Our Nature (2003) 1: 37-41 An Ethnobiological Study of the Tamang People Ganesh Tamang* Central Department of Zoology, Kirtipur Abstract Tamangs are one of the major ethnic groups of Nepal. Ethnobiological investigation of Tamang people of Gorsyang Village Development Committee of Nuwakot district was carried out. Information was documented from structured questionnaire and interviews with local people. They were found to have rich indigenous knowledge. They use different 12 animal names as calendar. A total of 11 animal species and 44 plant species were found to be used in medicinal purpose. Viscera of Hystrix brachyura, pancreas of fish and flesh of Rana tigrina were found using in the treatment of asthma, jaundice and pneumonia. The fur of Lepus nigricollis is used to stop bleeding. Acorus calamus, Centilla asiatica and Terminalia chebula are the important medicinal plants, which they use to control throat, urine and gastric problems. The stem extract of Tinospora cordifolia is used in menstruation problems. Introduction said that they were horse traders. “Ta” in Tamangs are one of the major Tibeto- Tibetan means horse; “Mang” means traders Burmese speaking communities in Nepal. (Bista 1967). They have very rich They believe that they originally came ethnobiological knowledge. from Tibet. The entire community of Their social, cultural, economic and Tamang is divided into several sub castes religious practices are, in one way or known as 'thar'. Each 'thar' has its own other, linked to plants and animals. For name like Sangden, Bomjan, Yonjan, example, in the ‘Loh’ (age calculation Pakhrin, etc. Languagewise, these people calender), twelve different animals have are the third largest ethnic group in the been used. Each Loh always starts from kingdom, but if assessed from the angle of ‘Magh Suklapratipadha’ and continue till their being in the Tibeto-Burmese category, a year. The animals associated with the they would be the most populous. twelve Lohs are: Chi Loh (Mouse), Lung In Nepal more than 61 ethnic groups are Loh (Cow), Ta Loh (Tiger), Yai Loh dispersed all over the countries. Tamang (Goat), Prub Loh (Dragon), Prul Loh people account 5.5 per cent of the total (Serpent), Tak Loh (Horse), Look Loh population of the country (Anonymous (Sheep), Pray Loh (Monkey), Chyu Loh 2000). Majority lives in the hilly regions of (Bird), Khi Loh (Dog), and Pha Loh Nepal, adjoining sides of Kathmandu valley, (Boar) (Tamang 1998). the capital of Nepal. The historical and So, within Nepal, there is remarkable legendary account of the Tamangs show that ethnic and biological diversity and wealth they originally came from the Tibet. It is of indigenous knowledge of plants and animals with economic value. A few * Correspondence: Central Campus of ethnobotanical studies of Tamang people Technology, Dharan. have been carried out (Shrestha 1988, E-mail: [email protected] Shrestha 1989, Manandhar 1991, Taylor et 37 Our Nature (2003) 1: 37-41 al. 1996) but record on ethnobiology is Results and Discussion not available. Many people were found to lack a The study area lies in Gorsyang VDC formal grade school education, but were of Nuwakot district (270 48' to 280 6' highly knowledgeable about uses of local latitude and 840 58' to 850 30' longitude) animals and plants (Tables 1 and 2). The of Bagmati zone in the hilly region of two mammalian species Hystrix brachyura central Nepal. The VDC covers 33.03 and Lepus nigricollis were recorded to sq.km at elevation of 900- 2738 m, where have medicinal use. The viscera of Hystrix Tamange people have densely inhabited. brachyura, fish and flesh of Rana tigrina were found to cure asthma, jaundice and Materials and Methods pneumonia. The fur of Lepus nigricollis The research was carried out from was used to stop bleeding. Apis cerena and May 1997 to Feb 1998. It was entirely Apis dorsata were found to be used in cold based on both primary and secondary and cough treatment. Egg of Vanellus data. To obtain information, structured Indicus was found to cure asthma and questionnaire was designed. Interviews flatulence. The flesh of Rana tigrina was were conducted with the Tamang people found to cure asthma and pneumonia. of the village, the Lamas (the tribal Beside this, forty-two plant species were priest), local healers so as to know their found to have medicinal use. Acorus ethnography as well as utilization of calamus, Centilla asiatica, Terminalia medicinal plants and animals. All the chebula are their important medicinal specimens consumed for medicinal plants to control throat, urine and gastric purpose by the Tamang people of problems. The stem extract of Tinospora Gorsyang VDC were collected and cordifolia is used in menstruations identified with the available literature problem. (Bangdel