2016, Vol. 4, Issue 5, Part C

author(s)
S Hota and A Chatterjee

abstract
This study was carried out in order to determine which plants and the ways in which these plants are used for the treatment of skin diseases among the tribal people of villages located in the district of Paschim Medinipur of West Bengal. During the field trips, the information was collected through interviews, including various data obtained from local healers and traditional medicine men, herbalists, shepherds, patients and elderly persons. A total of 37 plants belonging to 26 families were documented for their therapeutic use. Further analysis on the families of medicinal plants has shown that family Euphorbiaceae and Solanaceae are represented by the highest number of species. Also, it was determined that skin disorders for which the folk medicinal plants used are mostly eczema, Leucoderma, wound and inflammations. This survey illuminates that the tribal people still actively use plants for the treatment of skin diseases.