Ethnomedicinal plants used by tribal healers of Purulia as a remedy for arthritis: A preliminary survey

Abstract

Arthritis is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease which is due to disorder of the immune system and can cause restricted mobility and death. Lack of effective treatment in remote areas results in financial burden and long-term expensive medication. Traditionally people living in remote areas depends on herbal resources for their livelihood. These suppositories are often used singly or in combination which are prescribed by village elderly or quacks and lacks the scientific basis. In the present survey which spanned for almost six months, we encountered 40 species of plant which were commonly used for treatment of arthritis. These surveys would help us to know the traditional knowledge which would lead to the development of ethno-botanic resources for inexpensive drugs for the treatment of arthritis and their scientific validation.