Title: Ethnobotany of the Himalayas—Kashmir, India
Abstract: Ethnomedicinal knowledge is a valuable form of indigenous knowledge advantageous for the identification and conservation of valuable species as well as the habitats in which they occur. These ethnobotanical studies explore the structural relationships between human society and the environment using socio-anthropological methods; these relationships can be social, economic, cultural, religious, commercial, etc. The utilization of medicinal plants for curing health ailments have been practiced mostly by the people dwelling in the mountain regions and countrysides across the globe. This practice is very old ever since ancient times, when people glanced into nature for the medications. The Kashmir Himalayas harbours an immense diversity of medicinal herbs. Most of the land cover in Kashmir Valley is under the forest and rural areas and the practices of medicinal plant utilization are common among the rural and tribal communities. The floristic diversity of Kashmir Himalayas has been diminished to a more prominent degree because of ecological depravity and human exploitation. The aggravation by the human ill-treatment is the central point liable for the vegetation to be fragmented into little spots. This chapter aims to furnish the traditional use of medicinal and edible plants and healthcare practices in Kashmir that has not been much discussed in the recent past and to initiate measures for the conservation of medicinal and edible plant diversity as well as the traditional knowledge.
Publication Year: 2021
Publication Date: 2021-01-01
Language: en
Type: book-chapter
Indexed In: ['crossref']
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 5
AI Researcher Chatbot
Get quick answers to your questions about the article from our AI researcher chatbot