Tamarindus indica L. (Fabaceae) is a tree, which can be found in various countries in tropical re... more Tamarindus indica L. (Fabaceae) is a tree, which can be found in various countries in tropical regions of Africa and Asia. It can be found in the wild but is also cultivated for its edible pods, which are used in cuisines. Various parts of the tree also have medicinal uses. In English the tree is known as the tamarind tree, while in Bangladesh it is known as 'tetul'. Folk medicinal practitioners (FMPs) in Pabna district of Bangladesh have been reported to use roots of the plant for treatment of chest pain with respiratory difficulties (Kamal et al., 2014). In several villages of Patuakhali district, Bangladesh, leaf juice is boiled and taken orally for mucus as a home remedy (Rahman & Rahmatullah, 2015). In Shitol Para village of Jhalokati district, Bangladesh, leaves are used to stop bleeding due to piles (Rahmatullah et al., 2010).FMPs in Dhamrai area of Dhaka district, Bangladesh use leaf juice of the plant to treat dysentery and burning sensations during urination (Rahmatullah et al., 2009a). A folk herbalist in Tangail district, Bangladesh, reportedly used fruits of the plant to treat blood dysentery (Mahnoor et al., 2015). In two villages of Narail and Chuadanga districts, Bangladesh, FMPs use seeds of the plant to treat diabetes (Biswas et al., 2011). The Garo tribal community residing in Netrakona district, Bangladesh, use fruits and seeds of the plant to treat fever, vomiting, and asthma (Rahmatullah et al., 2009b). A FMP of Narayanganj district, Bangladesh has been reported to use fruits of the plant to treat constipation, loss of appetite, chronic fever, diarrhoea, and dysentery (Karim et al., 2011). The Mandai tribe of Bangladesh use seeds of the plant to treat diabetes and debility (Malek et al., 2012).To our knowledge, very little or no ethnomedicinal surveys have been carried out in Gopalganj district of Bangladesh. During a recent survey to document the medicinal plants used by the FMPs of the district, it was observed that a FMP named Tinnat Thakur was using various parts of the tree to treat a wide variety of diseases, and some of the phytotherapeutic uses were novel. Since T. indica is very common throughout Bangladesh, a specimen of the tree was just confirmed by the FMP and several villagers of Gopalganj district. Practically all members of the survey team were also familiar with the tree. However, a specimen was deposited with the Medicinal Plant Collection Wing of the University of Development Alternative (Accession Number 675/2016).The FMP used the plant in multiple ways. For treatment of diabetes, jaundice, and to lower blood cholesterol, powder obtained from dry young leaf and flower was taken orally. For treatment of indigestion, half spoonful of crushed seed powder was taken orally. For treatment of arthritis, gall bladder disorders, chronic dysentery, aphthous ulcer, and urination problem, juice obtained from crushed leaf was taken orally. For blood purification, seed powder was mixed with few pieces of seeds of Nigella sativa and taken orally with honey. For burning sensations on hands and feet or whole body due to allergy, seed pulp was soaked in water and then crushed in a copper pot. The resultant powder was then applied on affected areas of the body. It is our expectation that a number of
Background. Unani form of traditional medicinal practice is common in Bangladesh and has a large ... more Background. Unani form of traditional medicinal practice is common in Bangladesh and has a large number of practitioners. The objective of this study was to document the medicinal plants and formulations used by a Unani medicinal practitioner in Bhola Sadar of Bhola district, Bangladesh. Methods. Interview of the practitioner was carried out with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and the guided field-walk method. Results. The practitioner used a total of 44 plants distributed into 30 families for treatment. The various diseases treated included lung and respiratory tract disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, skin disorders, fever, helminthiasis, cuts and wounds, gum and tooth disorders, coughs, mucus, chicken pox, snake bite, burning sensations in body, diabetes, piles, spleen disorders, rheumatism, oral lesions, pain, insomnia, conjunctivitis, dandruff, low sperm density, cholera, infertility, epilepsy, and liver disorders. Conclusion. The medicinal plant knowledge of the Unani practitioner is a valuable addition to the traditional medicinal plant knowledge of Bangladesh.
