ROLE OF MEDICINAL-PLANTS IN THE TRADITIONAL HEALTH-CARE SYSTEM - A CASE-STUDY FROM NANDA-DEVI-BIOSPHERE-RESERVE

Tolchha-Bhotiya sub-community, inhabiting the buffer zone villages of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, has strong faith and belief in tradition al health care system, viz. herbal treatment. Twenty-fire plant specie s are generally being used along with other materials and plant produc ts in different combinations to cure fifteen major diseases. About eig ht and nine plant species are used for curing: more than one disease. However, far some rare and serious diseases like tuberculosis, rheumat ism, internal wounds and fractures, a fe rv people, particularly those belonging to higher income group, prefer allopathic treatment. Since the knowledge of various medicinal plants being used in herbal treatme nt and their method of use is confined to local practitioner - vaidhya - it is of utmost importance to record this knowledge for future gene rations, otherwise it will be lost forever in the process of accultura tion, which is tailing place in the community at an alarming rate.