Submit manuscript...
MOJ
eISSN: 2574-9722

Biology and Medicine

Research Article Volume 6 Issue 1

Accessing the himalayan herbs traded in the streets of itahari by sherpa community of Taplejung, Nepal

Sandesh Thapa

Gokuleshwor agriculture and animal science college, Tribhuwan University, Nepa

Correspondence: Sandesh Thapa, Gokuleshwor agriculture and animal science college, Tribhuwan University, Nepal

Received: December 18, 2020 | Published: January 29, 2021

Citation: Thapa S. Accessing the himalayan herbs traded in the streets of itahari by sherpa community of Taplejung, Nepal. MOJ Biol Med. 2021;6(1):21?28. DOI: 10.15406/mojbm.2021.06.00124

Download PDF

Abstract

Sherpa community are the oldest ethnic groups of Himalayas and chiefly known for their ability to climb mountains and their knowledge on medicinal plants found in the high Himalayas. The main objective of this study was to document the medicinal plants available for trade-in Itahari. The study reported 40 species of medicinal plants belonging to 34 families from an interview with twelve herbal traders. The habit of the medicinal plant recorded were herbs (53%), trees (20%), shrubs (13%), vines (8%), fungus (5%), and lichen (3%). Herbal medicines were mostly found for curing minor diseases like cuts, wounds to major diseases like jaundice, typhoid, and also cancer. The knowledge of ethnomedicinal plants has been preserved from ancestors to ancestors, is still in existence and are also spreading towards their younger generations. Furthermore, More researches should be done to access the medicinal plants traded across the country and also their conservation strategy followed by the ethnic community during the collection of medicinal plants.

Keywords: cross-cultural traditions, ethnomedicinal plants, lichen, sherpa, zimbu

Introduction

Nepal is one of the richest countries in terms of biodiversity and species richness and its relation to culture and traditions. The main reason for the higher diversity of flora, fauna, ecosystems, and cultural heritage is due to its higher variations in physiographic structures.1 There's a close relation observed between humans and nature which is sharpened and highlighted by ethnobotanical and ethnomedicinal studies. Traditional use of plants in the healing system plays an important role in maintaining the physical and psychological wellbeing of the vast majority of tribal people in India and Nepal.2,3 Traditional medicine includes all kinds of folk medicine, unconventional medicine, and indeed any kind of therapeutic method that had been approved by ethnic groups.

The knowledge regarding the use of medicinal plants has been passed from generation to generations and only a specific group knows about the details of it.4,5 Since all of the communities of Nepal do not have access to modern medicines, knowledge of ethnomedicine plays a vital role in saving lives and is also not harmful to health.6 Also in areas where people have access to modern medicinal facilities but trading of the medicinal plant has been observed for use in minor diseases like cough, cold, cuts, and burns.7

For the first time in Nepal, an effort for a handwritten book to compile traditional knowledge towards medicinal plants was done by Pandit Ghana Nath Devkota in 1969 in herbal Encyclopedia Bir Nighantu or Bir pharmacopeia which included 750 medicinal plants with their possible uses.8 Eastern Nepal and its medicinal plants were firstly explored by.9 Different researchers from Nepal have reported diversity of species used for the medicinal purpose with ethnomedicinal knowledge. Kunwar et al.10 reported 107 species from Dolpa, 59 from Humla, 44 from Jumla, and 166 from Mustang. Similarly, 35 genera of the medicinal plant were reported from streets of Kathmandu for trading,7 from Kaski 99 genera of ethnomedicinal plants were recorded by,11 from Illam 102 species were reported,12 from baitadi 33 species were reported,6 from Chitwan 44 medicinal plants were reported.13 Similarly, the species reported were used for curing of various ailments from minor to major diseases and 80% of the Nepalese population are dependent on it.10

The record of medicinal plants brought for sale in different parts of countries from the Hindu Kush Himalayan regions is not recorded. An effort has been made to record the medicinal plant brought for sale in eastern Nepal. Itahari municipality is selected for data collection as the intensity of herbal traders was high and more aged and experienced traders were spotted in the study area. Thus, this paper is designed to get access to medicinal plants traded in the streets of Itahari and their uses for medicinal purposes by the ethnic community of sherpas.

