Traditional uses of medicinal plants among the rural communities

of Churu district in the Thar Desert, India

Parveen ∗ , B. Upadhyay, Shikha Roy, Ashwani Kumar 1
Department of Botany, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur 302004, India

Abstract
The traditional uses of medicinal plants in healthcare practices are providing clues to new areas of research; hence its importance is now well
recognized. However, information on the uses of indigenous plants for medicine is not well documented from many rural areas of Rajasthan
including Churu district. The study aimed to look into the diversity of plant resources that are used by local people for curing various ailments.
Questionnaire surveys, participatory observations and field visits were planned to elicit information on the uses of various plants. It was found that
68 plant species are commonly used by the local people for curing various diseases. In most of the cases (31%) leaves were used. The interviewees
mentioned 188 plant usages. Those most frequently reported had therapeutic value for treating fever, rheumatism, diarrhea, asthma and piles. The
knowledge about the total number of medicinal plants available in that area and used by the interviewees was positively correlated with people’s
age, indicating that this ancient knowledge tends to disappear in the younger generation.

Keywords: Tradational uses; Ethanobotanical survey; Churu; Thar Desert

1. Introduction of the human population in developing countries is dependent

Out of the total 4,20,000 flowering plants reported from the
world (Govaerts, 2001) more than 50,000 are used for medicinal
purposes (Schippmann et al., 2002). In India, more than 43% of
the total flowering plants are reported to be of medicinal impor-
tance (Pushpangadan, 1995). Utilization of plants for medicinal
purposes in India has been documented long back in ancient
literature (Tulsidas, 1631: Samvat; Charak, Drdhbala, 1996).
However, organized studies in this direction were initiated in
1956 (Rao, 1996) and off late such studies are gaining recogni-
tion and popularity due to fading of traditional knowledge and
reducing plant population.
Right from its beginning, the documentation of traditional
knowledge especially on the medicinal uses of plants, has pro-
vided many important drugs of the modern day (Anon., 1994;
Cox and Ballick, 1994; Fabricant and Farnsworth, 2001). Even
today this area holds much more hidden treasure, as almost 80%
∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +919414057484.
E-mail address: Parveen s18@yahoo.co.in ( Parveen).
1 Address: 2-Kha-14, Jawaharnagar, Jaipur, India.
on plant resources for healthcare (Farnsworth et al., 1985). In
the rural areas of Churu, plants are the major source of local
medicine for their well being. Information on folk medicinal
uses of the plants has recently become of renewed interest in
search for new therapeutic agent. A vast knowledge on medicinal
plants exists as oral among the folklore and primitive societies
of India, where a large number of potent medicinal herbs are
found growing wild. Although, a great amount of ethnobotanical
research work has been undertaken in various pockets of tribal
and rural population scattered throughout the country, there
is still much to be discovered. Ethnobotanical explorations
play vital role in bringing to light information about such plant
species from our rich flora that can be source of safer and
cheaper potent drugs for the benefit of mankind. In country like
India, according to reasonable estimates, 70 percent inhabitants
still rely on herbs (Singh and Gautam, 1997). Nation witnesses
2500 species of plants from about 1000 genera which are used
by traditional healers (Chandel et al., 1996). Ethnobotanical
studies of different areas of Rajasthan state has been carried out
by many workers of this field (Singh and Pandey, 1980, 1983,
1998; Joshi, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995; Mishra and Kumar, 2000;
Trivedi and Nargas, 2000; Sharma, 2002a,b; Trivedi, 2002)
 Fig. 1. Map of Rajasthan showing the study area.
however, information on the uses of plants as traditional
medicines has not been documented from different sectors of
the district.
Keeping this in view, the present study was initiated, with
an aim to document the knowledge of rural people and folklore
on the utilization of medicinal plants in remote areas of Churu
district.
1.1. Study site
Churu district is situated in the middle portion of the North-
East of Rajasthan between 27◦ 24 N to 29◦ 00 N latitude and
73◦ 51 E to 75◦ 41 E longitude, occupying an area of about
13,858 km2 (Fig. 1). The district is a part of the Thar Desert in
India, situated 400 m above the sea level. The district is well
known for huge diurnal and seasonal temperature variations
from −3 ◦ C in winters to 50 ◦ C in summers with shifting sand
dunes, erratic and scanty rainfall, and high wind velocity, having
thorny and poor vegetation. The sandy soil and bright sunlight
are the two important natural resources abundantly available in
this region which are responsible for the development of the
desert vegetation having variable medicinal properties. Gener-
ally the folk people are well acquainted with these medicinal
properties (Jain, 1991; Kaushik and Dhiman, 2000).
2. Methodology
2.1. Surveys
In order to document the utilization of indigenous medicinal
plants, survey was carried out during the year, 2005 in the remote
areas of Churu district in the Thar Desert, India. The survey was
spread across the seasons so as to get maximum information.
The information on medicinal uses of the indigenous plants have
been described after gathering informations from general local
people, experienced aged rural folk, traditional herbal medicine
practitioners and local herbal drug sellers and concluded them
by consulting literature. A total of 300 inhabitants were inter-
viewed. The randomly selected 186 men and 114 women of
different ages from about 25 years and above (x = 57.92) were
interviewed in local language, i.e. Shekhawati. In addition direct
plant observation and identification was done with the help of
local healers known as ‘gunis’. A structured questionnaire was
used to elicit information from the resource persons using stan-
dard methods (Martin, 1995). Information on local name of the
plant, plant parts used for curing disease their recipes and mode
of administration were recorded. Plants collected during the sur-
veys were identified with the help of published regional flora
(Bhandari, 1990; Shetty and Singh, 1993; Sharma, 2002a,b)
and by comparing voucher specimens with identified herbarium
collections in the herbarium, Department of Botany, University
of Rajasthan, Jaipur, India which is Internationally recognized
herbarium known by acronym RUBL. From the collected data
a list of plants of different families with their traditional uses,
plant part used, their recipes and mode of administration is pre-
pared in alphabetical order of families and name of the plants in
a family (Table 1).
2.2. Use frequency
The use frequency per species was estimated by calculating
the proportion of plants cited and utilized in relation to the total
number of interviewees.
Table 1
Inventory of local knowledge regarding medicinal plants of Churu district in the Thar Desert, India

