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Ethnomedicinal Applications of Plants by the Traditional Healers of the Marma Tribe of Naikhongchhari, Bandarban District, Bangladesh

Mohammed Rahmatullah
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative House No. 78, Road No. 11A, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205 Bangladesh

Md. Shahadat Hossan
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative House No. 78, Road No. 11A, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205 Bangladesh

Abu Hanif
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative House No. 78, Road No. 11A, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205 Bangladesh

Prozzal Roy
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative House No. 78, Road No. 11A, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205 Bangladesh

Rownak Jahan
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative House No. 78, Road No. 11A, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205 Bangladesh

Mujib Khan
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative House No. 78, Road No. 11A, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205 Bangladesh

Majeedul H. Chowdhury
New York City College of Technology The City University of New York Broooklyn, NY 11201, USA

Taufiq Rahman
Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road CB2 1PD, Cambridge, UK

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The Marmas form the second largest ethnic minority group of Bangladesh residing in the forest regions of Chittagong Hill Tracts districts of Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachari. They are divided into several clans. They have their own traditional medicinal healers, who administer to their primary health-care needs using various medicinal plants for treatment of ailments. This practice has gone on from ancient times, resulting in the healers’ possessing considerable knowledge of medicinal plants and their healing properties. The objective of this present study was to conduct an ethnomedicinal survey among the Marma traditional healers of Naikhongchhari in Bandarban district, since virtually nothing is known about their ethnomedicinal practices. Surveys were conducted in the Marma language with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire. The basic method followed was the guided field-walk method, where the informant takes the interviewer during the day time to the areas from where medicinal plants are collected and then shows the plants along with detailed information as to plant names, parts used, formulations, ailments treated and dosages. Information was later cross-checked with the informants during evening sessions. All plant specimens were collected and dried and brought back to the Bangladesh National Herbarium for complete identification. Information on 58 plant species distributed into 35 families was obtained in the present survey. The Fabaceae family contributed the largest number of plant species (seven) followed by the Compositae and Rubiaceae families (four plants each). Leaves accounted for the plant part maximally used, followed by roots and fruits. The various ailments treated by the plants included sexual disorders, urinary tract problems, gastrointestinal disorders, hepatic disorders, helminthiasis, respiratory tract disorders, cuts and wounds, toothache and oral lesions, skin disorders, rheumatism, pain, cataract, diabetes, vomiting, and insect bites. Several plant species, besides treatment of ailments, were also found to be used in the preparation of wine or added to food to impart flavor. A major advantage of the medicinal knowledge of the indigenous people is that they have been tried for centuries with successful results, at least as claimed by both healers and patients. It is therefore important to conduct scientific studies on the various plant species obtained for their potential in yielding novel lead compounds and drugs, which may be more efficacious for the treatment of ailments that cannot be cured by modern allopathic medicine, or as a replacement for modern drugs with serious side-effects.

Keywords: Marma, Ethnomedicine, Indigenous, Naikhongchhari, Bangladesh

Location: Naikhongchhari, Bandarban District, Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Development of Host and Medicinal Plants

Commodity: Medicinal Plants

Objectives:

Their primary health-care needs are administered to by their own traditional healers. At the same time, very little is known about the medicinal practices of the Marma tribe. The areas where they inhabit is quite densely forested and has a wealth of floral species, which are yet to be documented in their entirety, particularly regarding their medicinal values. A rapid way of obtaining such information is to gather knowledge from the healers of various tribes of the region as to the use of the plants for the treatment of various ailments. It was the objective of the present study to conduct a survey among the Marma traditional healers of Bandarban district to gather information on ethnomedicinal applications of plants by these healers.

Methodology:

2.1. Study area Bandarban district in Bangladesh is situated roughly between 92^o 10' - 92^o 40' E and 21^o 20' - 21^o 50' N. There is a Marma “Para” (village) located at Naikhongchhari, which falls in the extreme south-western part of the district. The study was conducted among the tribal healers of the Marmas settled in Naikhongchhari.

2.2. Data collection and sampling techniques A total of three healers present within the Marma community of Naikhongchhari were interviewed for this survey. The names of the healers were Mong-ki-u-Marma, Zing-thu-y-Marma, and Mong Chala Marma. At their request, the healers were interviewed as a group. Interviews were conducted in the Marma language (one of the authors, Md. Shahadat Hossan being fluent in this language, since he grew up in that region) with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire. The basic method followed was that of Martin, (1995) and Maundu, (1995). Informed consent was obtained from the informants prior to any data collection. The informants were explained that we are collecting this data towards storage and dissemination of the indigenous knowledge of their tribes, and that this information may lead to new scientific research and discoveries as well as spurt conservation efforts to save their medicinal plants. The informants had no objections towards providing information except that they wanted the exact formulations and dosages not to be disseminated to protect their professional interests. In the method followed, the informants took the interviewers to localities from where they collected their plants. Plants were shown with detailed information as to their local names, formulations, dosages, route of administration, and ailments treated. It was observed that the medicinal plants collected by the Marma traditional healers were collected both from nearby areas to their habitat, as well as considerable distances (more than 5 km) away from their habitat and in dense forest areas. All plant specimens were collected, dried on-field and brought back to Bangladesh National Herbarium for complete identification and where voucher specimens were also deposited.

Source of Information: Advances in Natural and Applied Sciences, 3(3): 392-401, 2009 ISSN 1995-0772

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1.

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

It is interesting that quite a few plants used by the Marma healers have been validated in their uses by modern scientific studies. This reinforces two viewpoints. The first is that indigenous peoples, through trials and errors conducted over centuries, possess considerable knowledge about the use of medicinal plants for the treatment of ailments. The second is that for successful drug discoveries, it may be better to conduct scientific trials on the basis of knowledge gathered from indigenous communities. A number of plants used by the Marma healers are yet to be tested for their pharmacological activities and phytochemical constituents. Other plants need to be tested for yet to be discovered unknown pharmacological activities, and the presence of phytochemicals, which can serve as the basis for efficacious drugs. Such scientific studies would highlight the importance of medicinal plants used by indigenous communities and strengthen efforts for their conservation, propagation and cultivation.

Knowledge Management: Journal