Methodology

Study area

Itahari sub-metropolitan municipality is taken as a study area where many herbal traders are found on streets selling medicinal plants and products. Itahari is the junction area of province no.1 which might be the cause why there is a high density of herbal traders and almost all the traders are ethnic Sherpa community from Taplejung. Taplejung is the core area for the collection of medicinal and aromatic plants in province 1.14

Research design and data collection

A simple interview was scheduled with twelve herbal traders who were native to Taplejung and were from the Sherpa community, as they have old ancestry to the collection of medicinal plants. The survey period lasted from 21st January – 5th of February (2020) completed in two stages. Data collection was done using semi-structured questionnaires prepared as per the requirement for the survey to record the information related to medicinal plants and their uses. The collected data was entered in Microsoft excel and tables were prepared in Microsoft Word. The cross-sectional study was done to support the medicinal uses and secondary information about uses of medicinal plants was obtained from different works of literature including national and international open access journals, websites, conference proceedings, and newspaper bulletins. For the identification of plants from local name literature cited were.7,10,14-16

Data analysis

Data analysis includes a descriptive analysis of medicinal plants with their growth habit, plant parts used, and family. To present error-free data SPSS v.20 was used for analysis as suggested by17 in social science researches. Charts were prepared using Microsoft Excel and SPSS.

Results and discussion

The diversity of medicinal plants recorded were found to be used for curing more than one disease. As per the species plant parts used and application procedure were also different. Some of the medicinal plants were used as a paste applied externally, some were fine powdered and inhaled with lukewarm water or milk, chewing as of areca nut was also observed and extracts were prepared and infiltered by muslin cloth. Acharya et al.,17 also reported that the medicinal plant traded in Kathmandu valley was applied and consumed in a variety of ways. Also, the recommended dosage and application procedures were found to be different among the traders. The main reason for differences in dosage is due to the practices of medicinal plants by different ethnic communities and their knowledge of it.

The diversity of medicinal plant recorded are mainly collected from taplejung district and also the traders are from the Sherpa community of taplejung whose family are involved in the collection of medicinal plants from ancestors to ancestors. Of those recorded 40 species belonging to 34 families, most of them are herbaceous plants (53%) followed by a tree (20%), shrub (13%), vines (8%), fungus (5%) and lichen (3%) (Figure 1). Also, differences in edible parts for the medicinal purpose was recorded roots and fruits were used in medicinal purpose in most of the plants, flowers, vegetative parts, and tender shoots were also used for medicinal formulations, details of the plant part used for medicinal plant parts used (Figure 2) and their procedure is shown in Table 1.

Figure 1 Habit of medicinal plants.

Figure 2 Plants parts used for medicinal purposes.

s.no.

Local name

Scientific name

Family

Habit

Plant part used

Preparation and use

Ailments cured

References

1.      

Pakhanbed

Bergenia ciliata

Saxifragaceae

Herb

Root

Root powder is cooked with ghee and flour. Chewed for toothache

Constipation, nutritive for pregnant, toothache

7,12,18

   

(Haw.) Sternb.

         

2.       

Harchur

Viscum articulatum Brum. F.

Santalaceae

Herb

Stem, leaves

Half a spoon of powder is served with boiled water or milk.

Aids in joining of bone, used in sprains also                                                                                                                                                                                        

15,21

3.       

Yarshagumba                      

Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Berk.) G.H.Sung, J.M.Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora                                                                                                              

Ophiocordycipitaceae                     

Fungus                        

Whole part                                   

Small piece of fungus or a little of powder is preferred with lukewarm milk, also served as chewing

Used as tonic

15,19

4.       

Simping

Heracleum nepalense D.Don

Apiaceae

Shrub

Fruit

Slightly roasted and ground along with tomato pickle and consumed, boiled water+ pinch of salt+ simping during gastritis and constipation.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Constipation, gastritis, aid in digestion.

12,15

5.       

Majhi fal

Quercus infectoria Oliv. 