Family name Plant name (local Part used Disease cured by the Mode of administration Usea (%) Statusb Abundancec
name are given in plant
parenthesis)

Acyranthaceae Achyranthrus aspera Root Cough A pinch of root powder in 11 W 4

Linn. (Lathjira) combination with pepper and
honey is given in cough
Haemorrhoids Powdered roots mixed with
honey are given internally
Amaranthaceae Aerva tomentosa Flowers, seeds Headache, Woolly seeds stuffed in pillows 15 W 3
Forssk (Bui, Buida) rheumatism relieve headache and protective
against rheumatism
Swellings Decoction of flowers and seeds
applied externally against
swellings
Amaranthus spinosus Whole plant, roots Boils Root paste is applied externally 21 W 4
L. (Kateli) on boils
Toothache Decoction of herb is used for
mouth wash for toothache
Snake bite Drinking of root extract with the
same of Convolvulus trupethum
helps one to overcome the effects
of poisons of snake and insects
Piles A piece (2 cm) of root in black
thread is tied on left arm of a
pregnant to cure piles
Amaryllidaceae Curculigo orchiodis Roots Asthma, jaundice, The tubers are administered as 8 W 2
Haertn. (Kalimusli) diarrhea and colic follows: tubers are washed and
cut into slices and dried and than
given in does of 180 gains beaten
up with an equal quantity of
sugar in a glass of milk until it
forms thick mucilage
Apocynaceae Carissa congesta L. Roots Rheumatism The roots in combination with 4 W 2
(Karaunda) other roots are used in
rheumatism
Nerium indicum Mill. Leaves roots Chancre, ulcers and The roots are made into a paste 18 W 3
(Kaner) leprosy with water and are applied
externally
Piles A paste of roots is applied
externally on piles
Ring worm and other The paste of its leaves with oil of
skin diseases its root bark is used
Termination of The roots is used for procuring
pregnancy abortion both by local application
and internal administration
Aristolochiaceae Aristolochia Leaves Eczema Bruised leaf mixed with castor oil 8 W 2
bracteolata Lamk. applied to eczema on children’s
(Kiramar) legs
Asclepidaceae Calotropis procera Roots, flowers Malarial fever The decoction of root bark along 31 W 4
R.Br. (Aak) with black pepper is used twice a
day for 3 day
Cholera Powdered flowers with black
pepper are given with ash of
barley seeds
Leptadenia Whole plant Wound healing The bruised stem and leaves are 32 W 4
pyrotechnica (Forsk.) used to promote healing of
Decne (Khimp) wounds
Asteraceae Artemisia scoparia Whole plant Burns Smoke is considered good for 10 W 3
Waldst, and kit (Bana, burns
Dona)
Earache Juice of plant is used as a cure for
pain in ear.
Eclipta alba Leaf, whole plant Elephantiasis The fresh plant mixed with 27 W 1
(Bhringaraja) sesamum oil is applied externally
Table 1 (Continued )

