USE OF INDIGENOUS PLANTS IN TRADITIONAL HEALTH CARE ... · 1278Vol 4, Issue 08, 2015. Pandey et al. World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences KEYWORDS: Mishing Tribe,

www.wjpps.com Vol 4, Issue 08, 2015.

1277

Pandey et al. World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

USE OF INDIGENOUS PLANTS IN TRADITIONAL HEALTH CARE

SYSTEMS AND ECONOMIC USE BY MISHING TRIBE OF JORHAT,

ASSAM, INDIA

Amit Pandey1*

, Shweta Singh2, Rita Singh

3, Rajashree G Mavinkurve

4

1*PhD Research Scholar, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University.

2Post-Doctoral Fellow, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University.

3Associate Professor, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University.

4Research Associate, Centre for Conservation of Natural Resources, I-AIM, FRLHT,

Bengaluru, India.

ABSTRACT

Background: The tribal People are custodian of unique traditional

knowledge systems and their ambient flora and fauna. The Mishing

community of Assam also has some traditional health care practices.

Assam is very rich in plant biodiversity as well as in ethnic diversity

and has great traditional knowledge based on plant resources. A survey

on folk medicinal plants and folk healers of Mishing tribe was

conducted in Jorhat district, Assam. Methods: Information was

collected based on interview and field studies with local healers within

the community. Identification of medicinal plants was done by the

indigenous healers. Study was mainly with plants used to cure diseases

and to enquire about different healing systems. Results: We were able to explore 30

indigenous plants used by Mishing tribe in the treatment of various diseases and their

economic uses. Conclusion: Mishing tribe is very rich in indigenous health care practices

and their healing techniques are not been scientifically validated till now. In support of the

documented Traditional Healthcare Practices (THPs), herbarium specimens were collected

for authentication and promotion of the safe and efficacious Local Health Practices. Analysis

of the survey showed that such work is important and contributes for primary health care and

also it is necessary to combat the diminishing indigenous knowledge and THPs.

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Article Received on

04 June 2015,

Revised on 25 June 2015,

Accepted on 13 July 2015

*Correspondence for

Author

Amit Pandey

PhD Research Scholar,

Guru Gobind Singh

Indraprastha University.


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KEYWORDS: Mishing Tribe, Traditional Health Practices (THPs), Traditional Health

Practitioners, Plant Herbariums, Indigenous Plants.

INTRODUCTION

The Mishings, belonging to Tibeto-Burman ethnic group and formerly known as the Miris,

which constitute the second largest scheduled tribe (Plains) group in Assam, have been

playing a significant role in the culture and economy of the greater Assamese society in

general and tribal society in particular. They with 5.9 lakh population (17.8 per cent of the

state’s total tribal people) as per 2001 Census are mainly concentrated in the riverine areas of

Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Sibsagar, Jorhat, Golaghat and Sonitpur districts

of Assam. It is worth mentioning that Dhemaji district alone constitutes 31.7% of the total

Mishings in the state, followed by Lakhimpur (28.2%) and Jorhat (15.7%) districts.

Moreover, agriculture being their main occupation, as high as 85.6 % of main workers is

engaged as cultivators in the state, which is the highest among all the tribes of Assam. The

majority of the Mishing people are still living in the flood affected and isolated areas with old

age traditions, and modern civilization has practically left them almost untouched in many

aspects. This colorful ethnic group living amidst the fellow non-tribal Assamese people for

many centuries has been able to maintain its traditional socio-cultural traits un-impaired in

spite of the changes that have taken place in the socio-politico-religious life of Assam.[8]

Having the tradition of living along the banks of rivers, the habitats of Mishings have been

constantly exposed to floods and erosion, for which they have to often shift from one place to

another. [9]

Although majority of them are still living in rural areas, it is noticed that for better


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socio-economic conditions, employment opportunities, accessibility, etc rural to urban

migration either temporarily or permanently is gaining ground among the Mishings in recent

times, which have resulted in adoption of new urban culture sometimes at the cost of age-old

cultural traditions. In respect of Mishing societies, although the Mishings are maintaining the

traditional customs, some changes have been noticed in their life and culture which are

affecting the core of their culture. The spread of modern education, science and technology,

etc. has also brought about drastic changes in the religious beliefs and socio-economic life of

the Mishings. The Mishings are undergoing the process of modernization, acculturation and

urbanization, and the impact of these factors on them is resulting in erosion of their

traditional life, folk culture and folklore medicines. In consideration of the above, the present

study entitled “Use of Indigenous Plants in Traditional Health Care Systems and Economic

use by Mishing Tribe of Jorhat, Assam, India” is taken up to understand the traditional

practices among the Mishing tribe in Jorhat district, Assam, India.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present study was undertaken in the selected villages (Bogoriguri,Gowal Gaon,

