A Note on the use of Ethnomedicine in Treatment of Diabetes by Mishing Communities in Assam, India

Ethnomedicinal field surveys were conducted in several places of Sonitpur district and near by areas of Lakhimpur district in Assam, where diverse ethnic groups have lived since time immemorial. The ethnic groups have very rich tradition of herbal medicines used in the treatment of various ailments. Among the tribal communities, Mishings constitute the largest group along with Bodos. The ethnomedicinal information was collected on the basis of interview and field studies with local healers among those communities. Medicinal plants were collected and identified with help from indigenous healers. Such medicines have been shown to have significant healing power, either in their natural state or as the source of new products processed by them. Generally these formulations of crude products are considered moderate in efficacy and thus less toxic than most pharmaceutical agents. Our study is mainly concentrated with plants used in relation to cure of diabetes. In our report, detailed notes on the method of preparation, precise dosage, the part/parts of plants used and method of application is given. Scientific name, vernacular names and family names of the collected plants are also given in this report.