Family name Plant name (local Part used Disease cured by the Mode of administration Usea (%) Statusb Abundancec
name are given in plant
parenthesis)

Jaundice and fever The juice is administered in

teaspoonful doses
Tonic The expressed juice of the leaves
in combination with ‘ajavain’
seed is used as tonic
Bignoniaceae Tecomella undulata Bark Syphilis and The bark of young branches is 15 W 3
(Sm.) Seem (Rohida) leucorrhoea used as a remedy for syphilis and
leucorrhoea
Brassicaceae Raphanus sativus Leaves, seeds Leucoderma The seeds pasted with 17 C 2
Linn. (Muli) Achyranthes aspera in water are
applied
Piles The leaves are dried in shade and
made into a powder mixed with
equal parts of ‘shakkar’ and are
given for 40 days
Dysuria, Calculai, The juice of its leaves it given
Strangury
Cacataceae Opuntia ficus-indica Fruits, leaves Asthma and Fruits baked or made into syrup 21 W 4
(Nagphani) whooping cough are a good remedy in asthma and
whooping cough
Scorbutic ulcers The leaves made into a pulp are
used as a poultice to allay heat
and inflammation in scarbutic
ulcers
Capparidaceae Capparis decidua Stem Pyorrhoea and The stem is used in pyorrhoea 36 W 4
(Forsk.) Edgew. (Ker) rheumatism and rheumatism
Muscular injuries Paste of coal from wood is
applied externally to muscular
injuries
Cleome gynandra Leaves, seeds Typhus fever Half cup tea of the decoction of 17 W 2
Linn. (Hulhul) the seeds and leaves is given daily
Intestinal worms Fresh leaves are eaten as
vegetable
Prurigo The juice of the fresh leaves
mixed with sesamum oil is used
Piles Powdered seeds are used
Cough The infusion of seeds is used
Chenopodiaceae Chenopodium album Leaves Stomach pains A tea of the leaves and plant is 6 W 4
L. (Bathua) used to relieve stomach pains
Convolvulaceae Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. Whole plant Haematuria The juice of the plant about two 11 W 21
(Amarbel) teaspoonfuls is given to treat
haematuria
Prevent conception The juice of plant is given to
forever woman once only after menses to
make the woman barren forever
Evolvulus alsinoides Leaves, flowers Chronic bronchitis The leaves are made into 27 W 3
L. (Shankh pushpi) and asthma cigarettes and smoked in chronic
bronchitis and asthma
Brain tonic The fresh flowers with sugar are
eaten
Cucurbitaceae Citullus colocynthis Roots, fruits, Amenorrhoea Fresh Indrayan roots are boiled 47 W 4
(L.) Schrader (Tumba) leaves with cow’s milk and administered
twice a day
Leucoderma Fresh leaf extract is applied to
affected area externally
Paronychia Fresh root paste is applied
externally
Rheumatism Root paste of Indrayan and
Ashgandh mixed with honey is
administered orally
Boils and carbuncles Paste of root and raw fruits is
constipation applied externally
Table 1 (Continued )

Family name Plant name (local Part used Disease cured by the Mode of administration Usea (%) Statusb Abundancec
name are given in plant
parenthesis)

Decoction of fresh fruit is

administered orally at bed time
Citrullus vulgaris Fruits, seeds Typhus fever The juice of the fruit is given as 18 C 4
(Thumb.) Matsum and an antiseptic in typhus fever
Nakai (Tarbooz)
Intestinal An emulsion of the seeds is made
inflammation into a poultice with the pounded
leaves and applied hot in cases of
intestinal inflammation
Cucumis melo (Roxb.) Fruits, seeds Chronic eczema The whole fruit is eaten daily 9 C 4
Duthie and Fuller
(Kharbuja) Tympanitis Bruised seeds are applied as
poultice in cases of tympanitis in
children
Cucumis sativus L. Fruits, seeds, Throat affections The leaves boiled and mixed with 7 C 2
leaves cummin seeds, roasted and
powdered, are administered
(Khira) Pitta, general debility The fruits and seeds are used
Lagenaria siceraria Leaves, seeds Jaundice A decoction of leaves mixed with 3 C 2
(Mal.) Standley roots sugar is given
(Kashiphal)
Rheumatism Seed oil is used
Headache The paste of roots in water is
applied externally
Constipation The tender shoots are eaten as
vegetable in constipation
Luffa acutangula Leaves roots Granular The juice of fresh leaves is 13 C 2
(Linn) Roxb. conjunctivities. dropped into eyes
(Kalitori)
Splenitis, The pounded leaves are applied
haemorrhoids, piles locally
and leprosy
Gonorrhoea The root with equal parts of root
of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and
Hemisdesmus indicus is given
with milk, cummin and sugar
Luffa aegyptica Mill. Seeds, fruits Piles The fruits are cooked with the 16 C 2
(Ghiatori) whole plant of Raphanus sativus
without salt and oil and are eaten
with curd thrice a day for 3–7
days to cure piles
Skin diseases The oil obtained from its seeds is
used
Momordica charantia Whole plant, Scabies and other The whole plant combined with 37 C 2
Linn. (Karela) leaves, fruits, roots cutaneous diseases cinnamon, long pepper, rice and
the oil of Hyrocarpus wightiana
is employed externally
Night blindness The leaf juice is externally
applied round the eyes
To reduce blood sugar One spoonful of fruit paste in
water is taken internally
Piles A paste of the roots is applied
externally over piles
Euphorbiaceae Acalypha indica Leaves Scabies The decoction of leaves mixed 7 W 3
(Kuppi, Kokli) with common salt is applied to
scabies
Emblica officinalis Leaves, fruits, Chronic dysentery The infusion of leaves mixed 38 W 2
Gaertn. (Amala) bark, seeds with fenugreek seeds is given
Bacillary dysentery A ‘sherbat’ prepared from the
fruits with lemon juice is taken
Gonorrhoea The juice of the bark combined
with honey and turmeric is used
Table 1 (Continued )

