Biodiv. Res. Conserv. 28: 63-77, 2012 BRC www.brc.amu.edu.pl DOI 10.2478/v10119-012-0028-z Traditional knowledge on ethnobotanical uses of plant biodiversity: a detailed study from the Indian western Himalaya Koushalya Nandan Singh Biodiversity Division, Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR), Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, 176 061, India, e-mail: knsingh. [email protected] Abstract: The present article is based on the findings of ethnobotanical surveys conducted in the entire Lahaul-Spiti region of Indian western Himalaya to highlight the traditional use of medicinal plants by the native people. Results revealed that tribal communities of both Lahaul and Spiti valleys (Lahaulas in Lahaul and Bhotias in Spiti) have a great respect for and faith in Amchi system of medicine practiced in the entire region. Information collected on the traditional use of plants in the local health care system by the tribal communities of Lahaul-Spiti revealed the use of 86 plant species belonging to 69 genera and 34 families to cure about 70 different ailments. Maximum number of plant species used in herbal formulations belonged to families Asteraceae, Apiaceae, Gentianaceae, and Polygonaceae. Both single herbal preparations and polyherbal formulations are prescribed and administered by local healers known as Larje in Lahaul and Amchis in Spiti. Most of the medicines are prescribed in a powder form, some as juice and decoctions. Among plant parts, leaves were recorded to be used to a large extent as a remedy, followed by flowers. Results of the present study show that the highest number of plants was used to cure stomach disorders, while the highest extent of phytotherapeutic use among all the species had Hippophae rhamnoides (17.14%). The obtained data also revealed the information on new or less known medicinal uses of various plant species that are new addition to the traditional knowledge from western Himalaya. Modes of preparation, administration and dosage are discussed along with the family and local names of plants and plant parts used. Key words: medicinal plants, ethnobotany, Indian Himalaya, Lahaul-Spiti 1. Introduction firm belief in indigenous medicines. In Spiti, the lo- cal practitioners who prescribe medicines are called The art of herbal healing has very deep roots in tribal Amchis, whereas in Lahaul, they are regarded as Larje. culture and folklore. Even today, most of the tribal com- The traditional system of medicine followed by these munities are dependent upon local traditional healing healers is known as Amchi System of Medicine. The systems for their primary health care. Lahaul-Spiti is Amchi System of Medicine is one amongst the indig- one of the exceptional locations in the Indian western enous systems of medicine which are still practiced Himalaya which offers immense scope for ethnobotani- throughout Indian trans-Himalaya. cal studies. Because of the unique geographical location, Due to the on-going developmental activities, the Lahaul-Spiti harbours distinct ethnic and biological traditional wisdom, developed over centuries, is vani- diversity. This is one of the regions in Indian Himalaya, shing rapidly. Modernization has also affected living where traditional healing system is still popular among standards of the inhabitants of Lahaul-Spiti (Singh & the local people (Singh 2008). Brijlal 2008). Changing lifestyle has also jeopardized Lahaul-Spiti is inhabited by two major ethnic groups, the ages-old practice of herbal use. Therefore, docu- namely, Lahaulas in Lahaul and Bodhs (Bhotias) in mentation of valuable information known to the native Spiti. Besides distinctions in socio-economic and people has become imperative to discover potential cultural conditions, peoples of both communities have sources of new herbal medicines. On the other hand, ETHNOBOTANY ©Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań (Poland), DepartmentUnauthenticated of Plant Taxonomy. All rights reserved. Download Date | 1/29/16 5:06 AM 64 Koushalya Nandan Singh Traditional knowledge on ethnobotanical uses of plant biodiversity: a detailed study... it also aims to preserve ages-old traditional knowledge isolated from each other for more than six months in a which is mostly transferred by the word of mouth from year due to heavy snowfalls. one generation to another without any permanent record. Lahaul-Spiti is thinly populated. It is inhabited by Therefore, the present study was designed to provide 31,294 persons with a population density of 2 persons comprehensive and novel information on traditional per sq km, representing 0.6 percent of the total popula- phytotherapy curing various ailments prevailing in tion of the State. The Lahaul valley is physically a closed Lahaul-Spiti region of Indian western Himalaya. unit surrounded by the main Himalayan ranges on the North, the mid-Himalayan range or Pir Panjal on the 2. Materials and methods South, the Kunjum range which separates Lahaul from