Charingia Bezgaon, Titabor bibizan) of Jorhat district, Assam where Mishing community is

inhabiting. The documentation of Local Health Practices was conducted through structured

questionnaire, interview with photo and video documentation. The work was conducted in the

month of April 2012 in Jorhat, Assam. During the course of the research work the healers

were visited several times to document their traditional knowledge in a systemic way using a

questionnaire in which the healers were asked several question related to their knowledge

starting with signing of the Prior Consent Form to clarify whether the healer is willing to

share his/her knowledge or not and then the further proceedings were done. The study was

further preceded with the literature review, collection of important indigenous plants,

preparation of herbarium and identification of the collected specimens. The herbarium

specimens are preserved in I-AIM, FRLHT herbarium library, Bengaluru, India.


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Table 1. List of plants documented along with their family, habit, local name, part used

and ethno medicinal use

Sl. No. Botanical Name Family Habit Local Name

(Assamese)

Plant Part

Used

Ethnomedicinal uses

1. Abroma augusta

Linn.

Malvaceae Shrub Ui-sipak Bark of the

plant

The bark of the twigs

yield strong silky

fibers used in tying

fishing equipments.

2. Acorus calamus

Linn.

Acoraceae Herb Bos Rhizome of

the plant

The decoction of

rhizome is given in

abdominal pain

during menstruation

cycle of women.

3. Allium sativa

Linn.

Amaryllidaceae Herb Kampunć

Talab

Bulb of the

plant

The bulb of the plant

is grinded with

mustard seeds, then

mixed with warm

mustard oil and

massage whole body

specially the palm and

sole during high fever.

4. Alpinia galanga

(Linn.) Willd.

Zingiberaceae Herb Tora Leaves Edges of Mattress

bind with thread

made of Alpinia

galanga.

5. Areca catechu

(Linn.f.) Willd.

Mimosaceae Shrub Chaali Fruit The fruit of

Areca catechu and leaf

of Piper betel is used

as masticatory. The

petiole of Piper betel

leaf is browsed around

the anus during

constipation.

The fruit of the former

and leaf of the later

together with

fermented tobacco and

lime is grinded and

applied into the

wounds to kill the

larva present in cattle.

6. Bambusa tulda

Roxb.

Poaceae Shrub Jati Di:bang Whole plant

parts

The green stem scrap

is applied over the

fresh cut treatment.

7. Bombax

malbaricum D.C.

Malvaceae Tree Sínggung Fruit The unripe fruit is

chewed by the people

suffering from

dysentery.

8. Caesalpinia Caesalpinaceae Shrub Leta guti Fruits Used with Drymaria


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crista

Linn.

cordata in fever and

fruits are used as tonic

and antipyretic.

9. Curcuma longa

Linn.

Zingiberaceae

Herb Halodhi Rhizome The decoction of

rhizome is used in

whooping Cough [20]

10. Drymaria cordata

(Linn.) Willd. ex

Schult.

Caryophyllaceae Herb Lai jabori

Leaves Swelling of fingers of

hands and legs.

11. Phyllanthus

emblica Linn.

Euphorbiaceae Tree Amlukhi Fruit Hair Fall[20]

12. Hiptage

benghalensis

(Linn.) Kurz.

Malpighiaceae Climber Madhoi-lota

Roots The paste made out of

roots is applied over

the blisters.

13. Hydrocotyle

sibthorpioides

Lam.

Araliaceae Herb Horu

manimuni

Leaves,

Roots

Dysentery, diarrhoea,

piles, rheumatism, as

digestive, diuretic and

vermifuge and

menstrual

problem

14. Justicia adhatoda

Linn.

Acanthaceae Shrub Boga bahak Leaves The decoction of

leaves is used in

whooping Cough

15. Lavandula spps.

Lamiaceae Shrub Joni

Seeds Seeds of the plant are

grinded with the help

of pestle and mortar

and a decoction is

prepared which is

taken twice a day, two

teaspoon to cure

tuberculosis.

16. Litsea salicifolia

(Roxb. ex Nees)

Hook. f.

Lauraceae Tree Dhig-loti Leaves Leaf paste is taken

twice a day with luke

warm water to cure

loose motion

17. Leucas aspera

(Willd.) Link.

Lamiaceae Herb Durun bon Leaves and

roots

Leaves are used in

lack of appetite,

sinusitis, stomach

complaints and

headache. The leaf

extract is used in skin

problems. Roots are

used to treat

pneumonia, swellings,

ring worms, boils etc

and in the relief of

snake bites.

18. Macrothelypteris

ornata (Wall. ex

Bedd.) Ching.

