Traditional remedial plants utilized in the Paliyar’s tribe handling of different skin diseases from Sadhuragiri hills, Tamil Nadu, india

Abstract

An ethnobotanical exploration, an attempt has been made to survey the indigenous knowledge on herbal medicines used as a therapy for skin disorders by the Paliyar tribes of Sadhuragiri hills. The purpose of this study is to assess traditional knowledge on medicinal plants which forms a baseline data for future pharmacological and phytochemical studies, to identify the vital species used for skin medicine, finding out methods for various preparations, and calculate the % informants in relation to medicinal plant use. In this study frequent field trips were made for the collection of plant specimens and information on medicinal aspects from traditional healers and women folk through questionnaire and interviews. The information of herbal preparation, parts used, mode of administration and local name was also taken during the study period. The present study has resulted in the documentation of 50 medicinal plant species belonging to 26 families and 41 genera used by the Paliyar for treatment of different skin ailments, viz. Scabies, Skin allergy, eczema, Wound swelling, Ring worm, itches, Heal crack, Burn wounds, Poison bite infection. The findings of present study shows documentation of 20 plant species which are found little known or less reported in available published literature. The Paliyar tribe lives interiorly in the forest localities and Government is making policies to rehabilitate them outside of forest areas, it is necessary to tap their rich heritable traditional knowledge on medicinal plants within time before it become vanished due to modernization. A inclusive detailed search and report on the pattern of utilization of medicinal plants by this tribe has not evidenced in the earlier publications. Therefore, present attempt has been made to document traditional knowledge of Paliyar tribe used to treat different skin disorders by production various herbal preparations.
 Keywords: Paliyar tribe, Herbal medicines, Skin disorders, Indigenous knowledge, Sadhuragiri hills.