Ethnomedicinal Wisdom Among Local Tribes in Hamirpur Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India

The current investigation was focused at documentation, analysis and interpretation of ethnomedicinal phyto wisdom in Hamirpur District of Himachal Pradesh. The impoverished tribal and rural people of Hamirpur District (Himachal Pradesh, India) do not receive satisfactory primary healthcare. They have crudely been stillexploiting traditionally the medicinal plants existing in their surrounding environment for diverse purposes including ethnomedicine use. The objective of the study was to document ethnobotanical knowledge primarily of notable herbs employed by the different backward people, whether tribal or rural, in the area under study.Ethnomedicinal data was accessed through structural interviews, and discussions with the tribal/rural informants, healers, medicine-men/women, etc. (with age between 45-65). Minimum five to eight informants were taken into consideration for each claim. This investigation brought on record that people of the study area(Hamirpur) generally utilize about 50 plants species belonging several distinct families. Different plant parts such as leaves, flowers, fruit, stem-bark and root are most commonly employed. A fair wide range of diseases are treated by people of Hamirpur district using local medicinal plants. These ethnomedicinal claims may aid in finding novel phytoconstituents for welfare of mankind. The data would be useful for further scientific exploration.