Thelypteridaceae Shrub Bihlongoni Leaves Tender leaf of this

plant cooked with

chicken to feed mother


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thought to be enhance

the milk for new born

baby.

19. Mangifera indica

Linn.

Anacardiaceae Tree Ke:di Leaves The decoction made of

leaves and bark is

taken in empty

stomach in the

treatment of

dysentery.

20. Meliosma pinnata

(Roxb.) Maxim.

Sabiaceae Tree Dermi-asing Young

Leaves

The young leaves are

eaten by the Mishing

cooked with fish.

21. Mimosa pudica

Linn.

Mimosaceae Herb Nilaji Roots Tooth worm,

Menstrual

Problem

22. Musa paradisica

var. sepientun

Linn.

Musaceae Shrub Kopak Fruit Decoction of fruit and

rhizome is given

during piles.

23. Ocimum sanctum

Linn.

Lamiaceae Herb Tulsi Leaves The leaves are grinded

with powder of dried

spider and are applied

over the wounds of ear

for cure for around

one week.

24. Phrynium

pubinerve Blume

Marantaceae Herb Koupat Leaves The leaves of

Phrynium pubinerve is

wrapped all the

agricultural

implements at the first

day of sowing for

good harvest.

25. Piper longum

Linn.

Piperaceae Herb Pipoli Fruit Asthma.[20]

26. Plumbago

zeylanica Linn.

Plumbaginaceae Shrub Agor-Sita Roots Paste of the roots is

applied to the affected

region in case of dog

bite.

27. Psidium guajava

Linn.

Myrtaceae Tree Muhurian Bark Blood dysentery.[20]

28. Rubus

moluccanus Linn.

Rosaceae Shrub Jetuli Poka

Whole Plant Blood dysentery.[20]

29. Saccharum

arundinaceum

Retz.

Poaceae Shrub Megela Whole Plant The whole plant is

used as thatching

material as well as to

make the barrier of

houses raised on the

poles.

30. Sarcochlamys

pulcherrima

Urticaceae Shrub Ombe/Notke Young

shoots and

Consumption of young

leaves of this plant


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Gaudich. leaves believed to be

protective measure

from the tape worm

and fat minimize agent

when cooked with

pork.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

Documentation was carried out with the selected healers from different villages (Bogoriguri,

Gowal Gaon, Charingia Bezgaon, Titabor bibizan) of Jorhat district from 2nd

April 2012 to

30th

April 2012. All the healers interviewed were male healers in the age group of 35 to 50

years. During the present study, 30 different plant species were found to use as traditional

health care services and economic use by the village Mishing people of Jorhat, Assam. Table

1 enlists the indigenous plant species commonly used by the Mishing tribe of the study area.

Though people of the study areas access to the health care services, yet they prefer folklore

medicines for certain ailments as immediate and effective measures. The habit of using forest

based wild herbs, shrubs, climbers and trees for cooking purposes are unique to the Mishing

tribe. The recent trends of habitat destruction and decrease in the forest area has rendered

many species to disappear from the environment for which household of the Mishing tribal

community are maintaining some easily propagatable of frequently used plant species such as

Piper longum, Mimosa pudica, Musa paradisica, Mangifera indica etc. in the backyard of

their house in order to achieve their immediate needs. Of course, its former popularity and

reliability has considerably decreased.

Piper longum

Mimosa pudica


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Musa paradisiaca

Mangifera indica

Plumbago zeylenica

Leucas aspera

Fig. 2: Some important indigenous plants used by mishing tribe, Assam

Fig. 3: Percentage of indigenous plants used for various diseases and economic uses

The analysis of the data reveals that out of 30 documented plants 5 plants are used for

economic purpose (edibility, binding of mattresses, wrapping the fish products), 5 plants to

cure dysentery, 4 plants are used to treat cough, cold and fever, 4 plants are used to treat

gynecological problems, 3 plants for cut and wound, 3 plants for constipation, 3 plants for


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dental problems, 2 plants are used to cure boils and blisters, 1 plant is used to cure

pneumonia, 1 for inflammation of body, 1 for piles, 1 for Asthma, 1 for Diarrhea, 1 for hair

fall and 1 plant is used to cure tuberculosis by the mishing tribe of Jorhat, Assam.

The analysis of the 30 plants according to IUCN Red List Criteria gave the following result:

Table 2. Analysis of IUCN category of Plant species.

