Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol. 6(2), April 2007, pp. 360-364

Traditional phytomedicinal knowledge of Bhotias of Dharchula in

SS Garbyal, A Grover, KK Aggarwal* & CR Babu# School of Biotechnology, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Kashmere Gate, Delhi 110 006, #Department of Botany, University of Delhi, Delhi 110 007 Email: [email protected]; [email protected] Received 19 March 2005; revised 26 July 2006

Bhotias of Dharchula sub-division in Kumaon, Uttaranchal in North have been living in isolation for centuries. They have had strong bond with the nature. They have traditionally been dependent on nature for healthcare, as they did not have access to the modern medicinal facilites until about 1960s. No serious attempts were made to document the traditional phytomedicines used by Bhotias of Dharchula areas in the past. Present attempt is the ethnomedicinal survey to document the traditional phytomedicines used by them. Keywords: Bhotias, Dharchula, Indigenous knowledge, Pithoragarh, Traditional medicine, Tribes

IPC Int. Cl.8: A61K36/00, A61P1/00, A61P1/02, A61P1/04, A61P9/00, A61P11/00, A61P11/10, A61P13/00, A61P17/00, A61P17/02, A61P19/00, A61P19/02, A61P29/00, A61P31/02, A61P39/02

An ethnic community known as Bhotia or Shauka for other means of living. This was the beginning of inhabits Dharchula area of Kumaon in the end of traditional way of living. With this the , Uttaranchal in North India1. The traditional knowledge held by them also began to area comprises of three valleys e.g. Darma, Chaudas erode. The loss of traditional knowledge in a culture and Byas lying between 290 59′ to 300 04′ North and that is undergoing rapid changes is as irreversible as 800 28′ to 800 57′ East. Bhotias are of Mongoloid the loss of plant species2. There has never been any origin and also inhabit the adjoining areas of Nepal. attempt to document the traditional knowledge about They have strong Hindu and Tibetan influence and the plants found in their surroundings and to have distinct dialect, culture and traditions. Physical scientifically study them. While there are many difficulties surrounding their habitations in the midst ethnomedicinal studies of Bhotias living in other areas of the lofty Himalayas were so great that they literally like Johar in Kumaon and Niti and Mana in Garhwal, remained isolated for long from the rest of the world. there are few reports on the phytomedicines used by Height and the structure of the mountains had acted as the Bhotias of Dharchula area1, 3, 12-16. effective barrier to the communication with the The area is known for its rich biodiversity with outside world. Even now the upper reaches are varieties of useful plant species, many of which are of inaccessible and can be approached only on foot. medicinal importance that are not only used Bhotias, depended on nature for almost everything traditionally but also valued highly in Indian, Tibetan believe that the mountains surrounding their and Chinese systems of medicine. Richard Strachey habitations are to be the storehouse of a number of was the first person to have undertaken scientific medicinal, edible and other useful plants. It is possible survey of the area in around 1846 and subsequently in that these unexplored mountains may still have 1848 with J E Winterbottom. They collected over germplasm of many medicinal plants having great 2000 species between the years 1846-49. Based on the economic potential yearning to be discovered to cure collections and observations made during botanical humanity of many dreaded and incurable diseases. expedition to North-eastern Kumaon 2672 flowering After 1962 war, the traditional trade with Tibet got plants, 201 ferns and allies, 120 mosses and 50 completely disrupted and Bhotias were forced to look lichens, i.e. a total 3043 species have been catalogued ______in Kumaon17-18. Of 800 species of medicinal plants *Corresponding author recorded in Nepal, 30% come from the western part GARBYAL et al: TRADITIONAL PHYTOMEDICINAL KNOWLEDGE OF PITHORAGARH 361

