Medicinal plants of a folk medicinal healer of Rangpur district, Bangladesh

Abstract

Folk medicinal healers (Kavirajes) of Bangladesh use a variety of medicinal plants to treat diseases and the selection of medicinal plants differs widely between Kavirajes of even adjacent areas. Thus, it is important to document the medicinal plants and formulations of individual Kavirajes. The objective of this study was to document the plants and formulations of a Kaviraj of Rangpur district, Bangladesh. The study was carried out with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and the guided filed-walk method. The Kaviraj was observed to use a total of 17 plants distributed into 15 families in his formulations. The plants were used to treat various types of pain, fever, respiratory tract disorders, jaundice, skin disorders, liver disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, abscess, and chicken pox. Since ethnomedicinal observations can lead to further scientific research and discovery of new drugs, the medicinal plants used by the Kaviraj merit scientific attention.