Exploration of Therapeutic Ethno-Medicinal Plants used by Traditional Healers & Practitioners of Raichur District, Karnataka, India

The paper documents the use of plants & their parts in Traditional Medicine by the herbal practitioners of Raichur District, for the treatment of Human ailments. The data is acquired by conducting open-ended semi-structured oral interviews, group discussions and a Questionnaire. Based on the homogeneity of information obtained from number of informants, the plant details like vernacular name, scientific name, part used, mode of preparation & administration were documented, tabulated & enumerated. The results revealed that 69 number of plants belonging to 38 families showed therapeutic properties towards curing many Ailments, categorized into 22 namely Fever, Epilepsy, Infertility, Dental care, Leprosy, Amnesia, Hair care (dandruff, hair loss), Digestive problems (constipation, Dysentery), Skin infections(ring worm, furuncles, pimples etc), Jaundice, Joint & knee pains(Arthritis, bone fractures), ENT disorders (Cataract, sinus, cold, flu), Hepatosplenomegaly, Respiratory problems(Asthma), Diabetes, Wounds, Ulcers (mouth & stomach), Anaemia, Menstrual problems(Menorrhagia, Amenorrhea, Dysmenorrhea), Veginal discharge(Leukorrhea), Helminth infections (Intestinal worms), Kidney stones. The documentation of traditional knowledge has gained much importance as the practitioners are losing their interest in it & are adapted to English medicine