Faith herbal healer knowledge document of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, Uttarakhand, India

Abstract

The aim of the study was to identify and document medicinal plants used by the faith herbal healers of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve along with their uses and preparation. Ethnomedicinal surveys were conducted in the remote villages of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve (NDBR) district Chamoli during the years 2004-2010. The study revealed uses of 90 plant species (87 Angiosperms and 3 Gymnosperms) belonging to 45 families and 80 genera. These plants were found to be used for treating diabetes, arthritis, cardiac complaints, asthma, leucorrhoea, infertility, mental disorder, flatulence, abdominal complaints and chronic fever, etc.