Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research (ISSN : 0975-7384)

header
Reach Us reach to JOCPR whatsapp-JOCPR +44 1625708989
All submissions of the EM system will be redirected to Online Manuscript Submission System. Authors are requested to submit articles directly to Online Manuscript Submission System of respective journal.

Original Articles: 2014 Vol: 6 Issue: 10

Medicinal plants and formulations of a Unani folk medicinal practitioner of Bhola district, Bangladesh

Abstract

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.