NEW DELHI: Traditional healing practices of an indigenous tribe in Assam may hold clues for future medicines. A new study has identified 39 plants used by the Sonowal Kachari community to treat ailments ranging from fever and cough to kidney stones and skin diseases.The remedies are used for conditions such as fever, dysentery, cough, skin diseases, stomach disorders and arthritis, according to the research conducted in Lakhimpur district of Assam.The study, conducted by Pramod Chandra Dihingia of Nagaland University and Deepika Borah of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Dibrugarh, has been published in the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine.Researchers documented the community’s herbal knowledge through face-to-face interviews with 180 tribal elders aged 50 years and above between April 2022 and November 2023.The study identified several plants commonly used by the community for treatment, including Acorus calamus for cough and fever, Aegle marmelos (bael) for dysentery, Aloe vera for burns and skin diseases, Azadirachta indica (neem) for infections and Bryophyllum pinnatum for kidney stones.Other plants recorded include Bacopa monnieri (brahmi), Andrographis paniculata (kalmegh), Cassia tora and Cinnamomum tamala, which are traditionally used for digestive disorders, liver ailments and skin problems.Leaves were the most commonly used plant part, accounting for more than half of the remedies, followed by roots, fruits and flowers. Most of the medicinal plants were herbs, while others included trees, climbers and shrubs.Experts say such traditional knowledge could help scientists identify new treatments if studied systematically. Professor Pradeep Kumar Prajapati, director of the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), Ministry of Ayush, said India’s tribal communities have rich knowledge about using plants and natural resources to treat diseases, developed over generations through their close interaction with forests and biodiversity.“Documenting and studying these practices is important because they can help scientists discover new medicines. In fact, many modern drugs were first identified from plants used in traditional healing,” he said. However, Prajapati added that such remedies must undergo scientific evaluation before wider use. “Traditional knowledge needs to be studied with modern scientific methods to establish safety and effectiveness. This can lead to new treatments and also strengthen confidence in traditional medicine.”Researchers also noted that herbal medicine continues to meet the healthcare needs of nearly 80% of the world’s population, particularly in rural areas.However, the authors warn that traditional medicinal knowledge is gradually disappearing due to social change, deforestation and declining interest among younger generations. The study highlights the need to document and preserve indigenous medicinal practices, which have been passed down orally for generations.
