Cross-cultural study on the uses of traditional herbal medicine to treat various women's health issues in Northeast India

Abstract

Background: This cross-cultural study conducted in the diverse regions of Assam, Meghalaya, and Manipur sheds light on the common utilization of five specific medicinal plants among indigenous communities residing in these areas.

Objectives: The main focus of this study is to document and compare the traditional medicinal plant used and the knowledge and practices related to women's health issues in different cultures; to identify commonalities and differences in the use of medicinal plants across cultures and various medicinal plants used traditionally by the indigenous communities to treat women's health problems according to their indigenous name, scientific name.

Materials and methods: The study used a survey method and a pre-structured interview schedule through one-on-one interactive communication and field observation. The authors collected data from three different states, i.e., Assam (Karbi Anglong district & Udalguri district), Meghalaya (East Khasi Hills district), and Manipur (Senapati district) by personally meeting and interacting with traditional herbal medicinal practitioners. For this study, 10 practitioners from each area of study were interviewed. During the data collection process, the vernacular name of the medicinal plant, methods of preparation, mode of application, and probable dosage were compiled and documented involving practitioners belonging to four different communities, i.e, Bodo, Karbi, Khasi, and Poumai Naga of the selected states.

Results: A total of 39 plant species were meticulously collected and documented across the Karbi Anglong district and Udalguri district in Assam, East Khasi Hills district in Meghalaya, and Senapati district in Manipur. Turmeric (Curcuma longa), ginger (Zingiber officinale), gooseberry (Emblica officinalis), papaya (Carica papaya), and passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) have emerged as common medicinal resources within these communities. Poaceae, represented by 5 species, emerged as the dominant family among the collected plants, highlighting the diversity and significance of these botanical remedies. Zingiber officinale Roscoe " has the highest usage report of 18 with an RFC (Relative frequency citation) of 0.45.

Conclusion: The study's findings reveal a rich repository of traditional herbal knowledge in the northeast regions of India. Notably, the indigenous communities of these regions use plant resources to cure a wide range of ailments. This study emphasizes the necessity of documenting, preserving, and transmitting traditional herbal medicinal knowledge for both cultural and practical reasons. It also provides vital insights into the importance of cross-cultural study in promoting different cultures, the richness of traditional medicinal knowledge by engaging with diverse cultures and demonstrates the possibilities for incorporating traditional medicine into modern healthcare systems, particularly in treating women's health issues across these culturally diverse regions.

Keywords: Cross-cultural study; Herbal medicine; Medicinal plants; Traditional medicine; Women's health.