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Indigenous Knowledge and Uses of Medicinal Plants in Macchegaun, Nepal

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Indigenous Knowledge and Uses of Medicinal Plants in Macchegaun, Nepal Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol. 10(2), April 2011, pp. 281-286 Indigenous knowledge and uses of medicinal plants in Macchegaun, Nepal Kunjani Joshi 1*, Ranju Joshi 2 & AR Joshi 2 1 Department of Botany, Patan Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, PO Box 2486, Kathmandu, Nepal; 2SchEMS, Pokhara University, Nepal E-mails: [email protected]; [email protected], [email protected] Received: 27.11.2008; revised: 29.04.2010 Based on a field survey, 87 species belonging to 54 families, used by the local people of the Macchegaun, Kathmandu district, Nepal are reported. Local people have remarkable detailed knowledge of species identity, characteristics and their specific uses. These traditional knowledges and practices are disappearing particularly due to unplanned land use change and over-explotation of the species. Some species are under serious threat indicating urgent need of documentation of useful plants with their uses and indigenous practices. An attempt has also been made to recommend some conservation measures for preservation and sustainable uses of these species. Keywords: Ethnobotany, Rural community, Indigenous knowledge, Sustainable use, Conservation IPC Int. Cl. 8: A61K36/00, A61P1/02, A61P1/10, A61P1/14, A61P1/16, A61P5/00, A61P9/14, A61P11/00, A61P17/00, A61P19/00, A61P29/00, A61P31/00, A61P35/00, A61P39/02 The rural communities depend heavily on plant documentation the useful species with their diversity for the fulfillment of their basic needs and sustainable uses, and existing local level indigenous conservation of other natural resources. They collect knowledge, techniques and practices. The study is useful plant resources from various habitats and designed to fill up the gaps and to recommend some utilize them using indigenous knowledge and strategies for sustainable management of the practices. The vast store of information on indigenous resources. knowledge, practices and technologies is being eroded as a result of fast urbanization, over-exploitation of Methodology resources, unscientific land use, change of lifestyles The ethnobotanical study was carried out in the and behavior 1. Hence, priority ought to be given to Macchegaun and surrounding areas. Macchegaun is document the useful plants with indigenous located in the Southwest part of the Kathmandu valley knowledge, practices as well as technologies from the and lies in the lap of Chandragiri mountain range area before the inhabitants shift over to modern where it is extended Southnorth longitudinally. The lifestyle. In Nepal, very little works relating to the landforms of the study areas are moderate to steep documentation of useful species and their uses to slopey mountainous terrains with temperate climate. improve livelihood, and their roles for conservation The physical ecological factors are suitable for the and sustainable management of environmental development of rich and varied vegetation with resources have been carried out 1-5. There are still gaps various ecosystems. The southern part of the village on the comprehensive study and documentation was covered by the forest with important species such relating to the ethnobotanically useful species and as Pinus roxburghii (salla), Lyonia ovalifolia (angeri), indigenous knowledge, practices and perception of the Schima walliiichii (chilaune), Castanopsis indica local people for sustainable resource management. (thulo katus), Castanopsis tribuloides (musure katus), Moreover, as Nepal is also one of the signatories of Quercus lanata (banjh), Q. semicarpifolia (khasru), the conventions (Ramsar Convention, Biodiversity Prunus cerasoides (painyu) and the animals like tiger, Convention, and Convention on International Trade in fox, leopard, deer, etc. The Community Forest Endangered Species), priority should be given to the Committees (Macchenarayan Forest User Committee —————— and Chundevi Forest User Committee) manage the *Corresponding author existing forests. 