of the country, which is contiguous to Dharchula Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc., (Clavicipitaceae), Nabu, area19. Keeda Habitat: It occurs in Alpine meadows at altitudes over 3,658 cm and is found in substantial quantities in Methodology Dharchula Himalayas. It is collected extensively for Twenty-two Bhotia villages in Darma, Vyas and its tremendous value in Tibetan and Chinese Chaudas valley in Dharchula area were visited. medicine16. Detailed interactions were made with the local inhabitants and traditional healers and other Uses: Locals consume Cordyceps with liquor. knowledgeable persons. They were interviewed using They dip it in local brew or alcohol for some time a structured and pre-tested questionnaire to obtain before taking. It is believed that medicinal properties information about the wild plants and their myriad of Cordyceps sinensis are because of the combined uses. Nine localities considered rich in medicinal and effect of the fungus and the dead body of the worm. other useful plants were surveyed in different seasons Cordyceps is valued very highly in Tibetan Medicinal for collecting plant specimens; recording their habitat System. It is used to increase vitality and in restoring characteristics and distribution pattern. The specimens regenerative fluids, especially the fertility of sperms were identified and authenticated at the herbarium of and kidney heat. Tibetan dip Cordyceps in alcohol or Forest Research Institute, Dehradun. More than 70 traditional green tea and drink them for vitality and species under traditional medicinal use were cure from stomach ailments. documented. Fraxinus micrantha Lingelsheim, (Oleaceae), Ango (Figs 1-3) Enumeration Habitat: It occurs in rich, moist and shady soils of Oak forests in montane regions of Western Cirsium wallichii DC., (Asteraceae), Nache kulpu, Mancheu Himalayas. It is a common associate of Quercus Habitat: It is very common in cultivated areas, semecarpifolia Rehder. & E.H.Wilson, Q incana abondaned fields, open slopes, forest clearings and Bartr., Q dilatata Lindl., Aesculus indica Wall ex. along the roadsides. It is found in the temperate Camb., etc. It is found scattered in Chaudas valley in regions at altitudes between 2,300-3,700 m all over Sosa, Rung and Samari villages and in Darma valley Byas, Darma and Chaudas valley. in Dharchula Himalayas at altitudes between 1,500-2,700 m. Uses: Root paste is applied externally on the boils Uses: Local inhabitants use inner bark infusion for for suppuration. Infusion of mixture of Cirsium the treatment of liver enlargement, jaundice and other wallichii root and Pyrus pashia Buch. & Ham. fruit liver diseases. In some villages, root of Rubus and leaves in water is poured on the head for cooling foliolosus D. Don (Kala Hansyalu) mixed with inner at the time of severe headache. bark infusion is taken for the treatment of liver ailments. Inner bark is also used as blue dye for hand Coleus forskohlii (Willd.) Briq., (Lamiaceae), Chhyanglang woven woolen clothes. Jari Habitat: Occurs all over sun exposed arid and Lilium oxypetalum (D. Don) Baker, (Liliaceae), Sur (Figs 4,5) semi-arid hill slopes in substantial populations Habitat: It is found scattered on open slopes in along rivers Kali and Gori in Dharchula areas. It is alpine regions in Byas and Darma valley at altitudes found in dry open slopes among rocky outcrops, between 3,000- 4,000 m. between the crevices and grasslands at altitudes above Uses: Bulbs are eaten and its paste is applied on the 1,000-1,800 m. swellings in the limbs. Uses: Dried root is chewed regularly and is considered useful in intestinal ulcers and cancers. Parnassia nubicola Wall. ex Royle, (Saxifragaceae), Nirbisi Root paste is applied externally on wounds and Habitat: It is a common herb of damp open slopes tumours, also effective in skin diseases. It is very of alpine regions of Darma and Byas at altitudes effective for the treatment of cough and throat between 3,000-3,700 m. It is found in quite good infections, when taken along with Potentilla sundaica populations in Champu, Chiyalekh near Garbyang in O. Kuntze and clove. Byas; and Bon in Darma. 362 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL 6, No. 2, APRIL 2007

GARBYAL et al: TRADITIONAL PHYTOMEDICINAL KNOWLEDGE OF PITHORAGARH 363

Uses: Root paste is applied on the wounds, cuts soap. It is considered excellent especially for washing and insect bites; it works as an antiseptic and antidote woolen clothes. Powdered root used for washing for poison. hairs, is considered excellent for removing dandruffs.

