PLANTS USED IN THE TREATMENT OF JOINT DISEASES …

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T.B Shyma et al. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

PLANTS USED IN THE TREATMENT OF JOINT DISEASES

(RHEUMATISM, ARTHRITIS) IN WAYANAD DISTRICT OF

KERALA, INDIA

*T.B Shyma, A.G Devi Prasad and M.P Raghavendra

Department of Studies in Environmental Science, University of Mysore, Manasagangotri,

Mysore, Karnataka, India.

ABSTRACT

During the ethno botanical survey of Wayanad district about 589 uses

of plants have been recorded for various purposes. Of these, 56 plants

belonging to 46 genera and 32 families are being used in the treatment

of joint diseases (rheumatism, arthritis,) by the tribal people of the

district. These plants are arranged alphabetically with their family,

local name(s), and method of preparation and mode of uses for the

treatment of rheumatism and arthritis.

Keywords: Joint diseases; Rheumatism; Arthritis; Wayanad; India,

Tribes.

INTRODUCTION

The district of Wayanad is situated on the eastern portion of Kerala. It

lies between north latitude 11º 27’ and 11 º 58’35"and the east

longitudes 75 º 47’50" and 76 º 26’ 35".The district is bounded on the north by Kodagu

district of Karnataka state, on the east by Mysore district of Karnataka state and Nilgiri

district of Tamilnadu state, on the south by Ernad taluk of Malappuram district and

Kozhikode taluk of Kozhikode district, on the west by Vadakara and Quilandy taluks of

Kozhikode district and Thalassery taluk of Kannur district. The total area of the district is

2131 sq.km. i.e 5.48 % of the total geographical area of the state. The forested hills of

Wayanad falls in parts of Mananthavady and Vythiri taluk and lies as an unbroken strip on

the western and southern side of Wayanad plateau. The Wayanad plateau occupies major

portion of the district. It is a continuation of the Karnataka plateau which lies on the crest of

the Western Ghats. This plateau has an average height of 800-900 metres.

World Journal of Pharmaceutical research

Volume 2, Issue 3, 699-712. Research Article ISSN 2277 – 7105

Article Received on 11 March 2013, Revised on 10 April 2013, Accepted on 30 April 2013

*Correspondence for Author: T.B Shyma

Department of Studies in

Environmental Science,

University of Mysore,

Manasagangotri, Mysore,

Karnataka, India.

[email protected],

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The district of Wayanad has the largest Concentration of the tribal population in the State.

Wayanad district accounts for one third of the total tribal population in Kerala, which is

equivalent to 17.43% to the district population. The total tribal population in Wayanad as per

Census 2001 is 1, 36,062. The main tribal groups in Wayanad include Paniya, Kurichia,

Mullu Kuruma, Kattu Naikya and other splinter tribal groups. Tribal people mostly inhabit in

and around the deep forest area, and depend on the forest resources for their livelihood. Some

of them are resides less accessible areas of the district and lead a primitive life. Each tribe has

its ancient culture and traditional doctrine of utilization and conservation of plant resources.

Only the medicine man (Vaidya,), old men and women have better knowledge about the

traditional uses of their surrounding vegetation.

During the ethno botanical survey of the district about 589 ethno botanical informations were

collected. Of these, 56 plants are being used for the treatment of rheumatism and arthritis by

the tribal and rural people of the district. These diseases are kept under the heading joint

diseases according to ‘Dictionary of Indian folk medicine and Ethno botany’ by Jain (1991).

Rheumatism commonly known as ‘Vat’, ‘Gathia’, ‘Ardhang Vat’ in Hindi as well as in

Odiya. In general, rheumatism refers to various painful medical conditions, discomfort and

disability, which affects bones, joints, muscles, tendons, nerves etc. The term ‘rheumatism’ is

not frequently used in current medical text, but is more often found in historical medical text.

