BASELINE ETHNOBOTANICAL SURVEY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS USED FOR ORTHOPEDICS TREATMENT IN INDIGENOUS MEDICINE IN EMBILIPTIYA AREA, SRI LANKA

Abstract

The indigenous system is very popular in Asian countries. Medicinal plants offer alternative remedies with tremendous opportunities to indigenous treatments. In the present study we conducted a comprehensive survey on the types of medicinal plant materials, including the specific plant parts that are available for this purpose. In addition, various treatment types, frequency index, heavily used and rare materials, family wise distribution, challenges faced by traditional practitioners and future prospects were also explored. The present survey covered area with a high population of traditional practitioners for orthopaedic treatment in Sri Lanka. Information was gathered from a total of eighty one (81) traditional practitioners from the Embilipitiya, Godakawela and Kolonna divisional secretary areas. A questionnaire was prepared and actual data were gathered through face-to-face interviews. Collected data were tabulated and analysed. A total of 258 different plant species belonging to 91 families were documented. The highest number of plants was reported from the family Fabaceae (31 species). Different parts of the plant such as leaves, barks, entire plant, roots, seeds, fruits, flowers, stems, latex, pods, bulbs, buds, and husk were used for the preparation of different types of formulae. These treatments include Mellum, oil, paste, Peyawa, juice, depression therapy, Kalka, Paththu, Arishta, steams and smoking. A pioneering effort was made to utilize indigenous knowledge in orthopaedic care for conservation of valuable medicinal plants and to promote indigenous medicine needs in Sri Lanka. Plant information documented with traditional knowledge can be used effectively for various orthopaedic diseases and for plant identification.