Fagaceae

Herb

Fruit

Chewing like areca nut.

Throat pain, tonsil

15

6.       

Panch aunle

Dactylorhiza hatagirea

Orchidaceae

Herb

Rhizome

Lukewarm water/ milk+ little part of the rhizome

Bone injury,

15,19

   

(D.Don) Soó

         

7.       

Thulo okhat

Astilbe rivula-

Saxifragaceae

Herb

Root

Preferred with milk+ ghee+ flour with added little of root powder(though dried root but freshly powdered)

Teeth pain, bone pain,  aid in pregnancy

7,12

   

ris Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don

       

8.       

Amala

Phyllanthus emblica

Euphorbiaceae

Tree

Fruit

Chewing

Blood purification,

16

   

L.

           

9.       

Harro

Terminalia chebula

Combertaceae

Tree

Fruit

Chewing, powder is also swallowed with lukewarm water

Cough and aid in digestion

20

   

Retz.

           

10.   

Barro

Terminalia bellirica

Combertaceae

Tree

Fruit

Chewing, powder is also swallowed with lukewarm water

Piles astringent, laxative

6,20

   

(Gaertn.) Roxb.

         

11.   

Gurjo

Tinospora sinensis

Menispermeceae

Vines

Stem

Fresh stems are eaten raw or dried stem are swallowed with water when prepared in powder form.

High blood pressure, brain tonics

7

   

(Lour.) Merr.

         

12.   

Haldeo

Curcuma caesia

Zingiberaceae

Herb

Rhizome

Added a little of rhizome in pulse or vegetable during cooking and eaten; also served in combination with milk

Aid in digestion,  bacillary dysentery

7,15

   

Roxb.

           

13.   

Boke timur

Zanthoxylum acanthopodium DC.

Rutaceae

Shrub

Fruits, seeds

Little seeds are added for the preparation of pickles.

High blood pressure, gastritis, stomach ache, headache, diarrhea

20,15

14.   

Sil timur

Lindera neesiana (Wall. ex Nees) Kurz,

Lauraceae

Shrub

Fruit, seeds

1-3 fruits/seed added during preparing tomato pickle

Gastritis, headache

12,15

15.   

Yangban

Usnea orientalis Motyka

Parmeliaceae

Lichen

Whole plant

Paste is prepared and applied over infected/ injured parts

Cuts and wounds

15

16.   

Kacho simrik

Bixa Orellana L.

Bixaceae

Tree

Fruit

Powder of dried fruit is prepared and served with milk

Joining of bones and bone-related injury

14

17.   

Harjora

Cissus quadrangula-

Vitaceae

Herb

Stem root

Chewing and can also be served with boiled water

Sprain, fractures, cuts, and wounds

12,21

   

 ris L

           

18.   

Ban ghiraula

Luffa cylindrical (L.) M.Roem.

Cucurbitaceae

Vines

Dried fruit fibers

Fibers are soaked in water and orally swallowed; in case of long term headache powder of fiber is enclosed in uslin cloth and inhaled
hardly to deep for 2-3 times early in the morning

Headache, jaundice, stomach disorder, high blood pressure

2

19.   

Dhupi sallo

Juniperus recurva Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don

Cupressaceae

Tree

Leaves and barks

Small cuts of leaves and barks are prepared and wrapped in paper and made to smoke in a room

In witch treatment used for smoking

8

20.   

Chiraito

Swertia chirayita

Gentianaceae

Herb 

Stem

Dried stem are powdered and swallowed with lukewarm water

Common cold, cough, fever, high blood pressure, pneumonia

7

   

(Roxb. ex Fleming)

         
   

Karsten

           

21.   

Chutro

Berberis aristata DC

Berberidaceae

Shrub 

Roots

Root extract is consumed orally.

Jaundice, typhoid

12,15

22.   

Seto bikhamma

Aconitum ferox wall. Ex. Ser.

Ranunculaceae

Herb

Roots

Paste is prepared and eaten with lukewarm water early in the morning before tea

Diarrhea, fever, jaundice, stomach disorders

15,16

23.   