282 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE VOL 10, No. 2 APRIL: 2011 Macchegaun has 9 wards with 2,963 total their parts for the treatment of ailments following the population. The study area is inhabited by different traditional practices. The most popular medicinal ethnic groups (Newar, Magar, Khhetri, Brahamin, preparation are infusion, decoction, paste or juice. Sunuwar, Tamang, Mijar, etc.), with rich in traditional The medicinal uses of the same species may vary knowledge and practices. Agriculture is the main from one village to the next village. For example, the occupation of the villagers, who depend on natural decoction of leaf of Swertia chirayita is given to resources for their livelihood. Several field trips in relieve stomach disorder and fever in the study areas, and around the study areas were undertaken during whereas in the the villages of the Makalu Barun area the July–Dec 2005 and Feb–May 2006. the Sherpa people use the leaves for the treatment of Ethnobotanical information was gathered mainly cuts and wounds. In Barmoche village of through repeated interview and open-ended Sindhupalchok district, juice of Swertia chirayita root participatory discussions with local informants, such is taken to cure liver diseases and paste of leaves traditional healers/ jkankri, teachers and experienced prepared with mustard oil is applied over boils and village elders including midwives and by direct scabies 9,10 . Similarly, juice of Lyonia ovalifolia leaf is observations on the way different plant materials were drink for curing the ringworm by Tamangs in Raitar being collected and used 6,7 . The taxonomic identity of village, Nayapati village Development Committee, the plants was determined with the help of local Kathmandu district, while the decoction of leaves of floras. Voucher specimens are deposited in the the plant is used to get relief from pain in the study Biodiversity and Environmental Monitoring area 11 . This may be due to diversity in culture, Laboratory of SchEMS, Pokhara University, tradition and isolation of one area to other. This Kathmandu, Nepal. knowledge is, however, being eroded with introduction of modern medicines. Results and discussion During the survey, the uses of medicinal plants by During the field survey, ethnobotanical information local communities were analysed. Among the local of 87 species of plants belonging to 54 families have communities of the study area, 71% of the senior been collected from various habitats of the study area people and 56 % of new generation used medicinal (Table 1). Among the documented medicinal species, plants and their products to cure various ailments. The the family Asteraceae was most frequently preferred species are Acorus calamus, Aloe vera, represented with a total of 7 species, followed by Aegle marmelos, Artimisia indica, Azadirachta Euphorbiaceae (5), Amaranthaceae & Rosaceae (4 indica, Centella asiatica, Eupatorium adenophorum, each), Ericaceae, Fabaceae, Fagaceae & Solanaceae Ficus benghalensis, Gaultheria fragrantissima, Jatropa (3 each) and others with less than 3 species. Though curcas, Justicia adhetoda, Pinus roxburghii and these species are distributed in various habitats, most Swertia chirayita. However, the use of medicinal plant of the species are mainly confined to the forests. The was limited to the minor health related problems such data on the medicinally important plants indicte that as cuts, wounds, gastrointestinal problems, fever, 27 species were used to treat gastrointestinal headadch, cough, etc. When questioned about the disorders, 16 for fever, cough and headache, 15 changing status of the existing useful plants, the illnesses of the skeleton- muscular system, 12 for respondents listed some important species, such as dermatological illness, 7 for genito-urinary complaints, Acorus calamus, Centella asiatica, Justicia adhatoda, 7 for respiratory aliments, 6 for dental problems, 2 for and Swertia chirayita, which have also declined in cardiovascular complaints and disease of blood, 2 for abundance during the last decade. opthalmological problems and 28 for others. During the last few years, some initiatives have The people in the vicinity of the forest have a good been taken for the sustainable management of knowledge of useful plant species especially the medicinal plants and their resources 12-19 . Despite the knowledge on medicinal plants. Traditional beliefs implementation of various activities for the and practices are deeply rooted in their culture in such conservation of the species and documentation of the a way that they attribute most of the complicated species, there is still gaps in policy, plan and ailments and other misfortunes to supernatural origin implementation of programs, capacity building due to soul loss, spells or curses cast by evil spirits by activities in an integrated manner. Though some the displeasure 8. The local people use the plants and initiatives have already been taken for conservation JOSHI et al .: INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE OF NEPAL 283 Table 1- Medicinal plants used in Macchegaun, Nepal Plant name/ Family/ Local name Uses Achyranthes aspera L.(Amaranthaceae) Root juice is taken in case of indigestion; twig infusion is used as a wash for Apamarga tooth pain. Achyranthes bidentata Blume (Amaranthaceae) Stem is used as chewing stick to aid toothcare; root juice is drunk to cure Datiwan, Apamarga asthma. Acorus calamus L. (Araceae) Bojho Fresh rhizome juice or dried rhizome piece is taken to treat cough and throat infections. Adiantum capillus-veneris L. (Adiantaceae) Decoction of plant is drunk
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