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Living knowledge of the Healing plants : ethno-phytotherapy in the Tai-ahom people of Sivasagar District .
ABSTRACT
Traditional Knowledge that build upon the long experiences of people was adopted in social, economic, environmental, spiritual and political practices. Since traditional knowledge is developed through a long trail and error, these could guide to search for new drugs . Therefore, contribution of indigenous knowledge in developing more effecting drugs with minimum or, no side affect help to realize importance of study of indigenous remedies and the conservation of biological resources. These study analyze indigenous knowledge regarding medicinal plants use among the Tai-ahom communities from Sivasagar District selectively five dominant Tai-ahom people villages. Data were collected during the period of July, 2008 to June, 2010, through the interviews with traditional practitioners ,Chow Ngya(Bedz) and elders. Tai-ahom’s are rich in knowledge regarding use of different plants and were using a total 189 plant parts from 96 species . This paper will highlight the traditional knowledge and practices which help to preserve the indigenous knowledge through management of forest resources.
Keywords: Living knowledge, ethno-phytotherapy, Tai-ahom people, Sivasagar district
Introduction :
Sivasagar district falls under the North -East Biogeographic zone. It is located in the south bank of the mighty river Brahmaputra and with a total area of 2668 km². and lies between 94۫o 15′ to 95۫o 45′ East longitude and 45۫o26۫ ′ to 27۫۫ o 15′ North latitude. It is surrounded by Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland in the southeast, Dhemaji and Lakhimpur in the north and Jorhat in the west. The climate of this district is cool and humid with relative humidity above 86%, average temperature 25-32°C in summer and 08- 10 °C in winter. The district consists of three administrative subdivisions; Sivasagar, Nazira and Charaideo. It may be divided into three dissimilar natural subdivisions; littoral tract (lowland), broad plain and transition hilly tract. Ancient ethnic communities around the world have learnt to utilize their neighbouring plant kingdom for ailment of many diseases. The most important thing is that in our Vedas it is also mentioned about medicinal plant of ancient time. The Rig Veda (5,000 BC) mentioned 67 medicinal plants, the Yajur Veda 81 and the Atharva Veda (4,500-2,500 BC) 290 species. Later on, the Charaka Samhita (700 BC) and the Sushruta Samhita (200 BC) described the properties and uses of 1,100 and 1,270 medicinal plants respectively and these are still used in Ayurvedic treatments.
Wild plant resources are severely threatened by habitat loss and species-selective overexploitation. In addition, indigenous knowledge about the uses of wild plant resources is rapidly disappearing from traditional communities. In the context of conservation, sustainable and equitable use of wild plant resources, quantitative ethno botany can contribute to the scientific base for management decisions. Indigenous knowledge and biodiversity are complementary phenomena essential to human development. But a very little of this knowledge has been recorded, yet it represents an immensely valuable database that provides humankind with insights on how numerous communities have interacted with their changing environment including its floral and faunal resources.
Among this Tai tribe, the traditional herbal treatment is very popular. They have some specialized practitioners in their villages. The local people believe in herbal treatment rather than the allopathic treatment.
Knowledge of flora and fauna of any region is essential for the study of the biodiversity and environment. Further, comprehensive and up to that flora is essential for the study of plant of any area and their utility. Moreover, preparation of herbarium of the flora smaller areas likes’ protected or reserved forest is a prerequisite for protection and proper management. Over the last few decades, several ethno botanic case studies from different areas of Assam have so far been conducted and reviewed (Das and Gogoi , 2002 ; Kakoty and Das , 2002 ). The diversity of flowering plant of the Sivasagar district has been documented by Sarmah, 1978; Gogoi, 1981; and Islam, 1984, Patwari, 1992; Gogoi and Islam, 2006, Gogoi, 2008. The vegetation of Assam has been studied floristically since long back by several workers as -Hooker,1872- 97; Kanjilal et al. 1934-39; Bor, 1983; Islam, 1984; Gogoi, 1982; Islam, 1990; Borthakur, 1993; Nath, 1998; Baruah,1999; Saikia, 2002; and in district level, works have been done by Sharma, 1978; Gogoi, 1985; Islam, 1990; Gogoi, 2006; Gogoi & Zaman, 2008; There fore an attempt has been made to asses the ethnomedicinal plants of upper Brahamaputra valley of Assam.