Spiti on the East, and the off-shoot of the Pir Panjal range on the West. The Rohtang Pass (3981 m), the gateway 2.1. Study area and topography to Lahaul-Spiti region, connects Lahaul to Kullu district Study is confined to district Lahaul-Spiti of Hi- of the State. Higher mountain ranges and narrow river machal Pradesh in western Himalaya. Lahaul-Spiti, valleys are the most important features of Lahaul. The situated between 3144’57’’-32°59’57’’N latitudes and lowest elevation point (2400 m) in the valley is at the 76°46’29’’-78°41’34’’E longitudes, is an ideal land- exit of the Chenab River in Chamba. Waters of the Great scape, encompassing most of the diverse ecosystems Himalayan ranges enclosed within the Lahaul is drained widely spread between temperate to cold desert zones. by two rivers, namely the Chandra and the Bhaga, which The district headquarter is located at Keylong (3350 m). originate in the mountain ranges of Baralacha Pass situ- Among the 12 districts in the state, it is the largest ated at the northern extremities of the valley. district with a total area of 13,835 sq km and accounts The Spiti valley with its headquarter at Kaza for 24.85 percent of the total geographical area of Hi- (3450 m), is situated beyond the Kunjum Pass and lies machal Pradesh. Lahaul-Spiti comprises two different in adjoining part of the central Himalaya behind the rain mountainous tracts (sub-divisions). The first one is shadow of the Great Himalayan ranges. It is bounded by known as Lahaul and the other as Spiti (Fig. 1). These Tibet in the North-East, Kinnaur and Kullu districts in two sub-divisions are totally distinct from each other in South-East and West, and Ladakh (Jammu and Kashmir) several aspects. Lahaul sub-division, the western part of in the North, with average elevation of 4000 m. Mini- the district, is physically more accessible, whereas Spiti, mum altitude of Spiti valley is 3050 m at the entrance the eastern part of the district, is difficult to access. The (Sumdo) to the valley from the South-East border with Kunjum Pass (4591 m) keeps these two sub-divisions Kinnaur. The only other point of entry is from the Fig. 1. Map of the study area (Lahaul-Spiti) showing major localities Unauthenticated Download Date | 1/29/16 5:06 AM Biodiv. Res. Conserv. 28: 63-77, 2012 65 North-West at Kunjum Pass. The predominant feature even with the same informants on different occasions. of Spiti cold desert is the broad and completely rugged The information regarding the traditional knowledge on valley with perennial flowing water of the Spiti River. the local uses of plants, their local names, part(s) used, A natural glacial lake (4575 m) at Mane, Spiti River, ailments cured and mode of preparation and administra- and Pin River originating from Bhava Pass (4700 m) are tion have been given in the results. Besides, plant family the main sources of water. The Spiti valley is famous and scientific name with voucher specimen number of for lakes and monasteries. Gete (4270 m) and Kibber each plant used in traditional phytotherapy have also (4205 m) are amongst the villages in this region linked been provided. The extent of use of each plant species with a road, which are located at the highest elevations curing various diseases was computed as follows: in the world (Census of India 2003). Extent of use (%) = (total number of ailments 2.2. Native people cured with the use of a plant / total number of ailments prevailing in the area) × 100 The inhabitants of Lahaul-Spiti are overwhelmingly Buddhists and the dialect spoken by the inhabitants is 2.4. Collection and identification of plant specimens known as Bhoti, which is near to Tibetan language. and preservation Before the start of the modern communication system, From each sampling site, the voucher specimens of the main occupation of the people was agriculture and plant species observed in the quadrats were collected animal husbandry. Male folks mainly used to spend and identified with the help of local and regional floras their time playing with their mules, apart from helping (Polunin & Stainton 1984; Aswal & Mehrotra 1994). the ladies in agricultural operations. Kuth (Saussurea Herbarium of Botanical Survey of India (BSD), Deh- costus) was cultivated largely and was the main source radun was also consulted for the identification and of trade in Lahaul valley. Due to gradual socio-cultural authentication of the plant species. Specimens collected changes and modern facilities, people are now engaged during the surveys were processed in the herbarium in government jobs, road construction and other activi- laboratory following Jain and Rao (1976). These were ties. Besides cultivating traditional cultivars of mustard, pressed, dried in blotting sheets and poisoning with buckwheat, barley and wheat, people are now concen- formaldehyde or mercuric chloride solution (0.5%) was trating on cash crops like seed potato, green peas and done to protect against insect and fungal attack before hops.