and Fleming 1984, Shrestha From the research it shows that 1994, Anonymous 1994, Shrestha 1997, Tamangs have a rich folklore and Polunin and Stainton 1997) and for indigenous knowledge in the utilization of further confirmation specimens were different plants and animals against various tallied in the Department of Forestry and common diseases like asthma, pneumonia, Plant Research, Godawari (KATH); jaundice, stomach problem, worms, minor National History Museum, Swayambu; cut, diarrhoea etc. But such folklore is Botanical Department, Thapathali and passed on orally from generation to Museum of Central Department of generation without keeping any written Zoology. Altogether 9 species of records. Therefore, the lack of written animals (both invertebrate and document on the plants and animals lore vertebrate) and 44 important medicinal reveals the chances of losing the valuable plants were collected and deposited at tradition forever. In view of this aspect, it Central Department of Zoology, Kirtipur is necessary to preserve and properly and the Department of Forestry and document to keep a record of the Plant Research, Kathmandu. diversified utilization of various plant and animal species. 38 Our Nature (2003) 1: 37-41 Table 1. The recorded animal species used by Tamang people for medicinal purpose. Species Tamang ANIMAL SPECIES Family Part Used Medicinal Use Type name Cough and cold, Apis cerana Invertebrate Apidae Sing shore Whole insect tonic Cough and cold, Apis dorsata Invertebrate Apidae Wai Whole insect tonic To kill worms, Barilius bendelises Fish Cyprinidae Tarnga Pancreas asthma To kill worms, Chana gachua Fish Hile Pancreas asthma To kill worms, Garra gotyla Fish Cyprinidae Buduna Pancreas asthma Hystris brachyura Mammals Hystricidae dumsi Viscera Asthma Lepus nigricollis ruficaudatus Mammals Lagomorpha Kharayo Fur To stop bleeding To kill worms, Noemacheilus beavani Fish Cobitedae Brudhung Pancrease asthma Rana tigrina Amphibia Ranidae kalang tek tek Flesh Asthma, pneumonia To kill worms, Tor tor Fish Cyprinidae Katle Pancrease asthma Vanellus Indicus Birds Charadridae tedebuth Egg Asthma, flatulence Table 2. Plants species used by Tamang people for medicinal purpose are: TAMANG NEPALI ENGLISH PART PLANTS SPECIES FAMILY USES NAME NAME NAME USED Cough, Acorus calamus L Araceae Bhojho Bhojho - Stem bronchitis Aegle marmelos (L) Bengal Diarrhoea, Rutaceae Bel Bel Fruit Correa quince dysentery, tonic Century Leaf Diuretic, Agave Americana Linn Amaryllidaceae Ketuke Ketuke plant extract antisyphilitic Gandhe Leaf Cuts and Ageratum conyzoides L. Asteraceae Pokomra - Jhar extract wounds Flatulence,skin Allium sativum L Liliaceae No Lasun Garlic Stem rashes Ghiu Indian Plant Aloevera (L) Brum F. Liliaceae Ghiu Kumari Burn Kumari aloe extract Nausea Root and problem, Artemisia vulgaris Linn ” Cendeth Titepati Mag-wort leaf intestinal worms Azadirachta indica A Leaf Fever, intestinal Meliaceae Neem Neem Neem tree Juss extract worms Koiralo Pink Flower, Dysentery, Bauhinia variegata L Fabaceae Koiralo Mendo bauhinia seed piles, diarrhoea, 39 Our Nature (2003) 1: 37-41 worms Indian Jaundice, fever, Berberis aristata DC. Berberidaceae Chutro Chutro Stem berbery skin disease Bergenia ciliata (Ham) Saxifragaceae Pakhanbed Pakhanbed - Nagikret sternb Gum, Silk aphrodisiac, Bombax ceiba L Bombacaceae Kaga simal Bark cotton tree diarrhoea, dysentery Pain killer, Cannabis sativa L Cannabaceae Gaja Gaja - Leaf stomach ache Skin disease, Water Centella asiatica (L) Urb Apiaceae Chortapre Ghortapre Stem diuretic, pennywort indigestion Stomach ache, Cumminum cyminum L Apiaceae Jera Jera Cumin Seed dyspepsia, diarrhoea Cough, Curcuma langa L Zingiberaceae Haledo Haledo - Powder bronchitis Cuscuta reflexa Roxb Cuscutaceae Urlara Akash beli Tendril Jaundice Piles, dysentery, Dioscorea bulbifera L Diascoreaceae Gitta Gitta Air potatoSeed ulcer, Eulaliopsis binata (Retz) Poaceae Babiyo Babiyo - Root ” C.E. Hubbard Ficus racemosa Moraceae Lambrang Dumri - Seed Gamga pinnata Roxb Burseraceae Dab dabe Dab dabe - Bark ” Girardiana diversifolia Urticaceae Pachher Allo - Bark (Lindl) Fris. Hedychium densiflorum Zingiberacea Besar Besar Turmeric Powder Wall e Imperata cylindrical (L) ” Siru Siru - Stem Antihelmenthic Beauvois Malabar Justicia adhatoda L Acanthaceae Ashuro Ashuro Leaf Medicine nut Lalotropis gigantea (L) Asclepiadace Giant Ank Ank Stem ” Dryand ae milk weed Litsea cubeba (Lour) Lauraceae Prumo Sil timur - Seed Cholera pers. Litsea monopetala Diarrhoea, ” Chabuth Kutmero - Bark (Roxb) Allen Ko Ster painkiller Litsea salicifolia (Roxb. ” Harchut Harchut - Bark ex. Nees) Hook Fever, Melia azedarach (L) Meliaceae Bakaino Bakaino - Seed headache, loose bowel Leaf Diarrhoea, Musa paradisiaca L Musaceae Moje Kera Banana extract