Family name Plant name (local Part used Disease cured by the Mode of administration Usea (%) Statusb Abundancec
name are given in plant
parenthesis)

Leucorrhoea The powder of seeds taken twice

a day for a week to cure
leucorrhoea
To stop nose bleeding Seeds fried in ghee and ground in
‘conjee’ are applied as ‘lep’ to the
forehead to stop nose bleeding
Eubhorbia hirta Linn. Whole plant, Leucorrhoea About 20 leaves are crushed and 24 W 2
(Dhudhi) leaves the extract is given orally with
honey once a day in the morning
Cough, asthma The drug is administered in the
form of liquid extract of tincture
with labelia or senega in the
treatment of coughs and asthma
Dysentery, colic The juice of plant is used
Jatropha curcas Leaves To promote lactation The leaves locally applied to the 6 W 2
(Ratanjot) breasts
Gum boils The sticks of this plant are used
as tooth brushes to strengthen the
gum and to cure gum boils
Jatropha gossipifolia Leaves Guinea worm Leaves are tied locally in 3 W 3
(Ratanjot) treatment of guinea worm
Phyllanthus niruri Leaves, latex Skin affections, Leaves mixed with salt applied 9 W 3
Sensu Hook. f. swelling and ulcers locally to skin affections,
(Bhuian anvala) swelling and ulcers in the form of
poultice. The latex is beneficial in
indolent ulcer
Chronic dysentery Infusion of young tender leaves is
given
Ricinus communis Leaves seeds Boil and carbuncle The leaves are tied on the boil and 26 W 4
Linn (Erand) the carbuncle in order to burst it
Rheumatism The seed paste as a poultice is
applied on sores and gout or
rheumatic swellings
Stomach-ache Infusion of the leaves is used
Fabaceae Acacia nilotica Delile Bark tender Ulcer Powder of bark is applied 47 W 4
(Kikar) leaves, pods externally in ulcers
Sore throat and The decoction of the bark is used
toothache diarrhea as a gargle
and dysentery
urinogenital diseases
An infusion of tender leaves is
given orally. The decoction of its
pods is beneficial
Albizia lebbeck Leaves, bark Night blindness Leaf juice is used as eye drop for 3 W 2
(Linn.) Benth. (Siris) flowers night blindness
To heal gums Decoction of the bark is used as
mouth wash
Boils, eruptions and The flowers are applied externally
swellings
Leprous ulcers The powder root bark is applied
externally as plaster.
Acacia senegal Willd Gum Inflammation of Gum is used internally in 4 W 4
(Kumta) intestinal mucosa, inflammation of intestinal
burns, sore nipples mucosa and externally to cover
and nodular leprosy inflamed surfaces as burns, sore
nipples and nodular leprosy
Arachis hypogoea L. Seeds To prevent heart Seed oil is beneficial for cardiac 7 C 2
(Mung phali) attacks patients and prevents heart
attacks
Dalbergia sisoo Roxb. Leaves, bark Inflamed mammary The leaves are warmed and tied 5 W 1
(Shisham) glands over breast
Table 1 (Continued )

Family name Plant name (local Part used Disease cured by the Mode of administration Usea (%) Statusb Abundancec
name are given in plant
parenthesis)

