Study and evaluation of some lesser known herbs potentially used as folk medicine by Jaunsari tribe

Upadhyay A.K. 1 & Kaushal Kumar. 2
1Department of Ayurved Research & Development, DYMT (SIROs), Patanjali Yogpeeth, Haridwar-249402
2Patanjali Herbal Garden & Agro Research Deptt., DYMT (SIROs), Patanjali Yogpeeth, Haridwar-249402

ABSTRACT
The present communication reports about some potential plants used as tribal medicine of Jaunsari for the treatment of various diseases and disorders. The Jaunsari tribe of Jaunsar-Bawar is a primitive group of people who have their own culture, custom and traditions. They are living in close vicinity of Himalayan and Shivalik region which is rich in plant wealth and ambient vegetation. They are residing close to nature and use a number of wild plants such as Aesculus indica, Asparagus filicinus, Berberis chitria, Bidens biternata, Cannabis sativa, Cinnamomum tamala, Cissampelos pareira, Crotalaria spectabilis, Cryptolepis buchananii, Datura stramonium, Oxalis corniculata, Rumex nepalensis, Solanum ferox, Thalictrum foliolosum, Viola canescens, Zanthoxylum armatum etc. for primary healthcare. There are not any initiations undertaken regarding the exploration of lesser known uses of medicinal plants in perspectives of Ayurveda. There are ample scopes in Dravya guna of Ayurveda where many other important interesting medicinal plants especially used by tribes, may be introduced which have not been earlier mentioned in anywhere in classical text of India. The present study has greater significance towards the development of healthcare products based on lesser known potential plants of ethnomedicinal leads/oral wisdom of Jaunsari tribe. The study has greater significance to enrichment the Dravyaguna/Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia and maintaining continuation to addition of specific and new plants in Ayurveda.
Keywords: Lesser known herbs, Folk Medicine, Jaunsari Tribe, Ethnomedicine, Ayurveda