Abstract Detail

Society for Economic Botany/BSA Economic Botany Section

Rahman, Md.Sahidur [1], Khudha, Md. Monjur-E- [2], Chowdhury, Anita Rani [2], Jahan, Farhana Israt [2], Khan, Md. Shamiul Hasan [2], Aporna, Sadia Afrin [2], Jahan, Rownak [2], Rahmatullah, Mohammed [2].

A survey of medicinal plants used by the traditional healers of the Bede community of Bangladesh for treatment of physical weakness.

Physical weakness in humans can arise from a number of factors including old age, malnutrition, physical and mental stress, and diseases. The Bedes are a nomadic community of Bangladesh, who reside on boats and live a river-based life of traveling and plying their trade of selling various merchandise, snake catching, and disease treatment. For the latter occupation,they have their own traditional medicinal practitioners, who mostly administer medicinal plants for treatment of various ailments. Physical weakness is among one of the ailments treated by the Bede healers and for which they are highly regarded by the village people, who form the majority of their patients. The objective of the present survey was to document the medicinal plants used by the Bede traditional healers of a Bede community at Savar, Bangladesh for treatment of physical weakness. Informed consent was obtained from the healers and information gathered with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and the guided field-walk method. It was observed that the plants used by the Bede healers for treatment of physical weakness included Mangifera indica, Carum copticum, Phoenix sylvestris, Phyllanthus emblica, Terminalia chebula, Terminalia belerica, Nigella sativa, Bombax ceiba, Terminalia arjuna,Tagetes erecta, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Codiaeum variegatum, Tamarindus indicus,Litsea glutinosa, Aloe barbadensis,Abroma augusta, Psidium guajava, and Aegle marmelos. The selection of plants by the Bede traditional healers depended on the cause of physical weakness.

Broader Impacts:

1 - University of Development Alternative, Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, 80 Satmasjid Road, Dhanmondi R/A, Dhaka, 1205, Bangladesh
2 - University of Development Alternative, Faculty of Life Sciences, House No. 78, Road No. 11A, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, 1205, Bangladesh

Keywords:
Ethnomedicine
Bedes
debility
Bangladesh.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Sections
Session: P
Location: Khorassan Ballroom/Chase Park Plaza
Date: Monday, July 11th, 2011
Time: 5:45 PM
Number: PEN012
Abstract ID:439