IUCN Red List Category No. of Plants

Vulnerable 10

Endangered 8

Near Threatened 6

Threatened 3

Safe 2

Critically Endangered 1

Out of 30 documented plants 11 plants are herbs, 12 plants are found to be shrubs, 6 trees and

1 plant found to be a climber. During documentation it was found that the healers have got

immense knowledge in the field of traditional medicine and the herbal preparation. Due to

modernization, the traditional system of the herbal use is not very popular with the younger

generation. In the past, the indigenous communities had a self-regulating system that was

interwoven in such a way so that each individual could receive certain economic benefits

from his profession. Some of the traditional vaidyas were marginal farmers and they provided

their services free of cost. In return, the villagers helped the vaidyas with their agricultural

work and also offered some donation in the form of cereals, pulses and vegetables. They were

happy to share their knowledge. With changing life styles and introduction of immediate

economic return in terms of cash, the traditional value related to the profession of vaidyas has

started changing. The younger generation of vaidyas might have visualizing fewer

opportunities in the profession to become wealthy. This has resulted in sharp decline in the

number of recognized vaidyas.

Fig 4: Percentage and number of plant parts used


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Nonetheless the, knowledge of herbal use is so deeply rooted in society that there are still

number of women and men in the villages who know the healing properties of many

medicinal plant species. The loss of traditional knowledge on preparing medicines is due to

the decline in number of vaidyas coming forward to adopt this profession. In addition the

survey results indicate that the practice of individual healers of identifying plants and

preparing various formulations themselves for the use of their patients has been declining

rapidly. Today, due to rapid socio-economic changes and urbanization, most of the vaidyas

largely depend on the products supplied by the pharmaceutical industries. For future

development of the state and the country, Local Health Traditions should be regarded and

established as a valuable traditional system. The various herbal formulations prepared and

used by traditional vaidyas must be documented systematically so as to avoid the gaps in the

traditional knowledge.

CONCLUSION

A deep-rooted indigenous bio-cultural heritage surrounding plant resource utilization forms

an inseparable part in the life of the Mishing tribe of Assam. Like other tribal communities

the Mishing of Jorhat, Assam also have deep faith in the efficacy of mantras (magic) in

curing diseases. Traditional healer (Bej) will diagnose the cause of the illness through

divination. At the time of divination he will invoke the dead ancestors and Gods, through

appropriate spells and incantations. They will convey the causes and remedies of illness to

the Bej and he will treat the patient according to these directions. According to a Bej of

Mishing tribe there are four major causes of illness; namely, (i) anger of god, (ii) anger of

ancestral spirits, (iii) breach of taboo and (iv) possession of evil spirits. The traditional

mantras still hold an important place in the Mishing society. The villagers are using these

traditional mantras for the treatment of diseases like pain of chest, feet, and other parts of

body, snakebite, tonsillitis, piles, bleeding of women, etc.

Fig.5. People of Mishing Tribe, Assam


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Fig. 6. Healers of Mishing Tribe of different villages of Jorhat, Assam

In the Mishing society, apart from the local medicine men who treat most of the diseases, one

comes across other specialists in bone-setting, curing of bite by dog, fox and snake and

healing of burn injuries. All of them are known as Bej in their society. The Bejs are ordinary

cultivators or even landless laborers. They are generally males and their posts are not

hereditary. Women are not permitted to be a Bej because of their patriarchy nature. The Bej

accepts remuneration in the form of a feast if the patient gets cured. The bulk of the drugs

used by the Bejs to cure prevalent diseases are of vegetable origin. Apart from oral

consumption of herbals certain other forms of treatment such as bathing, fumigation,

fomentation, application of purgative, etc. are in vogue. The present paper is an effort made

to explore and document some vital aspects of the plant based traditional skills and

technologies related to ethnomedicine and consumption of wild edible plants by the Mishing

people of Bogoriguri, Gowal Gaon, Charingia Bezgaon, Titabor bibizan villages of Jorhat

district of Assam. Further scientific research on the plant based indigenous knowledge can

provide ample scope for further pharmaceutical studies as well as in the development of eco-

friendly technologies for better livelihood.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors of the paper are thankful to North Eastern Institute of Folk Medicine, Pasighat

Arunachal Pradesh for providing essential funding to conduct field surveys and interviewing

the healers. We would like to place on records our indebtness and gratitude to North East

Institute of Science and Technology, (NEIST) Jorhat, Assam for helping us throughout the

field survey and also a heartfelt thanks to all the healers for their magnanimous support and

gracious gesture in sharing their knowledge with us, without them this work wouldn’t have

been possible. We would also like to acknowledge the help and support provided by Mr. G.

Hariramamuthy, Assistant Director, Center for Local Health Tradition (CLHT), Foundation


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for Revitalization of Local Health Tradition (FRLHT) and the entire team of FRLHT,

Bengaluru for giving us the opportunity to conduct such kind of a work in North Eastern part

of India.

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Documents

USE OF INDIGENOUS PLANTS IN TRADITIONAL HEALTH CARE ... · 1278Vol 4, Issue 08, 2015. Pandey et al. World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences KEYWORDS: Mishing Tribe,