An ethnomedicinal survey conducted among the folk medicinal practitioners of three villages in Kurigram district, Bangladesh (original) (raw)
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Ethnomedicinal practices of a folk medicinal practitioner in Pabna district, Bangladesh
World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 3(12): 73-85, 2014
Background: Folk medicine forms the primary tier of health-care practices in Bangladesh. The objective of this study was to document the medicinal uses of plants by a folk medicinal practitioner (Kaviraj) of Pabna district, Bangladesh. Methods: Interviews of the Kaviraj were carried out with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and the guided field-walk method. Results: The Kaviraj used 29 plants distributed into 22 families in his formulations. The formulations were used to treat diverse diseases like respiratory tract disorders, leucorrhea, depression, conjunctivitis, gastrointestinal disorders, skin disorders, pain, fever, burns, infertility, and cuts and wounds. Conclusion: The study suggests that the medicinal plants used by the Kaviraj of Pabna district needs to be scientifically studied towards discovery of useful drugs.
2011
A large segment of both the rural as well as the urban population of Bangladesh still relies on folk medicinal practitioners, otherwise known as Kavirajes, for treatment of various ailments. The Kavirajes rely on simple formulations of medicinal plants, which may be orally or topically administered for treatment. In our ongoing surveys on the medicinal plants used by Kavirajes throughout Bangladesh and the nature of formulations, we have observed considerable divergences in the use of plants and formulations. These differences exist up to the village level, which constitute the primary tier of human habitation in the country. The objective of the present study was to conduct an ethnomedicinal survey among the Kavirajes of five adjoining villages in Narail and Jessore districts of Bangladesh. A total of six Kavirajes were interviewed with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and the guided field-walk method. It was found that the Kavirajes between themselves used a total of 46...
Ethnomedicinal Practices of a Village Folk Medicinal Practitioner in Faridpur District, Bangladesh
Folk medicine is a unique blend of medicine practiced in Bangladesh, which contains components and ideas of individual practitioners (known as Kavirajes), as well as formulations borrowed from other more systematized forms of traditional medicine like Ayurveda and Unani. Because every Kaviraj follows his or her unique formulations, surveys need to be carried out among as many practitioners as possible to get a comprehensive picture of this form of practice. Kavirajes mainly practice in the villages and small towns, although a good number can be observed in the cities also, whose clients mainly include the poorer residents as well as rural folk who have come to the cities. The objective of the present study was to conduct an ethnomedicinal survey of a folk medicinal practitioner in Dhopakandi village in Faridpur district, Bangladesh. Interviews were conducted of the Kaviraj with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and the guided field-walk method. The Kaviraj was observed to use a total of 33 medicinal plants distributed into 23 families in his formulations. The formulations were used for treatment of a diverse number of diseases like fever, helminthiasis, sexual disorders, poisoning, gastrointestinal disorders, excessive hair loss, heart disorders, mental disorders, kidney stones, jaundice, respiratory tract disorders, liver disorders, paralysis, skin disorders and pain. Available pharmacological reports on a number of the plant species used by the Kaviraj showed that the Kavirajes' choice of plants can be scientifically validated to quite some extent. This suggests that the plants used by the folk medicinal practitioners for treatment of diseases should not be ignored by the scientific community; instead they can be used for more scientific studies leading to possible discovery of new and effective medicines.
MEDICINAL PLANTS AND FORMULATIONS OF A FOLK EDICINAL PRACTITIONER OF MAGURA DISTRICT, BANGLADESH
Background. Folk medicine is widely practiced by Kavirajes and is one of the most common forms of traditional medicinal systems in Bangladesh. However, the medicinal plant selections and diseases treated vary widely from Kaviraj to Kaviraj. The objective of this study was to document the folk medicinal practices of a Kaviraj practicing in Magura district of the country. Methods. Interviews of the Kaviraj were carried out with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and the guided field-walk method. Results. The Kaviraj used a total of 16 plants distributed into 14 families for treatment. The various diseases treated included typhoid, any type of fever, respiratory tract disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, poisoning, bleeding from cuts and wounds,skin diseases, tooth infections, bone fracture, loss of taste, spermatorrhea, and leucorrhea. Conclusion. Ethnomedicinal studies can lead to proper documentation of the medicinal plants and their usages in a given area. As such, the present study not only documents medicinal plants of an area in Magura district but also opens up further possibilities of scientific research leading to new drug discovery.
