Roots of Healing: Ethnomedicinal Knowledge of Tribal Communities in Santhal Pargana, Jharkhand, India

This project documents ethnomedicinal knowledge and traditional healthcare practices among tribal communities in the forested uplands of Santhal Pargana, Jharkhand, India. The research is based on fieldwork conducted between March and July 2025 across remote villages in Sundarpahari, Kathikund, and Danro blocks. The study records knowledge from 25 key informants, including traditional healers (Bujurg) and elder women, through semi-structured interviews, participatory plant identification walks, and direct observation. A total of 28 medicinal plant species have been documented, along with their vernacular names, plant parts used, preparation techniques, and associated treatments. The project integrates ecological observations with socio-cultural context to highlight how traditional healing systems are shaped by environmental knowledge, seasonal cycles, and community practices. It also includes structured data, visual representations of plant use patterns, and a curated dataset of medicinal species. This work contributes to ethnobotany, biocultural conservation, and rural healthcare research, and serves as a baseline resource for future interdisciplinary studies.