Kalo bikhamma

Aconitum laciniatum (Bruhl) stapf

Ranunculaceae

Herb

Roots

Paste is prepared and eaten with lukewarm water early in the morning before tea

Food poisoning and diarrhea

15,16

24.   

Jimbu

Allium hypsistum

Amaryllideaceae

Herb

Leaves

Fermented and fresh leaves are used as spices in different vegetables

Used as a spices

Not availiable                                                                 

   

Stearn

           

25.   

Jaringo

Phytolacca acinosa Roxb

Phytolaccaceae

Herb

Roots

Root extract is consumed

Gastritis, stomach disorder

12,15

26.   

Lali gurans

Rhododendron arboreum

Ericaceae

Tree

Flower

Dried flowers are consumed during fish bone entangled in throat, and dried flower are also chewed

Easy swallowing, headache, diarrohea

18

   

Sm.

           

27.   

Ban lasun

Allium sativum L.

Alliaceae

Herb

Bulb

Juice of bulb

Used as tonic and blood circulation

6,12

28.   

Bojho

Acorus calamus L.

Araceae

Herb

Rhizome

Chewing

Cough/cold,

6,12,20,21

29.   

Aalainchi

Amomum subulatum Roxb.

Zingiberaceae

Herb

Rhizome

Chewing or prepared with tea

Heart diseases, high blood pressure

6,12

30.   

Satuwa

Paris polyphylla Sm

Trilliaceae

Herb

Root

Root powder boiled with water, filtered and consumed

Piles, gastritis, high blood pressure, heart diseases, pain killer

7,15,20

31.   

Rittha

Sapindus mukorossi

Spindaceae

Tree

Fruits, seed

Seeds/ fruits are beaten, ground used as shampoo while bathing

Removes dandruff, reduces hair fall

20

   

Gaertn.

           

32.   

Lalgedi

Abrus precatorius

Fabaceae

Shrub

Fruit, seed

Seeds are applied over the eye

Improves vision of eye

20

   

L.

           

33.   

 Peepla

Piper longum L

Piperaceae

Vines

Fruit

Chewing of fruits

Cough and cold

12,15

34.   

Avijalo

Drymaria cordata

Caryophyllaceae

Herb

Vegetative part

Plant part is ground, powdered and swallowed in little with boiled water

Headache, typhoid, diarrhea

12

   

 (L.) Wild.ex Roemer

       
   

and Schultes

         

35.   

Ainselu

Rubus ellipticus Sm.

Rosaceae

Herb

Root

Paste is applied externally in piles and root extract is consumed for gastritis and diarrhea

Gastritis, piles, diarrhea

7

36.   

Khanakpa

Euodia fraxinifo-

Rutaceae

Tree

Seeds

Seed paste is prepared and consumed.

Vomiting, dizziness, allergy

12,15

   

lia (D. Don) Hook. f.

         

37.   

Halhale

Rumex nepalensis

Polygonaceae

Herb

Root

Juice and paste are externally applied in infected regions

Dermal infections, ringworm

12

   

Spreng.

           

38.   

Padamchal

Rheum australe D. Don Rheum

Polygonaceae

Herb

Rhizome

Extract of the rhizome is consumed and also paste is applied externally during factures and muscle pains

Pneumonia, fever, fractures and muscle pains

12,15

39.   

Jethi madhu

Glycyrrhiza glabra L.

Leguminosae

Herb

Stem

Chewing; fine powder is orally taken with water

Cough/cold, tonsillitis, tonics,

7

40.   

Rato chyau/ Reishi

Ganoderma lucidum

Amanitaceae

Fungus

Whole part

Boiled in water and filtrate is collected and applied 2-3 drops in ear;

Infections and wounds in ear, even said to cure cancer of ear; treatment of cancer

22

 

 

 

 

 

 

