The Significance of Traditional Medicinal Plants Used for Treating Non-communicable Disease by Kani Tribes in Papanasam, Tirunelveli District
R. Sathiya *
Government Siddha Medical College and Hospital, Palayamkottai-627 002, India.
A. Manoharan
Department of Pothu Maruthuvam, Government Siddha Medical College and Hospital, Palayamkottai-627 002, India.
A. Rajarajeshwari
Department of Nanju Maruthuvam, Government Siddha Medical College and Hospital, Palayamkottai-627 002, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The significance of medicinal plants used by the ethnic group of people (Kani/Kanikaran) of Karaiyar, Papanasam through an ethnobotanical survey for treating Non-communicable diseases (NCD) is documented. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey. Sample size in the survey covers 30 tribal people (men-13, women-17) to analyse various factors and their relationship to the diseases. The survey has included the age range, diseases frequency, gender stats, occupation, BMI, habits and the medicinal practices used. It is estimated that 67% of people still use traditional means for the treatment of diseases. Major medicinal plants used are indigenous to their geographical area which revealed high esteem of ethnobotanical significance and proven to be an effective and sustainable means of treating Non-communicable diseases.
Keywords: Non-communicable disease, ethnobotanical survey, questionnaire survey, Kani tribes.