Ethnomedicinal plants of three folk medicinal practitioners in two villages of Khulna district, Bangladesh

Maria Afrin, Ummay Rukaiya, Su

Abstract

Folk medicinal practice is a common feature of traditional medicinal systems in Bangladesh. Folk medicinal practitioners (FMPs) mainly deal with medicinal plants to cure diseases. Since the plants selected by FMPs vary widely, it was the objective of the present study to document the plants used by three FMPs in two villages of Khulna district, Bangladesh. It was observed that the FMPs used a total of 41 plants distributed into 27 families. The various diseases treated by the FMPs included gastrointestinal disorders, liver disorders including hepatitis B, diabetes, allergy, respiratory tract disorders, cuts, wounds and infection, memory loss, pain of various sorts, skin disorders, helminthiasis, heart disorders, leucorrhea, physical weakness, fever, irregular menstruation, chicken pox, tooth and gum diseases, piles, appendicitis, vomiting, jaundice, hair loss, and sexual weakness. The plants used for treatment of these ailments merit scientific attention for such scientific validation can prove a useful means to provide affordable and easily available means of treatment for the common people of the country, who in general lack access to allopathic medicines.