Rheumatism is not a single disease. It pertains to a whole range of conditions, all of which

cause pain. Rheumatism is more common among the middle aged and elderly people. The

exact cause of most forms of rheumatism is not known. Exposure to wet and cold may

aggravate the pain. Arthritis, which literally means joint inflammation, is just part of the

rheumatic diseases. Arthritis primarily involves joint pains, joint stiffness, joint inflammation

and joint damage. There are many common types of arthritis viz. rheumatoid arthritis,

osteoarthritis, juvenile arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis, infectious arthritis, gout

and pseudo gout. Gout is a medical condition usually characterized by recurrent attacks of

acute inflammatory arthritis—a red, tender, hot, swollen joints. It is caused by elevated levels

of uric acid in the blood, which crystallize and are deposited in joints, tendons and

surrounding tissues. Other joints such as the heels, knees, wrists and fingers may also be

affected. Other symptoms that may occur along with the joint pain include fatigue and a high

fever. In general Gout is a disease that results from an overload of uric acid in the body. If

not treated properly in the initial stages, joint diseases may become chronic. Therefore, the

local medicine man used various types of herbs, shrubs and trees available in their

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surrounding for the treatment of joint diseases. The medicines are prescribed only after

proper checkup the symptoms and stage of the diseases by the medicine man. Some earlier

workers like Mathew and Unnithan (1992), Pramod et al., (2003), Hema et al., (2006), Silja

et al., (2008), Narayanan et al., (2011) and Vijeesh and Veluman (2011) have reported

work carried out on the ethnobotany of the district. However, no attention has yet been given

on the plants used particularly in the treatment of rheumatism and arthritis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ethno-botanical survey

The ethno botanical survey was conducted in the panchayats of three taluks - Mananthavady,

Bathery, and Vythiri of Wayanad district, Kerala. Based on the total forest cover and tribal

populations, the study areas can be considered as ethno-botanical hotspots of Wayanad.

Field survey and data collection

Field exploration was undertaken to collect information about tribes regarding their history,

demography, life style, culture, art of living, socioeconomic background, food habits, major

role in conserving medicinal plants, local languages they use and traditional medicinal

practices they are associated with. Further knowledge related to tribes were obtained from

books, research papers, scientific magazines, Encyclopedias and Internet sources of The

University library, Calicut and plant conservation centers at Wayanad, especially from Boys

town at Mananthavady and M.S Swami Nathan research foundation at Kalpetta.

The five major scheduled tribes of this area are Kurichia, Kuruma, Kattunaika, Paniya and

Adiyan. They are distributed at different panchayath areas of the district. Basic information

on the distribution of the selected five tribes was collected from Tribal development offices in

Mananthavady, Bathery, Kalpetta and the Wayanad social service society office at

Mananthavady, Rastha at Kambalakkad, and Sreyas at Bathery and villages were selected

based on their distribution Field trips were conducted from 2006-2010 among the tribal

colonies of the three taluks. The main colonies, where tribal medical practitioners were

residing were noted in the form of tables. The trips were organized every month, and were

always accompanied by a taxonomist and tribal promoter to identify the colonies and plants.

The trips were organized every month and each colony was visited for about 5-6 times. The

location of Kurichia, Paniya and Kuruma colonies were found near their agricultural areas

like paddy fields, coffee plantations etc. and Adiya tribes were seen scattered in different

areas. Kattunaikkans are living in remote areas and seen interior to the forests and Hill tops.

