ABSTRACT
Abstract ................................................................................................. 177 7.1 Introduction .................................................................................. 178 7.2 Ancient India ................................................................................ 180 7.3 Ethnoveterinary Medicine ............................................................ 181 7.4 Prospects of Ethnoveterinary Medicine ....................................... 184 7.5 Plants ............................................................................................ 185 7.6 Conclusion ................................................................................... 186 Keywords .............................................................................................. 203 References ............................................................................................. 203
ABSTRACT
The relationship of plant and man is as old as humanity. Traditional herbal drugs used for controlling diseases of human is more practiced since long time probably dating back to 4000-5000 B.C. of Rig Veda. Man
has utilized plants and animals to produce drugs for treating illnesses and injuries since ancient times. Domestication of wild species has gradually changed the way of livelihood of human beings. It leads to the development of agriculture, transport and food systems together with construct the traditional folk knowledge which was later transformed to the integral part of social tradition and culture. Ethnoveterinary practices concern to animal healthcare is as old as the domestication of various livestock species. According to the World Health Organization, at least 80% of people in developing countries depend largely on traditional practices of various diseases of both animals and humans. These traditional healing practices of animal health care are called ‘ethnoveterinary medicine’. The age old practice of shifting cultivation particularly in northern region and the north east helped people to learn more about the plant species especially among tribals. The systems consist of myth, faith, belief, knowledge, practices and skills pertaining to healthcare and management of livestock. The ethnoveterinary health practice in India is a old system and acquired knowledge of the products for centuries of experiences. Presently domestic traditional cattle nurture practices are drastically cut down in rural areas because of lack of livestock keepers and mind changes of younger generations due to their modern life style. In spite of the uses of allopathic medicine in larger extent, all the traditional healers of remote areas are aware about the use of traditional medicines for different purposes.