Blood dysentery The leaf juice mixed with sugar

and curd is given to cure blood
dysentery
Gonorrhea Decoction of leaves is used
Piles Dried and powdered bark is used
in bleeding piles
Prosopis cineraria Inflorescence, Boils and skin The ground inflorescence mixed 38 W 4
(L.) Druce (Jaanti) flowers diseases with sugar in water is used for
prevention of boils and skin
diseases
To prevent Flowers are pounded, mixed with
miscarriage sugar and eaten by women during
pregnancy as a safe guard against
miscarriage
Tephrosia hamiltonii Root, stem Headache A decoction of the roots with 23 W 2
(Sarphonka) ginger is consumed to relieve
headache
Spermatorrhoea The root extract, one teaspoonful
once a day along with seed paste
is given for 15 days
Snake bite The powdered root bark along
with black pepper is given
Pyrrhoea The stem is used as tooth brush
Cholic The bark of the root ground with
a little black pepper is made into
pills and given in refractory
cholic
Gentianaceae Enicostema Whole plant Diabetes The plant extract is useful against 17 W 2
hyssopitolium (Willd.) diabetes
I.C. (Chota Chirayata)
Fever and malaria The whole plant is used
Lamiaceae Leucas aspera Spreng Leaves, flowers Jaundice, fevers, The juice of leaves and flowers 4 W 4
(Paniharin) ulcers, intestinal mixed with milk is given
catarsh
Ocimum sanctum L. Leaves Ring worm and other An infusion of leaves is applied 43 C 2
(Tulsi) cutaneous diseases externally to the skin
Colic Juice of leaves mixed with ginger
is given
Intermittent fever The juice of leaves mixed with
black pepper is given
Inflamed eyes The leaf juice internally two
times a day for 7 days
Liliaceae Allium cepa L. (Pyaz) Bulbs Colic, scurvy The onions mixed with common 13 C 2
salt are a domestic remedy in
colic and scurvy
Malarial fever Onions are eaten twice a day with
two or three black peppers
Aloe barbadenesis Fresh leaves Swellings and dropsy Aloe steeped with setmodia 33 W 2
Mill. (Ghikumari martima is drunk to ease
Ghikanwar) swellings and dropsy
Leaf juice Constipation The dried juice is used
Eruptions Crushed succulent leaves mixed
with turmeric and the paste thus
obtained applies on the eruptions
Lytharaceae Lawsonia intermis Leaves Spermatorrhoea The leaf juice along with sugar is 36 C 2
Linn. (Mehndi) administered
Anemia, oedema, One gram of fresh leaves and
jaundice three black peppers are made into
paste in 50 ml of cow’s milk and
it is taken for 1 month.
Yellow fever Decoction of leaves mixed with
meat stew and taken orally
Table 1 (Continued )

Family name Plant name (local Part used Disease cured by the Mode of administration Usea (%) Statusb Abundancec
name are given in plant
parenthesis)

Burns, small pox and Decoction of the leaves is very

scalds useful
Meliaceae Azadirachta indica Twigs, leaves Boils, abscesses, The poultice of leaves is applied 41 W 2
Juss (Neem) adenitis, eczema and
ulcers. Intestinal
helminthiasis urinary
calculi
The tender leaves with piper
nigrum are used
The ashes of the leaves are taken
with water
To strengthening teeth The twigs are used as ‘Datun’
and gums
To strengthening hairs Aqueous extract of the leaves
along with the leaves of ziziphus
jujuba is used
Menispermaceae Tinospora cardifolia Whole plant, stem Jaundice and fever Stem juice is valued in high fever 17 W 1
(Willd.) Miers Ex and given in jaundice either alone
Hook F. and Thomas or mixed with honey
(Neem giloy)
Urticaria Stem paste with a little ginger is
given in urticasia
Elephantiasis Stem juice with sweet oil is
administered in elephantiasis
Asthma Juice of stem orally with honey
Leucorrhoea Paste of plant and five seeds of
pipper nigrum is administered
orally once daily in morning
Moraceae Ficus benghalensis Tender ends of the Obstinate vomiting The tender ends of hanging roots 41 W 1
Linn. (Bargad) aerial roots, latex, are given
fruits, leaves, bark
Piles The tips of adventitious roots are
crushed and boiled in cow’s milk
and the decoction thus obtained,
is strained and served hot in piles
Boils and blisters The milky latex of the plant is
applied externally
Spermatorrhoea The fruits are powdered and
taken with honey in the morning
and evening for a week
Cracked heels The milky juice of the branches is
applied
Abscesses The leaves are applied as poultice
Snake bites The bark with black pepper is
used
Ficus religiosa Linn. Leaves, bark, Inflammatory ulcers. Tender leaves are beneficial when 25 W 2
(Pipal.) seeds, fruits used along with butter fat to
cover the inflammatory ulcers
Prevent conception The seeds powder is given for 3
forever days during menses
Asthma The dried and powdered fruits are
taken in water for 14 days
Fishula of anus Powder of bark is used
Nyctaginaceae Boerhaavia diffusa Roots, leaves Night blindness The roots and leaf ash are taken 25 W 4
Linn. (Sarti) to cure night blindness
Eczema Dry powder of the leaves mixed
with mustard oil is used
externally on inches and eczema
Rheumatism The leaves boiled with rice, garlic
and water are rubbed on body
Abortifacient Two grams of root paste with
cow’s milk is taken by the
women for abortion
Table 1 (Continued )