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Tribes were interviewed with standard questionnaire to collect the necessary information. The

questionnaire was prepared with questions related to informant consensus factor, method of

application, therapeutic use, parts of plants used, name of diseases, symptoms of diseases,

and causes of diseases etc. The identification of plants was done in consultation with the

taxonomic experts from MS Swaminathan Research Foundation, Wayanad and by referring

the authentic literatures of regional flora.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Wayanad district is famous for the medicinal practices adopted by the tribal people. There are

famous tribal practitioners located at different tribal areas at their own hamlets. They practice

herbal treatments for cancer, rheumatism, arthritis, bone crack, kidney stone, diabetics, piles,

fever, various abdominal problems, tooth ache, uterine problems. They collect the medicines

from different forests including evergreen, dry deciduous and montane forest, wastelands,

way thickets, paddy fields etc. There is prompt time and method of plant collection which is

unique for each tribal community. This uniqueness is continuing from generation to

generation. From the personal interviews among the tribal community, it has been realized

that they keep secrecy and uniqueness in treatment knowledge and practices. The bulk of the

medicinal plants used by the tribes constitute herbs, shrubs, woody climbers, epiphytes,

climbers and trees. The over exploitation of wild plant species, repeated grazing, forest fire,

soil erosion etc combine to bring a synergistic destructive pressure on the population density

and plant habitats.

Many species in this district are included in the Red Data Books of the Botanical Survey of

India and a large number of once commonly available species and varieties to communities

have now become very rare or extinct. The technical secrecy of their medical practices is

never revealed to their family members. Most of the interviewees were reluctant to reveal the

secrets, but a few were cooperative and disclosed the method of preparation, quantity of parts

used, mode of administration, therapeutic uses etc. Altogether 137 famous and local TMPs

belonging to different tribes were identified and interviewed in Mananthavady taluk, 80 in

Bathery and 96 in Vythiri taluk using a standard questionnaire. Out of 589 medicinal

preparations 4% for arthritis and rheumatism.

The various recipes employed by the respondents in treating arthritis are combined medicines

shown in table 1. The methods of applications were simple smearing and massaging on the

affected part or administered orally in form of decoctions/ concoctions. Fourty recipes were

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reported for the treatment of arthritis. Among the plants, the tribes use Ricinus communis,

Nothapodytes nimmonia, Moringa oleifera, Homonoia riparia, Datura metal and Adhathoda

vasica for curing swellings on the affected joints. Sida beddomei, Pterospermum

rubiginosum, Phyllanthes emblica, Nilgirianthus ciliates, Justicia gendarussa, Humboltia

brunonis, Goniothalamus wynaadensis, Gomphostemma heyneanum, Gnetum edule,

Evolvulus alsinoides, Euphorbia hirta, Desmodeum pulchellum, Derris scandens,

Dendrophthoe falcata, Crotalarea heyneana, Crotalaria grahamiana etc were used for the

preparation of decoctions for arthritis.

Pravin et al 2012 studied the Physicochemical properties of dried powdered dendropthoe

falcata gum and prepared tablets with Aceclofenac a potent non-steroidal anti-inflammatory

drug, which is a commonly prescribed drug for the treatment of patients suffering with pain,

rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and ankylosing spondylitis (Theodore et al., 1991).

Palanisamy et al., 2012 evaluated the hepato, cardio and neuroprotective effect Humboltia

brunonis which supports as a scientific proof for the medicinal value of the plant. Moringa

oleifera, all the parts of this plant possess medicinal properties and used in the treatment of

rheumatism (Kirtikar et al., 1975). Anti-inflammatory isoflavonoids from the stems of Derris

scandens were isolated by Laupattarakasem (2004).

Table 1: The various recipes employed by the respondents in treating arthritis in Wayanad

district, Kerala.

SL

NO

Botanical

name

Local name

used by the

tribe

Family Habit Parts

used

Mode of administration Tribes

associated

Taluk Status

1 Adenocalymm

a alliaceum

Miers

Veluthulli

chedy

Bignoniaceae Climbing

shrub

leaf The leaves in a decoction for

rheumatism and arthritis.

KU MTDY Common

2 Adhathoda

vasica Nees

Adalodakam Acanthaceae Shrub leaf The leaf paste of Adathoda

vasica. Justicea gentirussa,

Thotea siliquosa, Ixora

coccinea.,Vitex

nigundo,Nilgirianthes ciliates

and Eupatorium were mixed

together and applied

externally to cure swelling

due to arthritis

KU MTDY Common.

