Roots of Healing: Ethnomedicinal Knowledge of Tribal Communities in Santhal Pargana, Jharkhand, India

This data paper presents a field-based ethnomedicinal study documenting traditional healing practices among tribal communities in the forested uplands of Santhal Pargana, Jharkhand, India. The research is based on immersive fieldwork conducted between March and July 2025 across remote villages in Sundarpahari, Kathikund, and Danro blocks, located within the Rajmahal hill range. Using semi-structured interviews, participatory plant identification walks, and direct observation, knowledge from 25 key informants—including traditional healers (Bujurg) and elder women—was systematically recorded. A total of 28 medicinal plant species were identified, along with their vernacular names, plant parts used, preparation techniques, and associated treatments for ailments such as fever, skin diseases, respiratory infections, gastrointestinal disorders, and snakebite. The study highlights the deeply embedded relationship between ecological systems and healthcare practices, where healing is shaped by seasonal cycles, cultural beliefs, and localized environmental knowledge. Quantitative visualizations included in the paper reveal patterns in plant usage across disease categories and plant parts, offering insights into both cultural preference and ecological availability. This work contributes to ethnomedicine, biocultural conservation, and rural health research by documenting a living knowledge system that is increasingly at risk due to socio-economic change, deforestation, and declining intergenerational transmission. The dataset and analysis provide a valuable baseline for future research, conservation planning, and integration of indigenous knowledge into sustainable healthcare frameworks.