Traditional knowledge on use of medicinal plants grown in homesteads as home remedies

Abstract

The present paper is an attempt to explore the traditional knowledge nurtured by the farming community on medicinal plants. The study was conducted in Thrissur district of Kerala state. Thrissur has a long history in the use of medicinal plants and traditional medicine. Local people in the villages, especially the elderly, have useful information about health benefits and how to use these plants. Therefore, it seems that collecting and recording this information lead to the revival of traditional knowledge. A total of 62 species of medicinal plants and 45 ITKs were recorded in the study area. However, out of 62 species only 29 species are currently used for treating various illness and diseases. Further, 12 plants were used to cure more than one ailment, while 17 plants were mostly used for single therapeutic application. Traditional botanists and native people were also interviewed for identifying the medicinal plants and studying its uses.