Ethno-botanical Study of Indigenous Knowledge of Medicinal Plants used by Traditional Healers in Odisha

Indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants has played a crucial role not only in addressing health issues but also in preserving plant diversity. The knowledge base has recently been recognised for its potentiality and there are growing debates around the threat and need for conservation of this rich knowledge base. Odisha, being a land with many tribal communities and forest resources, is home to many such practices. In this context, this study explores the nature of the alternative medicine practices used by traditional healers in two districts of Odisha, namely Dhenkanal and Bolangir. The study explores the characteristics of plants used for medicinal purposes and the challenges faced by practitioners of traditional medicine. The data was collected through a questionnaire survey containing both objective and subjective questions. Seventeen traditional herbal healers were interviewed in Dhenkanal, and twenty healers were interviewed in the Balangir district. The study reported a rich knowledge base, including the kinds of diseases they treat and the threats they face