Unani form of traditional medicine is prevalent in Bangladesh, whose practitioners are
known as... more Unani form of traditional medicine is prevalent in Bangladesh, whose practitioners are
known as Hakims. The objective of the present study was to document the medicinal plants and formulations of a Unani folk medicinal practitioner in Bhola district of the country. This type of practitioners are not registered and do not have training from established Unani colleges but practice on the basis of their own experience and study of available Unani treatises. The Hakim was observed to use a total of 38 plants distributed into 31 families in his formulations, some of which were simple and some exceedingly complex polyherbal formulations. The Hakim treated a wide variety of diseases including helminthiasis, fever, respiratory tract disorders, bleeding from nose and mouth, gastrointestinal disorders, weakness of nerves, cuts and wounds, skin disorders, loss of memory, leprosy, paralysis rheumatism, piles, toothache, diabetes, hoarseness of voice, burns, decreased urinary output, swellings of hands or legs, kidney and gall bladder stones, liver and spleen disorders, pain, jaundice, sexual disorders, snake bite, leucorrhea, and hysteria. The use of multiple plants in formulations to treat diverse diseases suggests that the Hakim possessed a
good knowledge of the medicinal properties of plants, both singly and in combination.
Tamarindus indica L. (Fabaceae) is a tree, which can be found in various countries in tropical re... more Tamarindus indica L. (Fabaceae) is a tree, which can be found in various countries in tropical regions of Africa and Asia. It can be found in the wild but is also cultivated for its edible pods, which are used in cuisines. Various parts of the tree also have medicinal uses. In English the tree is known as the tamarind tree, while in Bangladesh it is known as 'tetul'. Folk medicinal practitioners (FMPs) in Pabna district of Bangladesh have been reported to use roots of the plant for treatment of chest pain with respiratory difficulties (Kamal et al., 2014). In several villages of Patuakhali district, Bangladesh, leaf juice is boiled and taken orally for mucus as a home remedy (Rahman & Rahmatullah, 2015). In Shitol Para village of Jhalokati district, Bangladesh, leaves are used to stop bleeding due to piles (Rahmatullah et al., 2010).FMPs in Dhamrai area of Dhaka district, Bangladesh use leaf juice of the plant to treat dysentery and burning sensations during urination (Rahmatullah et al., 2009a). A folk herbalist in Tangail district, Bangladesh, reportedly used fruits of the plant to treat blood dysentery (Mahnoor et al., 2015). In two villages of Narail and Chuadanga districts, Bangladesh, FMPs use seeds of the plant to treat diabetes (Biswas et al., 2011). The Garo tribal community residing in Netrakona district, Bangladesh, use fruits and seeds of the plant to treat fever, vomiting, and asthma (Rahmatullah et al., 2009b). A FMP of Narayanganj district, Bangladesh has been reported to use fruits of the plant to treat constipation, loss of appetite, chronic fever, diarrhoea, and dysentery (Karim et al., 2011). The Mandai tribe of Bangladesh use seeds of the plant to treat diabetes and debility (Malek et al., 2012).To our knowledge, very little or no ethnomedicinal surveys have been carried out in Gopalganj district of Bangladesh. During a recent survey to document the medicinal plants used by the FMPs of the district, it was observed that a FMP named Tinnat Thakur was using various parts of the tree to treat a wide variety of diseases, and some of the phytotherapeutic uses were novel. Since T. indica is very common throughout Bangladesh, a specimen of the tree was just confirmed by the FMP and several villagers of Gopalganj district. Practically all members of the survey team were also familiar with the tree. However, a specimen was deposited with the Medicinal Plant Collection Wing of the University of Development Alternative (Accession Number 675/2016).The FMP used the plant in multiple ways. For treatment of diabetes, jaundice, and to lower blood cholesterol, powder obtained from dry young leaf and flower was taken orally. For treatment of indigestion, half spoonful of crushed seed powder was taken orally. For treatment of arthritis, gall bladder disorders, chronic dysentery, aphthous ulcer, and urination problem, juice obtained from crushed leaf was taken orally. For blood purification, seed powder was mixed with few pieces of seeds of Nigella sativa and taken orally with honey. For burning sensations on hands and feet or whole body due to allergy, seed pulp was soaked in water and then crushed in a copper pot. The resultant powder was then applied on affected areas of the body. It is our expectation that a number of
Background. Unani form of traditional medicinal practice is common in Bangladesh and has a large ... more Background. Unani form of traditional medicinal practice is common in Bangladesh and has a large number of practitioners. The objective of this study was to document the medicinal plants and formulations used by a Unani medicinal practitioner in Bhola Sadar of Bhola district, Bangladesh. Methods. Interview of the practitioner was carried out with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and the guided field-walk method. Results. The practitioner used a total of 44 plants distributed into 30 families for treatment. The various diseases treated included lung and respiratory tract disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, skin disorders, fever, helminthiasis, cuts and wounds, gum and tooth disorders, coughs, mucus, chicken pox, snake bite, burning sensations in body, diabetes, piles, spleen disorders, rheumatism, oral lesions, pain, insomnia, conjunctivitis, dandruff, low sperm density, cholera, infertility, epilepsy, and liver disorders. Conclusion. The medicinal plant knowledge of the Unani practitioner is a valuable addition to the traditional medicinal plant knowledge of Bangladesh.
