Abstract
Background: The diverse soil and climatic conditions make Nepal suitable for the growth of several medicinal plants. Medicinal plants play vital roles in the Nepalese livelihood and the use of medicinal plants is common in all parts of the country. This study aims to assess the traditional knowledge of medicinal plants used by local people in Tanahun district of Nepal in the treatment of respiratory system related diseases.
Methods: Data were collected in January and February, 2020 from four villages of Myagde rural municipality in Tanahun district by using semi-structured interviews and guided field works.
Results: A total of 21 medicinal plants, belonging to 15 families were documented. Commonly used plant parts were leaves (33.33%), fruits (23.81%) and underground portions/ rhizome (19.04%). The most popular medicinal preparation is decoction, infusion, powder, paste and juice.
Conclusions: The study area was found to be rich in plant resources so the uses of medicinal plants in this area need to be explored and documented before it lost forever. We believed that further pharmacological and clinical studies on these plants may provide effective herbal medicines for various respiratory disorders.
Key-Words / Index Term
Medicinal plants, Ethno botany, Respiratory disease, Traditional medicine, Traditional healers, Nepal
References
[1]. M.A. James, S. Bhattacharya, H. Momen, M.A. Saavedra. M. Jones. “Health for all the journey to universal health coverage”. Orient Blackswan, 2015.
[2]. Bussmann, Rainer W., Wendy Applequist, and Narel Paniagua-Zambrana. "Traditional medicine in a global environment." 2014.
[3]. B.P. Gaire, and L. Subedi. "Medicinal plant diversity and their pharmacological aspects of Nepal Himalayas" Pharmacognosy journal, Vol. 25, Issue.3, pp. 6-17, 2011.
[4]. A.G.Singh, A. Kumar, D.D. Tewari. “An ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used in Terai forest of western Nepal” Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine, Vol. 8, Issue.1, pp.19, 2012.
[5]. M. Adhikari, R. Thapa, R.M. Kunwar, H.P. Devkota, P. Poudel. “Ethnomedicinal uses of plant resources in the machhapuchchhre rural municipality of kaski district, Nepal”. Medicines, Vol.6, Issue 2, pp. 69, 2019.
[6]. U. Khanal, C. Wilson, V.N. Hoang, B.L. Lee, “Autonomous adaptations to climate change and rice productivity a case study of the Tanahun district, Nepal”. Climate and Development, Vol.11, Issue.7, pp. 555-563, 2019.
[7]. N.P. Manandhar, “Medicinal plant-lore of Tamang tribe of Kabhrepalanchok district, Nepal” Economic botany, Vol.45, Issue.1, pp.58-71, 1991.
[8]. O.P. Kurmi, S. Semple, G.S. Devereux, S. Gaihre, K.B.H. Lam, S. Sadhra, J.G. Ayres. ”The effect of exposure to biomass smoke on respiratory symptoms in adult rural and urban Nepalese populations” Environmental Health, Vol.13, Issue.1, pp.92, 2014.
Citation
H. Khanal, U. Khanal, "Use of Medicinal Plants in the Treatment of Respiratory Diseases in Tanahun District of Nepal," International Journal of Scientific Research in Multidisciplinary Studies , Vol.7, Issue.1, pp.58-63, 2021
