subject: Herbal medicine used by tribals for treatment of animal diseases [print this page] Herbal medicine used by tribals for treatment of animal diseases
Biodiversity is the variety and variability of plant, animal and micro organisms. Biological resources feed and clothe us and provide housing, medicines and spiritual ourishment .The current decline in biodiversity is largely the result of human activity and represents a serious threat to human development. The loss of the worlds biological diversity mainly from habitat destruction, over harvesting, pollution and inappropriate introduction of foreign plants. Hence the medicinal plants have also disappeared in alarming rate as a result the indigenous knowledge on herbal plant is also vanishing
The rural and tribal people still depend on trditional herbal plants for their health care as the modern medicines are highly expensive.The tribals utilize different plant parts i.e. roots,rhizomes,stems,leaf,inflorescence and their extracts for the treatment of animals. According to the view of the tribal villagers and cattle owners the use of herbal medicines are more effective than others which have no side effect and easily available .Most of the medicinal plants grow in the wild.These plants are used to cure different diseases.
These are some of the qualitative application of different types of herbal plants used by the tribal for the treatment of animals
Neem (Andrographis paniculata) is one of the worlds best medicine. Oils extracted from Neem seed, Coconut and Eucalyptus is mixed and used for the treatment of foot and mouth disease a viral disease of cattles. It is an antiseptic herbal oil for wound healing.
Turmeric(Curcuma longa) ,native to India has anti-inflammatory effects.
(Termisnalia chebula ) commenly cultivated in India .It is used as a medicine for treatment of swelling in gums and prolepses in the anal portion of cattle due to diarrhoea
(Cephalandra indica) grows in India is widely used for Ectoparasite treatment of wound
. Similarly tribal use powders of blackpaper,Zingibar,Nuxvomica,Black salt for the treatment of Anorexia,Constipation,and to stimulating appetite in animals.
The medicine extracted from plants are incomparable to modern medicine.Hence detailed clinical and experimental studies of these plants are necessary for proper utilization of traditional knowledge..Extensive work should be done for identification,of medicinal plants and conservation of endengered species.