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3 Abrus

precatorius

L.

Kunnimara Mimosaceae Tree Bark The bark is an ingredient in

the medicine for arthritis.

KR MTDY

VTRY

Common.

4 Anethum

graveolens L.

Chathuppa Apiaceae Herb Leaf. The leaf paste is applied over

the affected body parts to

heal Sprain, swelling,

KU

KR

MTDY Common.

5 Artanema

sesamoides

(Vahl) Benth.

Vathachappu Scrophulariace

ae

Herb .Whole

plant

The plant paste is a

constituent in the decoction

to treat rheumatism

KR MTDY Common.

6 Atalantia

monophylla

(Linn.)

Kaipanarakam Rutaceae Tree Seed Seed oil applied on painful

joint pains due to arthritis

KR MTDY Common

7 Atylosa lineate Moonnilathaka

ra

Fabaceae Shrub Seed The seed powder is an

ingredient in the medicine for

rheumatism

KR MTDY Common.

8 ⃰Barleria

buxifolia L.

.

Kattuparvathy Acanthaceae Herb Whole

plant

A constituent in the

decoction prepared for

arthritis.

KR MTDY Endemic

,, ,, ,, Root The root paste is used to

prepare medicine for arthritis

KR MTDY

9

Breynia vitis

Idaea

(Burm.f.)Fisch

er

Kurukkankom

bu

Euphorbiaceae Tree Leaf The leaves boiled in water

and wash the body with that

water. It reduces pain due to

arthritis.

KR MTDY Common

10 Caesalpinia

bonduc (Linn.)

Roxb.

.

Kazhinji Ceasalpinia-

ceae

Climbing

shrub

Seed Seed paste applied externally

on inflammatory swellings

and to cure arthritis.

KR MTDY Common

11 Callicarpa

tomentosa (L.)

Murr.

Neenda perapil Verbenaceae Tree Leaf The leaf paste is a constituent

of the decoction for the

treatment of rheumatism

KR VTRY

MTDY

Common.

12 Cassia tora L.

Thakara

Thakattassapp

u

Cæsalpiniaceæ Herb Leaf It is a constituent of the

medicine for arthritis.

KR

KT

AD

MTDY Common.

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13 Chenopodium

ambrosioides

L.

Pachanary Chenopodiacea

s

Herb Whole

Plant

A handful of leaves this plant

is mixed with the same

quantity of leaves of

Naravelia Zeylanica

Kirganelia reticulata and

Cissus species and 10 leaves

of

mullenpatta/kattukariveppila.

All mixed together grinded

and drink the juice . Pour it

in one littre of coconut oil (ie.

½ littre juice in one littre oil).

Boil till the bubbles stops.

Applied on the diseased part,

before bath. It cures

rheumatoid arthritis.

KR MTDY Common.

14 ⃰Cinnamomum

macrocarpum

Hook.f.

Karuva Lauraceae Tree Bark

Root

Leaf

The oil extracted from the

root, bark and leaf is used to

pre pure massaging oil for

rheumatism.

KR MTDY Vulnarable

15 ⃰Clausena

heptaphylla

none (Roxb.)

Wight &

Arn.ex steud.

Veppinpatta Rutaceae Shrub Leaf Grind the leaves of Clausena

heptaphylla Vathkandal,

Pekkokka,Chenopodiumambr

osioides,Naravelia Zeylanica,

Kirganelia reticulata and

Erungan. Mix thoroughly and

½ litre of the juice is boiled

in one liter coconut oil and

prepare the massaging oil for

arthritis

KU

KR

MTDY Endemic

16 Clematis

gouriana

Roxb. ex DC.

