INDIGENOUS HEALTH CARE PRACTICES OF THE TRIBAL OF THE WESTERN GHAT SATARA DISTRICT (M.S.) INDIA

Abstract

Medicinal plants have been used for treatment of various ailments of human for time immoral. The rural and tribal people of the country have a rich tradition of utilizing these plants even today. Gujarat has a significant population of tribal people residing in the we stern tribal belt. The area inhabited by tribal is rich in plant biodiversity. The Satara District of the state has around 40 per cent population of tribal. The tribal of this area have medicine men called Bhagat who treat various ailments of human and domestic animals. The present paper deals with the rich tradition of treatment with medicinal plants and documentation of a few plants that are used for treatment of skin diseases by the tribal Bhagats. The paper also deals with the conservation practices adopted by these medicine men to protect the biodiversity of the area.