Ethnobotanical exploration of medicinal plants for the treatment of migraine in Dakshina Kannada district of Western Ghats, Karnataka, India

Abstract

Migraine is a recurrent neurological disorder of humans affecting approximately 15% of the population globally. It frequently appears in childhood, particularly around puberty and affects women more than men. Traditional medicine has a key role in primary health care system of people residing in remote and rural regions. This study has been carried out in Western Ghats of Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka state, India during 2018 - 2021 to document ethno-medicinal plants used by traditional practitioners to treat migraine. Most people prefer herbal folk therapies against this chronic disorder. Ethnobotanical study was carried out by repeated field visits. Information pertaining to the migraine was gathered by open-ended discussions with local traditional healers through a semi-structured questionnaire. All together 67 key informants shared their unique method of treatment against migraine. A total of 53 plant species belonging to 29 families are being used by local folk practitioners. Data was analyzed by quantitative tools like Relative frequency of citation (RFC) and Family importance value (FIV) to compare the importance of reported plants. Leaves are the mostly used plant parts in the preparation of herbal formulation. Internal mode of application was more prevalent to treat migraine. Documentation of traditional knowledge of using plants in primary health care systems will be necessary in order to face new challenges by the modern medical world.