. KHAN et al: ETHNOMEDICINE OF KASHMIR HIMALAYA 355

11. Euphorbia helioscopia Linn. (Eu- Fresh leaves of the plant are crushed to phorbiaceae), Shahdad 367, ‘Guri so- yield an extract, which in small quantity chol’ is sipped with tea daily for 1-2 week’s Leaves and stem latex are used against time for curing gastroenteritis. ringworm infection. 17. Plectranthus rugosus Wall., syn. 12. Fragaria nubicola Lindely ex La- Isodon plectranthoides Benth., (La- caita, syn. F. vesca var. nubicola miaceae), Shahdad 175, ‘Sloi’ Lindl. ex Hook. f. (Rosaceae), Leaf extract is mixed with hot water or Shahdad 59, ‘Budmew’ milk to form bitter syrup, which is admin- Rhizomes are used to cure tonsillitis. istered orally as an antidote in snake bite. Fresh rhizome ground to a fine powder 18. Rorippa sylvestris (Linn.) Besser, and mixed with sugar (2-5 mg daily) for a syn. Sisymbrium sylvestris Linn., month. (Brassicaceae), Shahdad 160, ‘Van 13. Geranium wallichianum D. Don ex telgugal’ Sweet (Geraniaceae), Shahdad 229, Seeds are used for curing headache and “Ratanjog” common cold. Poultice derived from the Roots are used for general weakness. crushed seeds is rubbed externally to get Roots ground to a powder are mixed with relief instantly. cooked rice, and/or maize bread, with two 19. Rumex dentatus Linn., syn. R. ha- to three spoons, serve as an effective lacsyi Rech., (Polygonaceae), tonic. The practice is continued for 2-3 Shahdad 56, ‘Abuj’ weeks, until normal health is regained. Extract of roots taken in the quantity of 14. Hyoscyamus niger Linn. (Solana- two spoons in a cup of tea, two times daily ceae), Shahdad 144 “Bazar bang”. for 15-30 days, for curing constipation. An earthen cup coated with mustard oil 20. Saussurea costus (C. B. Clarke) on the inner side is kept inverted on the Lipsch., syn. S. lappa C. B. Clarke, burning seeds of the plant. After 2-5 min- (Asteraceae), Shahdad 500, “Kouth”. utes, the smoke is taken in and allowed to Extract obtained by crushing of roots is remain inside the mouth, without swal- mixed with edible oil, the paste is applied lowing for half a minute and then ex- for two to three months regularly on pelled. The process is repeated 3-5 times weekly basis for curing arthritis. for relieving toothache. 21. Skimmia arborescens T. Anders. ex 15. Jurinea ceratocarpa (DC.) Benth., Gamble, syn. S. laureola Hook. f. in syn. Saussurea ceratocarpa Dcne., part non Sieb. & Zucc., (Rutaceae), (Asteraceae), Shahdad 507, “Dhupa”. Shahdad 297, “Naer” (Plate 1). Dried roots are crushed to derive a Fresh leaves are crushed to produce an black powder, which is mixed with ghee extract, which is taken along with milk to for use as “Kajal” for better eye vision. get relief from urinary infections. Smoke 16. Mentha arvensis Linn. (Lamiaceae), of the dried leaves is also used as insect Shahdad 317, “Pudina” repellent. 356 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL. 3, No. 4, OCTOBER 2004

22. Solena amplexicaulis (Lamk.) Gan- Discussion dhi, syn. S. heterophylla (Lour.) In this paper, 27 angiosperm plant spe- Cogn. (Cucurbitaceae,), Shahdad cies, belonging to 20 families with cur- 504, “Khakri” rently practiced ethnomedicinal value are A decoction of rhizomes is used to listed. A multiple of home remedies are treat diarrhoea. employed for the treatment of common 23. Urtica dioica Linn. (Urticaceae), ailments such as fever, headache, dysen- Shahdad 375, “Soi” tery, constipation, and minor injuries. Roots made into a paste in oil are ap- Mostly, the drugs are prepared in the form plied to cure rheumatoid pains; and also of paste, powder, poultice, latex, decoc- to heal up minor wounds. tion, extracts, smoke, and even as herbal 24. Viburnum grandiflorum Wall. ex tea. Both fresh and dried parts of plants are DC., syn. V. foetens Dcne., (Caprifo- used for making drugs in crude form. The liaceae), Shahdad 34, “Kulmanch” methods of use, the dosage and the dura- tion, differ from one herbalist to another, Dried seeds are crushed to produce an and also from one locality to another. extract, which is used against whooping In recent times, serious threats of bio- cough and other chronic respiratory dis- piracy and intellectual property rights orders. (IPRs), with huge economy at stake, have 25. Viola odorata Linn. (Violaceae), necessitated the early bio-prospecting of Shahdad 303, “Bunufsha” the potential medicinal plants used in the Dry are ground with sugar to folklore32,33. In this process, the first and form a mixture, 2 to 5 gm of such a mix- foremost step would be the documentation ture is taken orally at bedtime for a week of the ethnomedicinal uses of plants, as to cure respiratory infections. attempted in the present study, throughout 26. Viscum album Linn. (Loranthaceae), the country. Simultaneously, this indige- Shahdad 136, “Aal” nous knowledge could be translated into A decoction made by grinding the commercial products on industrial scale, whole plant with small quantity of com- and benefit sharing with all stakeholders. mon salt is taken orally as an efficient Such a strategy would ensure that our bio- laxative. Poultice made from the dried resources are not pirated. parts of the plant is rubbed to heal up the References fracture. 1 Sullivan K & Shealy C N, Complete Natural 27. Ziziphus jujuba Mill., syn. Z. sativa Home Remedies, (Element Books Limited, Gaertn., (Rhamnaceae), Shahdad Shaftesbury, UK), 1997, 3. 503, “Singli” 2 Singh J S, The biodiversity crisis: A multifac- Decoction prepared by grinding the eted review, Curr Sci, 82(6) (2002) 638. seeds in salty water is taken orally, with a 3 Gadgil M, Documenting diversity: An ex- periment, Curr Sci, 70(1) (1996) 36. dosage of two spoons thrice a day, for 4 Singh J S, Raghubanshi A S & Varshney C K, two months duration, to recover from Integrated biodiversity research in India, Curr jaundice. Sci, 66(2) (1994) 109. KHAN et al: ETHNOMEDICINE OF KASHMIR HIMALAYA 357

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