Traditional Uses of Medicinal Plants of Cooch Behar and Jalpaiguri Districts of West Bengal, India

An ethno-botanical survey was carried out in Cooch Behar and Jalpaiguri districts of North Bengal region of West Bengal, India during the period of October 31 - November 8, 2012. The present survey has revealed 43 species of medicinal plants largely, used by the natives in these districts. These plant species are used to cure various diseases/ailments as medicines in their day to day life. This plant wealth was conserved by the natives in different ways such as in their house compound/ kitchen gardens/ dooryards/ backyards as medicinal and ornamental plants. During the survey, it was observed that medicinal plants and related ethonbotanial information was declining very fast due to change in their life style, unawareness and lack of interest of new generation. The surveyed districts of North Bengal region, warrants conservation in order to preserve the medicinal plant wealth and related traditional health care system.