Traditional Knowledge on Medicinal Plants Used for the Treatment of Skin Diseases in Madurai District, Tamil Nadu, India

This paper deals with the survey and documentation of ethnomedicinal plants used by Paliyar tribes in Madurai district, Tamil Nadu, India. The indigenous knowledge of local traditional healers and the native plants used for medicinal purposes were collected through personal interviews during field trips. The plants were arranged family wise followed by botanical name of the plants, locality, ethnomedicinal use in briefs and local name. The voucher specimens have been deposited in herbarium of Department of Botany of VHNSN College, Virudhunagar. The collected plants were identified with referring standard compilations. Plants have been used as healers and health rejuvenators since time immemorial. About 73 plant species belonging to 46 families are described along the method of drug preparation, mode of administration, probable dosage and duration of treatment. The aim of the present study is not only to prescribe the remedies for skin diseases in human beings but also an endeavor to draw attention for the need of detailed study on medicinal plants of the area, which could provide better and efficient remedies for many dreadful diseases. This study showed that many people in studied parts of Western Ghats of Madurai district still continue to depend on medicinal plants at least for the treatment of primary healthcare. The traditional healers are dwindling in number and there is a grave danger of traditional knowledge disappearing soon since the younger generation is not interested to carry on this tradition.