Eriyan vally Ranunculaceae Climber Whole

plant

The plant is employed in

rheumatism

KR MTDY Common

17 Clerodendron

paniculatum

Thetti Verbenaceae Shrub Root Juice is used to make

massaging oil for arthritis

KR MTDY

VTRY

Common

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18 ⃰Crotalarea

heyneana

Graham ex

Wight &Arn.

Vathachappu Fabaceae Herb Leaf

The dried leaf is an

ingredient of the medicine for

arthritis.

KR

KT

MTDY Endemic

19 ⃰Crotalaria

grahamianaW

ight &Arn.

Vathachappu Fabaceae Shrub Seed The seed powder is an

ingredient of the medicine for

rheumatism

KR MTDY Rare

Endemic

20 Croton

zeylanicum

Muell .Arg.

Porivatta Euphorbiaceae Tree Bark The stem bark is used to

prepare medicine for

rheumatism

MTDY Common

21 Datura metal

L.

Ummum

Solanaceae Shrub Leaf

Grinded leaves of Datura and

Justicia gendarussa is

squeezed and the juice is

poured on the floor where the

coconut shelves are burned

and heated and then allow to

boil the mixture on the floor.

Then stand on the heated

surface at a bearable

temperature. It is used to cure

rheumatic swellings.

KR

AD

MTDY Common

22 Datura

stramonium L.

Neela ummam Solanaceae Shrub Leaf. Leaf juice for arthritis KU

KR

MTDY Common.

23 Debregaesia

velutina Gaud.

Manily. Urticaceae Tree Bark. Bark juice is an ingredient to

cure rheumatism

PN

KR

MTDY Common.

24 ⃰Dendrophthoe

falcate L

.f.)Etting.var.

falcata

Ethilkanni Loranthaceae. Herb Whole

Plant.

Grind the whole plant of

Ethil kanni living on the

branches of kudampuli and

used for the preparation of

medicine for blood sugar,

piles and arthritis.

KR MTDY Endemic

25 ⃰Derris

brevipes(Benth

) Baker.

Pannivally Fabaceae Woody

climber

Bark The bark juice is a

constitution in the medicine

for arthritis

KR MTDY Not

evaluated

26 Derris

scandens

(Roxb.) Benth.

Thodanvally Fabaceae Woody

climber

Stem Tender stems and twigs

crushed, warmed and applied

on painful parts for relief of

rheumatic pains.

KR MTDY Common

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27 Desmodeum

pulchellum L.

Cherupachotty Fabaceae Climber Root Root juice is a constitution of

the medicine for arthritis

KR MTDY Common

28 ⃰Dipterocarpus

bourdillonii

Brandis

Karanjili

Kalpayin

Dipterocarpace

ae

Tree Gum The smoke coming from the

burned resin Cures swelling

due to Rheumatism on the

legs.

KR MTDY Endangered

29 ⃰Dysoxylum

malabaricum

Bedd.ex Hiern

Vellakil.

Meliaceae Tree Bark. The bark paste is

anticancerous.

The bark powder is an


arthritis.

KU MTDY Endangered

30 Elephantopus

scaber L.

Anachuvadi Asteraceae Herb Root Decoction of the root is given

orally against rheumatism.

KU MTDY Common

Whole

plant

Relieve joint pains due to

arthritis

KU MTDY Common

31 Evolvulus

alsinoidesLinn

.

Vishnukranthi Convolvulacea

e

Herb Whole

plant

Arthritis AD MTDY Common

32 Garuga

pinnata Roxb.

N.V.

Anacardiaceae Tree Bark Bark fermented with water

given with red onion and

chilli powder for dysentery.

KR

KT

MTDY Common

33 Gliricidia

sepium

(Jacq.)Kunth

ex Walp

Seemakkonna Fabaceae Tree Bark The bark paste is applied on

the body in the treatment of

body pain due to rheumatism.

KU

KT

BTRY Common

34 ⃰Gnetum edule

(Willd.)Blume

ula Brongn.