Family name Plant name (local Part used Disease cured by the Mode of administration Usea (%) Statusb Abundancec
name are given in plant
parenthesis)

Papavaraceae Argemone maxicana Seed oil, seed root Eczema and itching The seeds are poured in ‘Mahua 38 W 2
Linn. (Satyanasi) oil’ and are applied to eczema
and itching
Piles Roots are burnt to provide heat in
treatment of piles
Toothache The smoke of the burning seeds
is used to relieve toothache
Ophthalmic infection The ashes of burnt seeds filtered
with a fine cloth and apply for
ophthalmic infection
Pedaliaceae Pedalium murex Linn. Fruits leaves Gonorrhea and The mucilaginous water 27 W 2
(Bada gokhru) dysuria produced from the fresh leaves is
taken
Renal calculi Decoction of whole fruit is used
to treatment of renal calculi
Sesamum indicum Seeds, leaves Amenorrhoea The decoction of the seeds with 23 C 2
Linn. (Til) acorus, ‘pippali’ and ‘gur’ is
given in amenorrhea
Polyuria A handful of the seeds are eaten
daily
Pimples The seeds with the bark of siris
and vinegar are rubbed over
pimples
Ophthalmia and sking The fresh leaves are applied
problems externally
Poaceae Cynodon dactylon Whole plant, roots Piles An infusion of the roots is used 16 W 2
(L.) Pers (Dubghas) for stopping bleeding from piles
Chronic gleet Crushed roots mixed with curds
are used
Haematuresis and The fresh expressed juice of the
catarrhal ophthalmia grass is useful
To control blood About 100 g juice of the plant is
pressure taken daily
Cyperus rotundus L. Rhizomes Dysentery The bulbous roots are scraped 14 W 2
(Motha) and pounded with green ginger,
mixed with honey and given in
cases of dysentery
Snake bite, irregular Juice of rhizomes is given orally
menstruation,
dyspepsia, diarrhea
Desmostachya Roots Dysentery A decoction of its roots is given 19 W 3
bipinnata (L.) Stapf. in dysentery
(Dab, Kusha)
Leucorrhoea Roots pasted in rice water are
given for three days in
leucorrhoea
Wounds Ash of the roots along with
mustard oil is applied on wounds
Rhamnaceae Zizyphus nummularia Root, leaves, bark Gout and rheumatism The juice of the root bark is 28 W 4
(Brum. f.) Wt. et Arn. applied externally
(Ber)
Fever The decoction of the root is given
in fever
Wounds and ulcers The root powder is applied to old
wounds and ulcers
Diarrhea The powder of the stem bark is
used
Abscess, boils and A paste of the leaves and twigs in
carbundes applied externally
Salvadoraceae Salvadora persica L. Leaves Rheumatism The leaves heated and tied up in 9 W 4
(Pilu) thin cotton cloth are applied in
rheumatism
Table 1 (Continued )

Family name Plant name (local Part used Disease cured by the Mode of administration Usea (%) Statusb Abundancec
name are given in plant
parenthesis)