Unani form of traditional medicine is prevalent in Bangladesh, whose practitioners are
known as... more Unani form of traditional medicine is prevalent in Bangladesh, whose practitioners are
known as Hakims. The objective of the present study was to document the medicinal plants and formulations of a Unani folk medicinal practitioner in Bhola district of the country. This type of practitioners are not registered and do not have training from established Unani colleges but practice on the basis of their own experience and study of available Unani treatises. The Hakim was observed to use a total of 38 plants distributed into 31 families in his formulations, some of which were simple and some exceedingly complex polyherbal formulations. The Hakim treated a wide variety of diseases including helminthiasis, fever, respiratory tract disorders, bleeding from nose and mouth, gastrointestinal disorders, weakness of nerves, cuts and wounds, skin disorders, loss of memory, leprosy, paralysis rheumatism, piles, toothache, diabetes, hoarseness of voice, burns, decreased urinary output, swellings of hands or legs, kidney and gall bladder stones, liver and spleen disorders, pain, jaundice, sexual disorders, snake bite, leucorrhea, and hysteria. The use of multiple plants in formulations to treat diverse diseases suggests that the Hakim possessed a
good knowledge of the medicinal properties of plants, both singly and in combination.
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known as Hakims. The objective of the present study was to document the medicinal plants and formulations of a Unani folk medicinal practitioner in Bhola district of the country. This type of practitioners are not registered and do not have training from established Unani colleges but practice on the basis of their own experience and study of available Unani treatises. The Hakim was observed to use a total of 38 plants distributed into 31 families in his formulations, some of which were simple and some exceedingly complex polyherbal formulations. The Hakim treated a wide variety of diseases including helminthiasis, fever, respiratory tract disorders, bleeding from nose and mouth, gastrointestinal disorders, weakness of nerves, cuts and wounds, skin disorders, loss of memory, leprosy, paralysis rheumatism, piles, toothache, diabetes, hoarseness of voice, burns, decreased urinary output, swellings of hands or legs, kidney and gall bladder stones, liver and spleen disorders, pain, jaundice, sexual disorders, snake bite, leucorrhea, and hysteria. The use of multiple plants in formulations to treat diverse diseases suggests that the Hakim possessed a
good knowledge of the medicinal properties of plants, both singly and in combination.
known as Hakims. The objective of the present study was to document the medicinal plants and formulations of a Unani folk medicinal practitioner in Bhola district of the country. This type of practitioners are not registered and do not have training from established Unani colleges but practice on the basis of their own experience and study of available Unani treatises. The Hakim was observed to use a total of 38 plants distributed into 31 families in his formulations, some of which were simple and some exceedingly complex polyherbal formulations. The Hakim treated a wide variety of diseases including helminthiasis, fever, respiratory tract disorders, bleeding from nose and mouth, gastrointestinal disorders, weakness of nerves, cuts and wounds, skin disorders, loss of memory, leprosy, paralysis rheumatism, piles, toothache, diabetes, hoarseness of voice, burns, decreased urinary output, swellings of hands or legs, kidney and gall bladder stones, liver and spleen disorders, pain, jaundice, sexual disorders, snake bite, leucorrhea, and hysteria. The use of multiple plants in formulations to treat diverse diseases suggests that the Hakim possessed a
good knowledge of the medicinal properties of plants, both singly and in combination.