Karanakkody Gnetaceae Climber Stem

Root

The stem and root are the

ingredients of the medicine

for arthritis..

KR MTDY Endemic

35 ⃰Goniothalamu

s wynaadensis

(Bedd.)Bedd.

Anappanal Annonaceae Shrub Bark The bark juice is an

ingredient in the medicine of

arthritis.

KU

KR

MTDY Endemic

36 Homonoia

riparia Lour.

Attuvanchi, Kallidukki Euphorbiaceae Shrub Whole

Plant

The whole plant is grinded

and applied on the affected

part, It reduces swellings due

to arthritis

KR

KU

MTDY Common

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37 Humboltia

brunonis Wall.

Malayasokam Caesalpiniacea

e.

Tree Leaf

Bark

Juice is a component in the

medicine of arthritis

KR

KA

MTDY Endemic

38 Ixora elongate

Heyne ex

G.Don

Kattuthechi Rubiaceae Shrub Leaf. The grinded plants of

Vathankolly, Kodachery,

Karimkurinji leaf paste of

Kattu thechy, Karinochi,

Adalodakam&Elanagam are

the main constituents of

medicine of Arthritis and

related swellings.

KU

AD

KR

MTDY Endemic

39 Justicia

gendarussa

Burm. f.

Vathamkolly

Acanthaceae

Shrub

Leaf A mixture of leaf pastes of

this plant, Clerodendron

serretum and Coffea arabica

boiled in water cool and wash

the body to cure arthritis.

KU

KR

MTDY Common

Vathamkolly

Acanthaceae

Shrub Leaf

The leaves of Hydrocotyle

javanica, Justicia gendarussa

andPterospermum

rubiginosum are some of

the constituents of medicine

against rheumatism.

KU

AD

MTDY

VTRY

Common

Vathamkolly

Acanthaceae

Shrub Whole

Plant.

The grinded plants of

Vathankolly, Kodachery

,karimkurinji, leaf paste of

thechy,karinochi,adalodakam

and elanagam are the main

constituents of medicine of

Arthritis and related

swellings.

KU MTDY Common

40 ⃰Nilgirianthus

ciliatus( Nees)

Karimkurunji Acanthaceae Herb Whole

plant

The fresh and crushed plant

is one among the 64 plants

essential for the preparation

of decoction to cure

rheumatism.

MTDY Endemic

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41.

Nothapodytes

nimmonia

(Graham)

Mabb.

Ulukkuvetty Icacinaceae Shrub Leaf .The leaves of ulukkuvetty

and pachamanjal grind

together and apply on the

affected part and massage

properly. It reduces swells

due to rheumatism

KU MTDY

42. Phyllanthes

emblica L.

Euphorbiaceae Tree Fruit The fruit juice is a constituent

of the medicine for arthritis.

AL VTRY

MTDY

BTRY

Common

Fruit The fruit juice is a constituent

of the medicine for arthritis.

KU

KR

VTRY

MTDY

BTRY

Common

,, Seed Seed oil is rubbed on affected

part in joint pain due to

arthritis.

KR

KT

MTDY Common

43 ⃰Pterospermum

rubiginosum

Heyne ex

Edinjil Sterculaceae Tree Bark The bark paste mixed with

egg white is used in the

treatment of rheumatism

KR BTRY Endemic to

southern

Western

Ghats.

Edinjil Sterculaceae Tree Seed Paste of seeds applied in

curing joint-swellings and in

rheumatic arthritis.

KU

KT

AD

MTDY ,,

44 Sida beddomei

Jacob

Cheriyavallyk

urumthotty

Malvaceae Shrub Whole

plant

The crushed whole plant is

used for the treatment of

rheumatism

KR

KU

MTDY Common

45

Smilax

zeylanica L.

Kariyilanchi Smilacaceae Shrub Root The root juice is used to cure

rheumatism, skin troubles

and blood dysentery.

