Ethnobotanical Practices among the People of Dagana District, Bhutan
Karma Sherub
*
Department of Forest Science, College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan, Lobesa, Punakha, Bhutan.
Bhagat Suberi
Department of Forest Science, College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan, Lobesa, Punakha, Bhutan.
Purna Prasad Chapagai
Department of Forest Science, College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan, Lobesa, Punakha, Bhutan.
. Penjor
Department of Forest Science, College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan, Lobesa, Punakha, Bhutan.
Kelzang Jurmey
Department of Forest and Park Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Forest, Bhutan.
Karma Wangdra
Department of Forest and Park Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Forest, Bhutan.
Moni Kumar Neopaney
Department of Forest and Park Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Forest, Bhutan.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Medicinal plants are one of the most affordable and accessible method available for the treatment of various ailments and diseases by the local people. In this regards, the study aimed to document the ethno-medicinal knowledge of plants used by the local people of Dagana district of Bhutan. Data were collected between June and November of 2020 using semi-structured interviews from the local people, following snowball sampling. The study documented 74 medicinal plant species, used for treating 30 different body ailments and diseases. Maximum number of species (14) was used in treating cut/body wounds and commonly used plant parts was leaves (30 species). Current study area was found to be rich in ethno-medicinal knowledge, but equally threatened with declining practices and management of resources. Thus, appropriate conservation of resources and preservation of traditional knowledge is required.
Keywords: Ailments, Bhutan, Dagana district, disease, ethno medicinal knowledge, medicinal plants