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ABSTRACT
The objective of the study was to investigate the species of wild plants that are used for the treatment of various ailments by the Karimbalan tribes of Kannur district. There were 41 medicinally important plants which belong to 29 families are often used as ethnomedicine.The study describes details of botanical identity, family, local name, parts of the plant used and medicinal uses. According to the results leaf, stem, fruit, latex and root are identified to cure various diseases ranging fro m leprosy to simple application for hair growth.
Key words : Karimbalan tribe, Culture, W ild plants, Ethno medicine
INTRODUCTION
Folk medicine of tribes has recently been receiving heightened interest the world over. According to the world Health Organization (WHO1978), more than 80 % of the World's population relies on folk medicine for their primary health care needs (Inglis 1994). It is the natural health care practiced by all human cultures from ancient times to the present day. Folk medical traditions originated in the soil of Kerala about 3000 years back (Rajasekaran & Pushpangadan1996).
According to the annual report (2002-03) published by Ministry of Tribal Affairs ,Government of Kerala, Karimbalan tribes are included as item number 41 in the scheduled Tribe list. (Prakash Chandra Mehta &...