Medico- ethnozoological study of vertebrate animals used by traditional healers and Tharu tribes of Devipatan division of Uttar Pradesh, India
Haidar Ali*
Assistant Professor Department of Zoology Govt. Degree College, Lengri Gular, Shravasti-271805 India Correspondance: Deptt. Of Zoology, Government Degree College Lengri Gular, Shravasti U.P., India PIN 271835. E. Mail. haidarali.zoology@gmail.com, Mob. 7905892110
ABSTRACT
Abstract India has a rich faunal, floral as well as cultural diversity with many tribal communities that are primarily dependent on the traditional and indigenous medicinal system for their primary health care. The documentation and exploration of this traditional medicinal knowledge may help to establish new drugs for human beings. The Medicoethnozoological survey was conducted from October 2022 to September 2023, based on field observation, analysis and interviews of more than 200 people of 44 villages of the Devipatan division of Uttar Pradesh, India. During the study, interesting information were obtained regarding the medicinal applications of the different parts, organs, secretions and excretions of vertebrate animals being used among Tharu tribes for the cure of fever, muscular pain, rheumatism, weak bones, weak-sight, nightblindness, dysentery, fits, fistula, piles, ulcer, baldness, dandruff, hair fall, ringworm, eczema, measles, leucoderma, tuberculosis (TB), asthma, bronchitis, jaundice, heart diseases, liver trouble, malaria, obesity, diabetes, anaemia, low platelets count, paralysis, impotency, erectile dysfunction, early ejaculation, menstrual irregularities, gonorrhoea, syphilis, tumor, breast cancer and rickets etc. In the present paper, an attempt has been made to document the traditional therapeutic uses of different vertebrate animals among the Tharu tribes of the Devipatan division. The finding provides a veritable source of information for traditional medicinal practitioners, Medico-ethnozoological researchers and also helps in developing strategies for the future conservation of traditional therapeutic knowledge.