Gastrointestinal Disease Management through Ethnobotanical Approach by Malayali Tribes of Javadhu Hills, South India

Objective: The present study was aimed at recording the usage of herbals for gastrointestinal diseases by Malayali tribes in Javadhu Hills of Tamil Nadu.

Methods: A field survey in four villages of Javadhu Hills was systematically conducted. Eleven Malayali tribal healers of the study area were interviewed through structured questionnaire for their knowledge on the utilization of herbals for gastrointestinal diseases.

Results: A total of 31 species of ethnomedicinal plants (herbals) belonging to 22 families, comprising 27 Dicotyledons and 4 Monocotyledons were found to be used by Malayali tribes in Javadhu Hills. The Malayali tribes possess an appreciable knowledge on the usage of herbals for gastrointestinal diseases when compared to their counterpart in Gingee Hills, Villupuram district.

Conclusion: Investigation of this kind will help in augmenting herbal research in various dimensions of human healthcare, besides documenting the traditional knowledge from oblivion.