scurvy The juice of leaves is given in

scurvy
Solanaceae Datura stramonium Fruits, leaves Spasmodic asthma The smoking of the dried leaves 28 W 2
Linn. (Dhatura) and stem in a pipe is found
successful in relieving spasmodic
asthma and kindered affections
Inflammation of A paste of its fruits with turmeric
breast is used
Rheumatism, The local application of datura
lumbago, painful leaves proves most serviceable in
tumours, glandular relieving pain when applied in
inflammations such as the form of poultice
mumps
Solanum indicum Seeds Dysuria The decoction of the seeds given 28 W 2
Auct. non Linn. twice daily
(Baigan Kateli)
Toothache The vapour of the burning seeds
relieves toothache
Solanum nigrum Linn. Roots To enhance fertility The roots with small amount of 4 W 2
(Makoi) sugar are boiled in water and are
given to women to enhancing
fertility
Withania somnifera Root Spermatorrhoea and The powder of the root is given 37 W 2
Dunal (Ashgandh) debility daily with sugar, honey and long
pepper in the doses of 1.7 g daily
Scrofula and A decoction of the root is used
consumption with long pepper, ghee and honey
To stop habitual A decoction of its root with black
miscarriage pepper and alligator pepper is an
effective remedy for toning up
the uterus of women who
habitually miscarry
Verbinaceae Clendendrum Leaves, root Syphilis The leaf juice is given in syphilis 14 W 3
phlomidis Vent. (Arni)
Measles and The decoction of the roots is
gonorrhoe given as bitter tonic for children
during convalescenece from
measles and given in gonorrhoea
Lantana camara L. Leaves Rheumatism A decoction of the leaves is 4 W 2
Moldenke (Gendi) applied
Tetanus About half cup of plant decoction
with a little quantity of ‘kala
namak’ is taken twice a day till
relief
The healing of The bruised leaves are used to
wounds and fistula promote healing of wounds and
in fistula
Zygophyllaceae Peganum harmala Seeds Asthma, colic and The powder of seeds is a good 8 W 2
(Harmal) jaundice anodyne and the watery infusion
is similarly useful
Tribulus terrestris Whole plant, Gleet, The dry fruits are powdered and 25 W 4
Linn. (Gokhuru) fruits, stem spermatorrhoea, are given in doses of 18 g with
impotence sugar and black pepper
Gonorrhoea The infusion of the stem is used
Gravels, gout and A decoction of the plant is used
kidney diseases
a Use (%) refers to percentage of people that use the plant in relation to total interviewees.
b Status refers to w: wild; c: cultivated plant.
c Abundance—1: rare, 2: common, 3: fairly common, 4: abundant.
2.3. Plant categorization
Plants were classified in the categories of wild or cultivated
and also classified into different types of growth forms (herbs,
shrubs and trees).
2.4. Abundance of the plant species
Abundance is the number of individuals of any species per
sampling unit. Depending upon the number of plants, abun-
dance is divided in four arbitrary groups. The groups are—rare,
common, fairly common and abundant.
2.5. Knowledge about plants and their uses
The Spearman rank correlation was used to analyze the
knowledge about medicinal plant and its correlation with age
of survey samples (P < 0.005).
3. Results
The study reveals that more than 80% of the rural people
depend for their primary healthcare on folk medicine, mainly
of plant origin. According to survey, the people of Churu dis-
trict used 68 different plant species belonging to 32 families for
curing various ailments, out of which 28 were herbs, 16 shrubs,
13 trees and 11 climbers and twinners. The study has brought
to light some 188 folk recipes, used currently by the traditional
healers of various cultures in Churu district of Rajasthan for cur-
ing or alleviating different diseases and ill conditions. In most of
the case (31%), leaves were used for curing ailments followed
by roots, seeds and whole plant (Fig. 2). Flowers, gum and latex
were the least used plant parts. The usual methods of applica-
tions are as decoction, paste and powder. These are administered
internally (57%) or applied externally (43%). Most of the recipes
(70%) include only one plant, however many preparations are
the combination of several herbs. The information on scientific
name, local name of the plant, family of the plant, plant part
Fig. 3. Number of plants used for treating various ailments.
Fig. 2. Pie diagram showing plant parts used for medicines.
used to cure and mode of administration has been provided in
Table 1.
These plants were used for curing a total of 78 diseases rang-
ing from simple stomach-ache to highly complicated male and
female urinogenital disorders. Even jaundice and kidney stones
were treated by them. Maximum number of plants was used
for curing fever and rheumatism followed by piles, diarrhea and
dysentery, asthma and ulcer (Fig. 3). It was also found that differ-
ent parts of a single plant may be used for curing many ailments,
for example Citrullus colocynthis, a creaper which is used for
curing leucoderma rheumatism, paronychia, amenorrhoea and
constipation. Similarly, Zizyphus nummularia, a shrub roots,
leaves and bark are used for treating different ailments (Table 1).
During the survey, it was observed that a more number of
plants are used for curing female urinogenital problems com-
pared to males. It was also found that people were hesitant in
disclosing their knowledge. It is this knowledge that provides
them recognition in the society and hence they do not want to
share it. In many cases, it was also found that a bit of this knowl-
edge has been lost during transmission in folklore from one
generation to other. The villagers themselves said that, com-
