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Ethno-medicinal plants used in primary healthcare by the natives of Kasha Pat, North-West Himalaya

Tracks
Tully 3
Monday, July 27, 2026
4:45 PM - 5:00 PM

Speaker

Dr Astha Chauhan
Assistant Professor
MLN College, Yamunanagar, Haryana

Ethno-medicinal plants used in primary healthcare by the natives of Kasha Pat, North-West Himalaya

ISE Congress 2026 Abstract

The Himalaya are known to be a biodiversity hotspot and home to priceless flora and traditional knowledge. Despite of the fact that allopathic medicine have progressed tremendously in the recent times but still, the traditional knowledge based on plants and its culture still plays a pivotal role in curing numerous ailments in distant regions of India. The traditional knowledge on the use of flora of medicinal importance is eroding by each passing day. Therefore, there is an urgent need to record this precious traditional knowledge which is grounded in folklores, cultures and traditions. This study for the first time documents 87 ethnomedicinal plants from 51 families from Kasha-Pat region. This area has remained detached from the major habitation due to its remoteness, inclement weather during the winter months and rugged terrain which provides justification for its unique traditional knowledge. Some of the common families documented from the study area were Rosaceae (8), Lamiaceae (7), Asteraceae (5), Berberidaceae (3), Ericaceae (3), Ranunculaceae (3), Pinaceae (2), Poaceae (2), etc. The habit of the flora comprised of Climbers (4), Grasses (1), Herbs (46), Shrubs (15) and trees (20). Quantitative indices in relation to ethnobotany such as Use Value (UV), Fidelity Level (FL) and Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) were also studied. Location specific studies are important to document traditional knowledge from an area because of a variety of cultural values associated with it. Conservation of the same will also ensures sustainable development by the local communities by utilization of potential use of native flora. Amalgamation of framing in-situ and ex-situ conservation techniques and conducting capacity building programs can be efficient for better management of resources in future.

Biography

Dr. Astha is a young researcher who has documented the traditional knowledge of plants from the North-West Himalaya and the Trans Himalaya based on their culture and folklore. She aims to study it before the indigenous knowledge erodes as it is only spread from the word of mouth. Currently, she is also Assistant Professor and teaches Under and Post Graduates Environment and Climate Change.
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