KR MTDY ,,

46 Strobilanthes

ciliatus Nees

Karimkurinji Acanthaceae ,, Leaf. The dried leaf and root

powder is a constituent of

medicine for arthritis.

MTDY

Common

47 ⃰Strobilanthus

lupulinus Nees

in Wall.

Kattakkurinji Acanthaceae

Shrub Leaf The leaves and roots used for

the preparation of medicine

for arthritis

KT

MTDY

Endemic

Root The root juice is a constituent

of the medicine for arthritis

KT

KU

MTDY

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48 Thotea

siliquosa(Lam.

)

Alpam

Kodachery.

Aristolochiace

ae

Shrub Whole

plant

The mixed plant juices of

Kodachery, Vathamkolly,

Karimkurinji and the leaf

paste of Thechi, Karinochi,

Adalodakam mixed and

taken internally to treat

arthritis and related

swellings.

KR MTDY Common.

49 Todalia

asiatica (L.)

Lam

Thuduthudupp

an

Kakkathodali

Rutaceae Shrub Root Root and fruit paste in castor

oil as an ointment for

rheumatic swellings.

KT MTDY Common

50 Tribulus

terrestris L.

Njerinjil Zygophyllacea

e

Herb Root The root paste is an


rheumatism

KR MTDY Common

51 Triumfetta rhomboidea Oorpam Tiliaceae Shrub Root Roots of Triumfetta

rhomboidea grinded and the

juice drinking cures stomach

problems. The root powder is

a constituent of medicine for

arthritis

KU

PN

KU

KR

BTRY Common

52 Uraria

rufescence

(D.C) Schindl.

Valiya

moovila

Fabaceae Shrub Root Root juice for rheumatism PN

KU

KR

BTRY Common

53 Vernonia

arboria

Hook.f.

Karanamaram

Malamperuva

Asteraceae Tree Leaf The leaf powder is an


rheumatism.

KU

KR

MTDY Common

54 Vernonia

cinerea (L.)

Less.

Poovamkurunn

el.

Asteraceae Herb Whole

plant

Plant Juice is used to prepare

medicine for head ache and

joint pain. Root and leaves

warmed and applied to cure

joint swellings and in

rheumatic pains

KR

KT

PN

BTRY Common

55 Zanthoxylum

rhetsa

(Roxb.)DC

Kothumurikku

Mullilam

Rutaceae Tree Fruit The grinded fruit mixed with

honey to treat rheumatism.

KU BTRY Common

56 Zyzyphus

rugosa Lamk

Valiya thodaly

Kottaipazham

Malamthodali

Rhamnaceae Scandent

shrub

Bark The bark is a component in

the medicine for rheumatism.

KR

KU

AD

BTRY

VTRY

MTDY

Common

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CONCLUSION

During the period of the documentation it is observed that the tribal people of the district are

shy and conservative in nature. They do not want to share their ancient traditional knowledge

with other people. Moreover, the existing knowledge on traditional uses of medicinal plants

are declining fast because of the lack of interest of young people to learn the traditional

knowledge from the old tribal medical practitioner. The valuable and experienced knowledge

on the medicinal uses of plants are also disappearing due to modernization, destruction of

forests, urbanization, industrialization, etc. Scientific investigations through the evaluation of

plants for their biological activity and isolation of active constituents responsible for their

medicinal properties for joint diseases like rheumatism and arthritis need to be carried out in

various pharmaceutical industries and National laboratories which will give a chance to

develop new natural medicines.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Authors are grateful to the tribal medical practitioners of Wayand district who co opera ted

with me during my interviews. We are also thankful to Forest officials of different forest

divisions of the district for extending their cooperation during the field survey. We are also

thankful to the taxonomists of MS Swaminathan Research Foundation Kalpeta.

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PLANTS USED IN THE TREATMENT OF JOINT DISEASES …