pared to them their forefathers knew much more. It was also
found that the local people are much concerned about the reduc-
tion of medicinal plants in the wild. Due to recent global shift
towards herbal medicines, the pressures on the plant resources
in nature have increased and the market is also fast expanding.
3.1. Medicinal plants used verses sampling age
The knowledge about the total number of medicinal plants
available in that area and used by the interviewees is posi-
tively correlated with their age (Spearman rank correlation test,
r = 0.57 and 0.51, respectively, P < 0.05). Elderly people men-
tioned and utilized more variety of medicinal plants compared
to younger generation. Similarly the women knew more about
medicinal plants and also practiced them compared to men.
4. Discussion
Traditional phototherapy is an art practiced by few elderly
people (medicine men) whose empirical knowledge is respected
by everyone in the village. They are familiar with the sign and
symptoms of various common diseases and ill conditions and
claimed to cure or allay symptomatically these maladies with
the locally available plant drugs. It was emphatically noted dur-
ing the survey of Churu district that these healers now represent
a disappearing oral tradition which is not passed on to the next
generation, obviously because the younger generation usually
consider the belief in plant remedies a sort of superstition and
less effective compared to modern medicine. Moreover, modern
medical facilities are now making in roads into these traditional
medicines. So, the folk faith on medicinal plants in now disap-
pearing. It was therefore, considered important that this valuable
knowledge regarding folk medicinal uses of plants be recorded
before these time tested uses of herbal drugs are lost forever,
because of ever dwindling number of medicine men and indis-
criminate use of plants, leading to rapid loss of many plant
species.
Many of the plants that are used by the local people in Churu
district find mention in ancient medicinal literature and are also
used in different medicinal systems such as, the Ayurveda and
Unani. For example Citrullus colocynthis that is used by the
local people for curing rheumatism and leucoderma finds men-
tion in Ayurveda for curing the same diseases. It is one of the
main ingredients of ‘Narayan Churna’ and ‘Sukhvirechani vati’
the ayurvedic medicines. In Unani system of medicine it is
used for curing ‘kala-azar’ (Guha Bakshi et al., 2000). Simi-
larly Momordica charantia, which the local people use for piles
and blood diseases, is also used for curing asthma, ulcers and
bronchitis in Ayurveda. In Unani it is used for curing syphilis
and rheumatism (Kritikar and Basu, 1981).
The data recorded during this study were compared with the
related literature (Watt, 1889–1892; Kirtikar and Basu, 1935;
Anon.,1948–1976; Nadakarni, 1954; Chopra et al., 1956, 1969;
Satyavati et al., 1976; Agarwal, 1986; Jain, 1991; Asolkar et
al., 1992) and also recently published reports on the traditional
medicinal uses of the plants (Sebastine and Bhandari, 1984;
Shekhawat and Anand, 1984; Katewa et al., 2001, 2004; Jain
et al., 2005; Muthu et al., 2006). And it was found that most of
these plants are already known for similar uses. However, their
recipes and the method of use in the majority of cases are dif-
ferent also the ingredients added and method of preparation are
concerned. Some additional indigenous uses for some of these
species have been recorded and given in the table.
The survey result that women having more knowledge about
medicinal plants and more in use of them can be attributed to the
fact that unlike men, women are hesitant to disclose their gyneco-
logical problems and therefore find treatment in the community
itself. Besides they are full time busy in household jobs as well
as in farms, hence have little time to go to professional allopathic
doctors. And the elderly people know more about the medicinal
plants and their values over younger generation because they
were more close to nature, more rigid in traditional belief and
less influenced by magic allopathic drugs because of their long
term harmful effects.
The use of plants in medicine is booming up. Now in the
developed countries also people are returning to nature. Use of
traditional medicine is the mainstay of primary healthcare, virtu-
ally in all developing countries. The reasons for the frequent use
of traditional medicine being (i) the strong association of people
with local flora and their belief on traditional knowledge regard-
ing plants as medicine, (ii) easy availability of local medicinal
plants, (iii) relatively poor access to allopathic drugs and their
high cost and (iv) lower economic profile of the rural people.
5. Conclusion
It can be concluded from the study that the district has highly
specialized indigenous vegetation with varied medicinal values.
This district has great potential for cultivation of these xero-
phytic medicinal plants. Biodiversity in the district is under the
perpetual stress of drought and unsustainable use.
The rural people of Churu district inherit a rich traditional
knowledge and documentation of this knowledge has provided
novel information from the area. This will not only provide
recognition of this undocumented knowledge but will also help
in conservation of such rare, gradually vanishing important
desert species. It will also provide new pharmacological dimen-
sions for better health care of the human being regarding many
ailments.
Acknowledgement
The grant of CSIR-JRF to Ms. Parveen is gratefully acknowl-
edged.
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