Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol. 5(2), April 2006, pp. 201-206 Indigenous veterinary practices of Darma valley of Pithoragarh district, Uttaranchal Lalit Tiwari* & P C Pande1 Pharmacognosy & Ethnopharmacology Division, NBRI, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow 226 001, Uttar Pradesh; 1Department of Botany, Kumaon University, SSJ Campus, Almora, Uttaranchal E-mail: [email protected] Received 29 September 2004; revised 12 December 2005 The people residing in Darma valley known as Darmi or Darmi Bhotiyas have great wisdom of traditional knowledge about the animal husbandry and veterinary practices. They cure their animals with the help of surrounding natural resources such as plants, animals, minerals, etc. They produce traditionally hybrids of yak and local cow. However, these practices are in danger of extinction because of the rapid modernization. The paper documents the traditional veterinary practices and animal husbandry of Darmies of Pithoragarh district of Uttanachal. Keywords: Animal husbandry, Darma valley, Darmi, Darmi Bhotiyas , Ethnoveterinary practices, Veterinary medicines, Uttaranchal, IPC Int. Cl.8: A61K35/00, A61K36/00, A61P1/04, A61P1/12, A61P11/10, A61P15/10, A61P17/00, A61P19/00, A61P33/00 Uttaranchal Himalaya is rich in old traditions and collect the desired information (Table 1 & 2). The cultures. Region supports approximately seven tribal data were gathered from the knowledgeable persons, groups, Bhotiyas, Boxas, Tharus, Jaunsaris, Rajis, who practice and have experience about animal Shaukas and Mahighirs. Bhotia is a borderland husbandry and veterinary medicines. The information community of Uttaranchal. It is one of the was further verified by cross checking with other predominating tribe, which shares most of the tribal experienced persons. Voucher specimens are population of Uttaranchal. Bhotiyas are subdivided preserved in Kumaon University, SSJ Campus, into 5 groups, Rang, Johari, Tolcha, Marcha, Jad. Almora. The data include the vernacular and botanical Rang and Johari are found in Pithoragarh district of names of plants and animals, diseases and disorders, Uttaranchal. Rang Bhotiyas are further divided into preparation of ethnomedicinal recipes and mode of three subgroups, Byanse, Darmi and Chaudansi1. their administration. Bhotiyas usually depend on animal husbandry and agricultural practices for their economic needs. Enumeration Darmies have their own traditions and culture. Various Indigenous veterinary practices and plants Considerable work has been done on ethnobotany of used therein have been enumerated (Table 1). Bhotiya tribe of Kumaon2-6. But very little attention Analysis of data indicates that they use more than has been paid to plants and other natural products, one-plant species in the form of crude drugs for one which are specifically, used in the treatment of ailment. Darmies use plant parts, plant products, veterinary practices7-10. The present study was animal parts, animal products and minerals along with undertaken to enumerate ethnoveterinary practices of magico-religious practices for the treatment of the certain plants or natural resources of Darma valley of animals. The materials used in the treatment are Pithoragarh district. usually collected from surrounding forests or localities. Methodology Extensive surveys were made in the Darma valley Animal husbandry of Darmies of Pithoragarh district in Uttaranchal in 2003 to Cows, yak and their hybrids (Fig. 2), dog, goat, ___________ sheep, hen or cock are the main domestic animals, and *Corresponding author is a major source of their livelihood from ancient 202 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL 5, No. 2, APRIL 2006 Table 1⎯Plants, animals, and minerals used in veterinary practices Diseases/Disorders Mode of administration and uses Dysentery Two-three roots of chhipi/gonab (Angelica glauca Edgew.) roasted in 100 ml ghee, ground and are given to animal, twice a day. 5-6 fresh roots of lafu / mooli (Raphanus sativus L.) crushed in 1 L water are fed orally. 100 gm crushed roots of lafu / mooli fried in 100 ml ghee until it become blackish brown is given with melted lukewarm ghee. Dried leaves of pindalu (Colocasia esculenta Schott.) are given with salt. 250 ml lukewarm ghee is given to check dysentery. Loss of appetite Root paste of kutaki (Picrorhiza kurrooa Royle ex Benth.) is given. It is also effective in dysentery. Constipation Root paste of mepar (Euphorbia pilosa L.) is given with half litre water during constipation. Indigestion Five-six fresh roots of lafu / mooli crushed in 1 L churning curd is given orally to animal during indigestion. Tympany Root paste of dolu (Rheum australe D.Don) is given in the case of tympany followed by dysentery. Fresh roots of saduwa (Hedychium spicatum Buch. -Ham. ex Sm.) and chhipi / gonab mashed together are given orally. Gastric, Root paste of chhipi / gonab is given during the gastric. The paste after dissolving in lukewarm Stomachache, Constipation water is also given to cure stomachache, constipation and tympany. Scabies Powder of dried leaves of tambaku (Nicotiana tabacum L.) mixed with mustard oil (Brassica campestris L.) and a pinch of salt is applied on the affected skin to cure scabies. Dried tambaku leaves boiled in water with mustard oil (Brassica campestris L.) and salt is either applied externally on the body of animal or used to wash the affected part or skin lesion. Skin irritation Seeds paste of damari (Oroxylum indicum Venten) is applied on the infected skin. Paste of genthi / geinthi (Dioscorea bulbifera L.) is applied on the infected skin. Pimple, Boils Paste prepared from the fresh roots of alla (Girardinia diversifolia Fries.) is applied on the pimples and boils. Paste of fodi ghas (Pimpinella sp.) is applied on the pimple and boils. Blotch Leaf paste of badhuwa ghas (Daphne papyracea Wall. ex Steud.) is applied on the blotch locally known as badhuwa. This treatment is also effective in skin irritation. Snout blisters Dried leaves of moya (Debregeasia longifolia Wedd.) is mixed with butter and applied on the infected lips and snout twice a day. Unripe fruit of dandasa (Juglans regia L.) is made into paste is applied on the infected lips and snout of goat and sheep. Pericarp of fruit of dandasa is chewed well and the chewed product is applied externally on the affected snout of goat and sheep to cure snout blisters. Burn Basidiospores of bhalupot (Geastrum mammosum Chev.) are applied on the burnt portion. Paste of potato is also applied on the burnt portion. Seeds of roma / faktuli / simu (Impatiens scabrida DC.) ground, mixed with water is applied on the burnt portion of animals. Milk cream is applied on the burnt portion, afterwards salty water is also applied gently on it. Cough Ten gm fresh rhizome of haldi (Curcuma domestica Vallars), 4-5 fruits of chilies (Capsicum annuum L.) and 10 gm chhipi / gonab root are ground, mixed with water is given to cattle to cure cough and cold. Two-three teaspoon-cooked fruit juice of garchuk / ritulchukh (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) is given during cough and cold. Ground bark of angu (Fraxinus micrantha Lingesh.) mixed with water is given to animal to get rid off the cough and cold. Root paste of dolu is also given to cure cough. Fever Fresh roots paste of kutaki is given to cattle during fever. Leaves of jargyo (Phytolacca acinosa Roxb.) are fed to cattle to cure fever. Dried plant powder of chirayata (Swertia chirayita Karsten) is given with water to animal to treat fever. TIWARI & PANDE: INDIGENOUS VETERINARY PRACTICES OF UTTARANCHAL 203 Table 1⎯Plants, animals, and minerals used in veterinary practices⎯Contd. Diseases/Disorders Mode of administration and uses Haematuria Whole plant of akaasbel (Parthenocissus semicordata Planch.) crushed with gur (jaggery) is given in case of haematuria. Yellow root of peela jari (Thalictrum javanicum Blume) made into paste is given with half litre of water to cure haematuria. Gruel of masoor (Lens culinaris Medik.) is also given during the haematuria. Fifty gm of common salt mixed with Mattha (churning curd) is given orally to cure haematuria. About half litre chakati (local liquor) is given in case of haematuria. Blood in vomiting One teaspoonful of leaves of akaasbel crushed with attar (resinous product of Cannabis sativa L.) and mixed with curd is given orally twice a day till cure. Cracked nipple Honey is applied on the infected nipples. Butter or milk cream is also applied on the infected nipples. Foot and mouth disease (locally Aqueous extract of roots of kutaki is applied on the infected hooves. known as ‘genu’) Juice of fresh leaves of bajrabhang (Chenopodium ambrosioides L.) is applied on the affected hooves. Sulphur powder is sprayed on the infected hooves. Melted fat of sheep or goat is applied on the affected hooves. Galghotu (swelling developed at the Only an expert person touches a red-hot iron or red-hot gold needle quickly for a moment at throat of animal) the swelling portion. Swelling (locally known as ‘jalgar’) Honey is fed to the animal in case of swelling of body. Pterygium Root juice of chhipi / gonab mixed with saliva is applied at the affected eyes to cure pterygium. Sometimes fresh rhizome of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) is also used instead of chhipi / gonab. Powder of dried rhizomes of ginger and kali mircha (Piper nigrum L.) mixed with saliva is put on the affected eyes. Four-five drops of fresh milk is put in the affected eyes. Bone fracture Root paste of alla is applied on the fractured areas and bandaged using splint of fresh barks of dandasa (Juglans regia L.) or some other lightwood. Gruel of rice, maduwa (Eleusine coracana Gaertn.) or masoor is poured daily on the plastered portion. Seeds of maduwa and root of dolu are boiled together and prepared a thick product. After adjusting the dislocated or fractured bone the prepared product is plastered around the fracture bone. This plastered portion is again tightly covered with fresh bark of dandasa or fresh bark of sisuna (Urtica dioica L.) and bandaged using splints of light wood for support Internal injury Root paste of Dolu is given twice a day to cure internal injury, cough and cold.