Polygonum rumicifolium Royle., (Polygonaceae), Khyakjari Results and discussion Habitat: It is very common on open meadows, It is well known that during the process of grassy slopes and damp places in the alpine regions evolution plants have synthesized compounds whose all over Byas, Chaudas and Darma at altitudes structured diversity is often beyond the dreams of between 3,000-4,000 m. It is found scattered in even the most imaginative organic chemists. Plants natural habitat. are still the main source of medicines to majority of Uses: Cleaned and sun dried tubers are given in people20. Reliance on traditional medicine is not only high fever with convulsions. It has cooling effects. associated with the traditional belief of its Young leaves are edible and are considered nutritious effectiveness but also on harmonious existence of if taken in moderate quantities. spirit and matter. Many Bhotia traditional healers

worship plants and pray them before collecting them Potentilla sundaica (Bl.) Kuntz., (Rosaceae), Goli usu (Figs 6,7) acknowledging the spiritual powers of the plant. They Habitat: Its occurrence is very common on open believe that plants become more potent when meadows, grassy slopes and damp places in the processed both spiritually and materially. The efficacy temperate regions in Chaudas at altitudes between of the herbal medicines is believed to be enhanced 2,000-2,700 m. when they are prepared and administered by Uses: In Chaudas, it is considered one of the very enchanting mantras. effective medicines for soar throat, cough and any Naturally occurring substances by following the problem connected with the throats especially for traditional knowledge about them would give lead for children. The entire plant is cleaned, dried and developing new drugs, which can ultimately pounded along with Coleus forskohlii (Willd.) Briq. contribute to improving the treatment of diseases or (Coleus) and Eugenia caryophyllus (Spreng.) Bullock producing compounds that may be economically & Harrison (clove), made into small tablets (goli) to beneficial. Such developed new compounds may ultimately improve the quality of life. Out of the be taken to treat the problems related to throat. The 1 mixture can also be chewed, which is equally species documented , which are used by the Bhotias effective. for various purposes, 10 species appear to have potential for development of new drugs and for Prinsipia utilis Royle, (Rosaceae), Danthali developing techniques for ex-situ culturing. There are Habitat: It is a common shrub found near two reasons for arriving at this conclusion. Firstly, cultivations and on open sunny aspects throughout these species are valued very highly because of their temperate regions of Chaudas, Byas and Darma valley effectiveness and potency and, secondly, their uses at altitudes of 1,200-2,700 m. appear to be confined to Dharchula region. Uses: Seed oil is considered poor man’s oil. The oil Traditional uses of these species, though valued very is useful in high blood pressure and high level of highly, have now dwindled considerably. They may cholesterol. Massage with oil gives relief to those have biologically active chemical compounds, which suffering from rheumatism, joint, and body pain due can be expoited as the blue prints for drugs or some to fatigue. other useful products so that these can be produced synthetically. There are definite leads that need to be analysed further. Silene kumaonensis Williams, (Caryophyllaceae), Khushu (Figs 8-10) Habitat: It occurs together with herbaceous plants Acknowledgement in grasslands, rock cervices and fallow fields. It is Authors wish to acknowledge the assistance quite common in Byas and Darma valley at altitudes extended by a number of local inhabitants of Darma, between 2,700-4,000 m. Byas and Chaudas valley. Their openness to share Uses: Roots were used for washing woolen clothes. their knowledge is appreciated with gratitude and Dry roots crushed and powdered are used as powder deep admiration. Authors are also grateful to Dr HB 364 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL 6, No. 2, APRIL 2007

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