Powder of basidiocarp is swallowed orally

Table 1 Diversity of medicinal plants reported from herbal traders in Itahari

A similar type of findings was recorded by Shrestha et al.15 in the Taplejung district. Though the sampling technique and data collection method were different, the reason for the similarity in uses may be due to being a similar collection area. The higher diversity of herbs in alpine and sub-alpine regions has been reported by Chaudhary 1. Shrestha et al.,15 reported that the reason for exploring the medicinal plants by the peoples is due to their less access to transportation and other facilities by then they started exploring plants for the medicinal plants. Their contributions to ethnomedicinal uses is an outcome of many years. Shrestha’s findings were further also supported by Kunwar et al.,10, Rokaya et al. (2010) in the alpine and sub-alpine vegetation of Nepal.18-22

The majority of medicinal plants found in the streets of itahari for trade are used to cure minor diseases like cuts, wounds, cough, fever, and the common cold. Very few of them were reported to cure major diseases like typhoid, jaundice, tonsillitis, bone injury, cancer, high blood pressure, heart problems, pneumonia, and stomach disorders. However, few of them also reported to have nutritive value for pregnant women, tonics and also as spices, though, being used as a medicinal plant. Thapa et al.,6 also reported that most of the plant species collected from home gardens of baitadi were collected to cure minor diseases. Different authors and ethnobotanists have observed the use of medicinal plants for several diseases; the attitude of practice is more or less similar between different ethnic communities. This may be due to cross-cultural tradition in the use of medicinal plants.3 The knowledge on the use of plants for a medicinal purpose has been flowing form north.3 Though ethnomedicinal knowledge practices from ancestors to ancestors have been carried out modern studies on plants used for medicinal purposes were found to contain phytochemicals which helped in curing of diseases. Ban ghiraula is the newly reported medicinal plant and literature regarding its use in an ethnomedicinal plant is lacking. However, phytochemical screening revealed that its use for medicinal use is appropriate as it contains various phytochemicals such as Phenolics, lavonoids, oleanolic acid, ascorbic acid, a-tocopherol, carotenoids, chlorophylls, triterpenoids, and ribosome-inactivating proteins. These phytochemicals have significant relation with medicinal uses.2 Thus more researches should be done to access the phytochemicals present in medicinal plants and promoting their uses as they are less or no harmful for human health.

Conclusion

Ethnomedicinal plants are highly important from both economic and health perspective. Different communities of people were found to use different plants for medicinal uses. Among them, sherpas are one of the important herbal traders from eastern Nepal and are involved in the collection and trade of various medicinal plants. Streets of itahari are rarely covered by herbal traders from taplejung who are the ethnic community trading medicinal plants along with their dosage. 40 species of medicinal plants belonging to 34 families were reported and found to use for cuts, wounds, fever, jaundice, cancer, aid in digestion, as tonics, laxative, teeth pain, joining of bones, ringworms, fungal infections, for pregnants and so on. Their response regarding the collection of medicinal plants is done on a seasonal basis and also the trading too. Zimbu is the newly reported plant with ethnomedicinal uses and hence more researches should be conducted regarding its medicinal uses.

About the author

Sandesh Thapa is an undergraduate of agriculture and studying in Tribhuvan University. His research interest lies in ethnomedicinal plants and their economic analysis, urban ecosystem, life cycle assessment and rooftop garden. Currently, he is serving as a local director of IAAS LC GAASC, Baitadi, a student association works in the field of agriculture and other applied sciences. Susmita Thapa is an undergraduate of agriculture and studying in Tribhuvan University. Her research interest lies in ethnobotany, urban ecosystem, and agri-economics.

Public interest statement

Medicinal plants has along history for its use in the field of traditional medicine and sherpas are the oldest tribe in Nepal engaged in collection, processing and sales of medicinal plants. The commonly used medicinal plants availiable for sale in market can be consumed raw. However, some of them has special formulations like in Yarshagumba which can be known from the traders. Also, its uses do not have any effect on human health, Thus its demand is increasing more and more. Thus consumers can use it without nay risk but in low formulations and high doses may cause toxicity.

Conflicts of interest

Authors do not have any type of competing interests.

Funding

The authors do not receive any fundings during the research period.

Acknowledgments

None.