Folk medicinal practices in Khutmura village, Narsinghdi district, Bangladesh
Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies, 2019
Folk medicinal practitioners (FMPs) form the primary tier of medicinal practitioners in Bangladesh. They are still quite numerous and can be seen mostly in rural areas. Their mode of obtaining knowledge about their medicinal practices is not well known or has been studied in depth. Interestingly, FMPs use mostly medicinal plants in their treatment, but their selection of plants for treatment of the same disease varies widely from practitioner to practitioner. It is therefore important to document such practices to get a comprehensive picture of medicinal plants and their uses within the country. The objective of this study was to document the practices of a FMP in Khutmura village in Bangladesh. The FMP was observed to use a total of 7 plants distributed into 7 families in his treatment. The plants were used to treat weakness, leukemia, fatigue, asthma, gastrointestinal disorders, diabetes, hair loss, respiratory tract disorders, fungal infections, helminthiasis, erectile dysfunctio...
American-Eurasian Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 2011
Medicinal plants form an important and often the only component in the formulations used by the folk medicinal practitioners of Bangladesh for treatment of various ailments. Folk medicinal practitioners, otherwise known as Kavirajes, perform an integral role in the delivery of primary health-care to substantial segments of both rural and urban population of the country. Their traditional medicinal practice, which is generally referred to as folk medicinal practice, is different from other forms of traditional medicine in Bangladesh like Ayurveda and Unani forms of traditional medicine. Kavirajes use simple formulations of medicinal plants, and their practice is often confined to the immediate family and passed on through successive generations. Thus over the centuries, Kavirajes have gained not only extensive knowledge on medicinal plants but also each Kaviraj has his or her own unique list of plants, which he or she uses in formulations. Bangladesh has over 86,000 villages with eac...
Medicinal Plants and Formulations of a Folk Medicinal Practitioner of Magura District, Bangladesh
World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015
Background. Folk medicine is widely practiced by Kavirajes and is one of the most common forms of traditional medicinal systems in Bangladesh. However, the medicinal plant selections and diseases treated vary widely from Kaviraj to Kaviraj. The objective of this study was to document the folk medicinal practices of a Kaviraj practicing in Magura district of the country. Methods. Interviews of the Kaviraj were carried out with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and the guided field-walk method. Results. The Kaviraj used a total of 16 plants distributed into 14 families for treatment. The various diseases treated included typhoid, any type of fever, respiratory tract disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, poisoning, bleeding from cuts and wounds, skin diseases, tooth infections, bone fracture, loss of taste, spermatorrhea, and leucorrhea. Conclusion. Ethnomedicinal studies can lead to proper documentation of the medicinal plants and their usages in a given area. As such, the present study not only documents medicinal plants of an area in Magura district but also opens up further possibilities of scientific research leading to new drug discovery.
2010
Bangladesh is a developing country with the majority of population residing in rural areas lacking proper access to modern medicinal facilities. Folk medicinal practitioners (Kavirajes) form the primary health-care providers to the vast majority of rural population as well as a substantial number of the urban population, who cannot afford the price of allopathic medicines. Kavirajes rely on medicinal plants for treatment of ailments. This expertise on medicinal plant usage varies widely between Kavirajes of different areas and even can differ substantially between Kavirajes of adjoining villages. The objective of the present study was to conduct an ethnomedicinal survey of Kavirajes in Shitol Para village of Jhalokati district, Bangladesh. Informed consent was obtained from the Kavirajes prior to the actual survey. Interviews were conducted with the help of a semistructured questionnaire and the guided field-walk method in which the Kavirajes took the interviewers to areas from wher...