Exploration of some folk medicinal herbs in forest fringe villages of Assam (India): A study amid Nagaon and Golaghat districts

Abstract

A two year extensive field survey was carried out in 12 different forest fringe villages of Assam lies especially between Nagaon and Golaghat district and alongside of Kaziranga National Park, to collect information on the uses of wild medicinal herbs by inhabiting tribal populations. The “transect walk” method of participatory rural appraisal (PRA) were adopted during survey and the data were analyzed through Use-value valuation technique. This research documented 34 medicinal herbs which were using by tribal to treat 27 human infirmities like jaundice,diarrhoea, dysentery, coughs, colds and other ailments. The Use-value data indicate that there is a high degree of consensus among informants regarding treatment of various ailments. However, due to the influence of climate change and other anthropological activities, this spoken folklore is at the verge of extinction. Therefore, appropriate measures need to be taken to conserve and enhance these wild medicinal herbs in fringe forest areas and to generate better livelihood options for tribals at their places.