A Traditional and Pharmacological Approach of Medicinal Plants in Mizoram, India

Abstract

Traditional medicine is the sole method of treatment in rural India even today. Several communities practice their traditional method of treatment and are not affected by the advances in modern medicine. The tribal communities prefer to use and consult their own traditional practitioners since these are easily available, accessible and cheap. It is also believed that these are free of side effects and very effective. The Mizos of the north-eastern state of India (Mizoram), use several plants to treat various ailments. Their practices are unique and are usually carried out by elderly persons of the community or traditional healers. Several plants used in their traditional medicine have been scientifically validated for their efficacy and toxicity studies. However, a large number still awaits identification and efficacy validations. This manuscript describes both the studied and untouched medicinal plants used in the traditional medicine system of the Mizos of Mizoram. Although, several other remedies are yet to be discovered, this study has described most of them in current use.