Akhilesh Chandra Mishra and Sharad Pandey

In India, indigenous system of Medicine is based on use of wide biodiversity of medicinal plants. Jharkhand state is one of the hot spot of biodiversity of medicinal plants in eastern India having 29.2 per cent area under forest. The present study concentrates on the Garhwa district of Jharkhand which is primarily rural and most of the population resides in villages. Tribal population of the district is still thriving for the livelihood in the forest areas. Presence of Biodiversity in the forests proves to be a precious gift of god for People as they seek food, fodder, fuel and pharmaceutical aids. In the present study during 2016-17, inventory of Indigenous Technological Knowledge (ITKs) in the district was developed during Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) of six adopted villages by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Garhwa. In this investigation, indigenous knowledge on medicinal use of most commonly occurring 67 plant species belonging to 37 families in Garhwa district of Jharkhand was studied. The available biodiversity was found to be frequently used in ailment of gynaecological and physiological problems like gonorrhea, leucorrhoea, vomiting, diarrhea, dysentery, bone fracture, strengthening of gums, diabetes, abdominal complaints, malarial and typhoid fevers, cough and cold, snake and scorpion bite, rheumatism etc. in human and in cure of different infectious diseases and wounds of animals. The mode of administration varied from decoction, extract, infusion, powder, paste and poultice to combination with other plants. Many plants were administered locally and others orally.

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