References

  1. Chaudhary R. Biodiversity in Nepal: status and conservation. S. Devi, Saharanpur. 1998.
  2. Adewuyi Azeez M, Solomon BO, Omobola AA, et al. Traditional And Medicinal Uses Of Luffa cylindrica : A Review Biophysical Chemistry View project HUMAN IMPACT ON SOME ECONOMIC TREES OF OBA HILL FOREST RESERVE, OSUN STATE , NIGERIA View project Traditional and medicinal uses of Luffa cylindrica : a Review. Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies Year. 2013;1(5).
  3. Kunwar RM, Fadiman M, Cameron M, et al. Cross-cultural comparison of plant use knowledge in Baitadi and Darchula districts, Nepal Himalaya. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2018;14(1):40.
  4. Dhami N, Jha PK, Karmacharya SB, et al. Medicinal Plants in Nepal: An Anthology of Contemporary Research. In researchgate.net. 2008.
  5. Quave CL, Pieroni A. A reservoir of ethnobotanical knowledge informs resilient food security and health strategies in the Balkans. Nature Plants. 2015; :14021.
  6. Thapa S, Rawal S, Prasai A, et al. A case study of medicinal plants and their usage by the local community of Dilasaini Gaunpalika, Baitadi district, Nepal. Archives of Agriculture and Environmental Science. 2020;5(1):50–54.
  7. Acharya KP, Rokaya MB. Ethnobotanical Survey of Medicinal Plants Traded in the Streets of Kathmandu Valley. Scientific World. 2005;3(3):44–48.
  8. IUCN N. National Register of Medicinal Plants. 2000:1-172.
  9. Banerji M. Some edible and medicinal plants from East Nepal. J Bombay. 1995.
  10. Kunwar RM, Nepal BK, Kshhetri HB, et al. Ethnomedicine in Himalaya: A case study from Dolpa, Humla, Jumla and Mustang districts of Nepal. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2006;2:27.
  11. Adhikari M, Thapa R, Kunwar RM, et al.. Ethnomedicinal Uses of Plant Resources in the Machhapuchchhre Rural Municipality of Kaski District, Nepal. Medicines. 2019;6(2):69.
  12. Bhattarai KR, Khadka MK. Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants from Ilam District, East Nepal. Our Nature. 2017;14(1):78–91.
  13. Joshi A, Kalauni D, Bhattarai S. Survey on usage of medicinal plants: a case from Chitwan district of Nepal. SAARC Journal of Agriculture. 2019;16(2):129–141.
  14. Karki JB, Adhikari K, Kunwar RM. Inventory of Sinjema-Syamdo and Timbung Pokhari , KCA and Taplejung Inventory of Sinjema-Syamdo and Timbung Pokhari , Kangchenjungha Conservation Area and Taplejung district, Nepal. 2018.
  15. Shrestha N, Shrestha S, Koju L, et al. Medicinal plant diversity and traditional healing practices in eastern Nepal. J Ethnopharmacol. 2016;192:292–301.
  16. Singh A, Nautiyal MC, Kunwar RM, et al. Ethnomedicinal plants used by local inhabitants of Jakholi block, Rudraprayag district, western Himalaya, India. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2017;13(1):49.
  17. Stockemer D. Interpretive Quantitative Methods for the Social Sciences. Sociology. 2016;50(3):453–469.
  18. Gautam TP. Indigenous uses of some medicinal plants in Panchthar district, Nepal. Nepalese Journal of Biosciences. 2011;125–130.
  19. Kunwar RM. Medicinal plants of Dolpa , Nepal. 2014.
  20. Kunwar RM, Shrestha K, Malla S, et al. Relation of medicinal plants, their use patterns and availability in the lower Kailash Sacred Landscape, Nepal. Ethnobotany Research and Applications. 2019;18(6):1-14.
  21. O’Neill AR, Rana SK. An ethnobotanical analysis of parasitic plants (Parijibi) in the Nepal Himalaya. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 2016;12(1):1–15.
  22. Wachtel-Galor S, Yuen J, Buswell JA,et al.. Ganoderma lucidum (lingzhi or reishi): A medicinal mushroom. In Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects: Second Edition. CRC Press. 2011:175–199.
Creative Commons Attribution License

©2021 Thapa. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.