Traditional Health Care (THC) and nutritional practices in Mother Child Health Care systems (MCHCs) in the tribal dominated areas of Rajasthan, India.

Abstract

Plants and plants based products are frequently used by the tribals for their health and treatment right from human civilization. The present study was conducted in the tribal dominated areas of Rajasthan such as Banswara, Chittorgarh, Dungarpur, Pratapgarh and Udaipur which are mainly dominated by the Bhil, Meena, Garasia and Kathodia tribes. During study informations were collected from the Dais or Gunis, tribal health practitioners. In the present work 55 plant species belonging to 52 genera and 35 families have collected, identified and documented which are used to treat different types of mother child ailments after the birth and up to five years age of child. Similarly, informations were also documented about the plants their parts which were used for nutritional purposes during the lactation period of mother and for the amelioration of the health of mother and child.