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Indigenous Medicinal Practices: Medicinal Plants of Chakma Tribal Medicinal Practitioners in Rangamati District

Isrer Tasannun
Department of Pharmacy, University of Development Alternative, Lalmatia, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh

Farhana Akter Ruba
Department of Pharmacy, University of Development Alternative, Lalmatia, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh

Borhan Uddin Bhuiyan
Department of Pharmacy, University of Development Alternative, Lalmatia, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh

Kazi Mahbub Hossain
Department of Pharmacy, University of Development Alternative, Lalmatia, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh

Jamila Khondokar
Department of Pharmacy, University of Development Alternative, Lalmatia, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh

Ishita Malek
Department of Pharmacy, University of Development Alternative, Lalmatia, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh

A.B.M. Anwarul Bashar
Department of Pharmacy, University of Development Alternative, Lalmatia, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh

Mohammed Rahmatullah
Department of Pharmacy, University of Development Alternative, Lalmatia, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The Chakma tribal community forms the largest tribal group in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and can be found in scattered communities of Rangamati, Khagrachaari, and Bandarban districts. Since the tribe mainly relies on its own traditional medicinal practitioners, it was of interest to document the traditional medicinal practices of three such practitioners practicing in three Chakma communities in Rangamati district. Interviews of the practitioners were carried out with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and the guided field-walk method. The practitioners were observed to use a total of 33 plants distributed into 27 families in their practices. These plants were used to treat ailments like fever, pain, malaria, gastrointestinal disorders, liver complaints, spleen complaints, diabetes, phthisis, strangulation of intestine, alopecia, skin disorders, ear infection, hypertension, influenza, pneumonia, snake bite, jaundice, rheumatic fever, anemia, asthma, graying of hair, hernia, respiratory tract disorders, piles, cancer, kidney stone, tetanus, chest pain, epilepsy, scurvy, and menstrual disorders. This wide range of diseases treated suggests that the medicinal plants of the Chakma practitioners deserve scientific attention as to their drug discovery potential.

Keywords: Tribal medicine, Chakma, Medicinal plants, Rangamati, Bangladesh

Location: Rangamati district

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Development of Host and Medicinal Plants

Commodity: Medicinal Plants

Objectives:

Because of their ancient traditional practices, which they had been continuing for possibly hundreds of years, the Chakma community can be a valuable source of information on traditional medicinal practices and medicinal plants of the Chittagong Hill Tracts region. It was therefore the objective of the present survey to document the plants and practices of three Chakma TMPs practicing in three different communities in Rangamati district.

Methodology:

The three Chakma TMPs from Rangamati district were Notun Bihari Chakma, male, age 72 years, Buddhist, area - Champaknagar; Alik Bishwa Chakma, male, age 68 years, Buddhist, area - Banarupa; and Srikanda Kumar Chakma, male, age 86 years, Buddhist, area - Debashishnagar. Prior Informed Consent was first obtained from the TMPs. The TMPs were explained the full purpose of our visit and consent obtained to disseminate any information provided in both national and international venues. Actual interviews were conducted with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and the guided field-walk method of Martin (1995) and Maundu (1995). In this method, the TMPs took the interviewers on guided field-walks through areas from where they collected their medicinal plants, pointed out the plants, and described their uses. Plant specimens were photographed and collected on the spot, pressed, dried and brought back to Dhaka to be identified at the Bangladesh National Herbarium. Interviews were carried out in the Bengali language, which was spoken by both the TMPs and the interviewers. It was noted that the TMPs collected most of their plants from forest areas adjoining their community residence areas.

Source of Information: AMERICAN-EURASIAN JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE 2015, volume(9),issue(5): pages(28-35) ISSN: 1995-0748, EISSN: 1998-1074

Article Link (Online Journal): http://www.aensiweb.com/AEJSA/

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Overall it can be concluded that the medicinal plants used by the Chakma TMPs deserve scientific attention. Indigenous medicinal plants can with proper scientific validation be an affordable and available source for medical treatment. At the same time, awareness of the medicinal potential of these plants can raise awareness about their conservation.

Knowledge Management: Journal