From Forest to Remedy: Medicinal Plants and Indigenous Therapeutic Knowledge among Naga tribes of Manipur, Indo-Myanmar Biodiversity Hotspot
This study documents and quantitatively analyzes the ethnomedicinal knowledge of the Rongmei and Tangkhul Naga tribes in Manipur's Churachandpur and Kamjong districts, identifying 131 medicinal taxa, highlighting low taxonomic overlap but moderate therapeutic concordance, and prioritizing specific species for pharmacological validation and conservation.
Original paper licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). This is an AI-generated explanation of a preprint that has not been peer-reviewed. It is not medical advice. Do not make health decisions based on this content. Read full disclaimer
In the forests of northeastern India, where the landscape shifts from the Himalayas into the dense, humid hills of the Indo-Myanmar border, two distinct communities have long relied on the surrounding greenery for their health. The Rongmei and Tangkhul Naga tribes, living in separate districts but sharing a deep cultural history with the land, have passed down generations of knowledge about which plants cure which ailments. This body of knowledge, known as ethnomedicine, is not just a collection of old stories; it is a living library of survival. For many in these regions, the forest is the first and often only pharmacy. Scientists are increasingly interested in this traditional wisdom because it offers a roadmap for discovering new medicines. However, much of this knowledge remains undocumented, and as modern life changes and forests shrink, there is a real risk that these remedies could vanish before they are ever recorded or tested.
A team of researchers recently set out to fill a significant gap in this understanding. While previous studies had looked at these tribes in other parts of the state, no one had systematically documented the medicinal plants used by the Rongmei in the Churachandpur district and the Tangkhul in the Kamjong district. The researchers traveled to ten villages across these two areas, interviewing hundreds of community members to record exactly what plants they used, how they prepared them, and what illnesses they treated. They did not just list names; they analyzed the data to see if the knowledge was concentrated in specific groups of people, such as the elderly or the highly educated, and they compared the two tribes to see how much their medical practices overlapped.
The study involved 373 people, ranging from young adults to those in their eighties. The researchers asked them about the plants they knew and used. One of the first things they discovered was that this knowledge is not the exclusive domain of a few specialized healers or the oldest members of the community. Instead, the ability to identify and use medicinal plants was spread fairly evenly across the population. Whether a person was male or female, young or old, or had little formal schooling or a university degree, they possessed a similar amount of knowledge about the local flora. This suggests that in these communities, the wisdom of the forest is a shared cultural trait, learned by everyone rather than guarded by a select few.
In total, the team recorded 131 different plant species used to treat 83 different human ailments. These plants came from 57 different families, with herbs being the most common type of plant used. The most frequently used part of the plant was the leaf, which makes sense as it is easy to harvest without killing the plant. The most common way to prepare these remedies was to boil the plant parts in water to make a decoction, which is then drunk. However, the researchers also found unique and specific methods, such as using the ash of a burnt plant mixed with water to treat stomach issues or ward off evil spirits, a practice not previously recorded in scientific literature.
When the researchers compared the two tribes, they found a surprising result. Although the Rongmei and Tangkhul live in the same general region and speak languages belonging to the same Tibeto-Burman branch of the Sino-Tibetan family, their lists of medicinal plants were quite different. Only about 16 percent of the plants used by one tribe were also used by the other. This low overlap suggests that each community has developed its own distinct medical traditions, likely influenced by the specific plants available in their immediate villages and their unique cultural histories. However, when the two tribes did use the same plant, they often used it for the exact same purpose. For example, both groups used a specific shrub to treat kidney problems, while another shrub was used primarily by the Tangkhul to manage high blood pressure. This indicates that while their lists of plants differ, their understanding of how to treat common diseases is remarkably aligned when they do share a resource.
The study also highlighted the urgent need for conservation. Several of the plants identified are threatened with extinction in the wild, including one species that is critically endangered. The forests where these plants grow are under pressure from farming and other land-use changes. The researchers noted that many of these medicinal plants are also used as food, meaning that the health of the community is tied directly to the health of the forest. If the plants disappear, the community loses both its food security and its traditional medicine.
Perhaps the most valuable outcome of this work is the identification of specific plants that deserve further scientific study. By looking at which plants were mentioned most often and for which specific diseases, the researchers created a shortlist of candidates for modern drug development. Some of these plants, like one used to treat high blood pressure, already have some scientific backing, but many others have never been tested in a laboratory. The study provides a clear starting point for scientists to investigate these plants, potentially leading to new treatments for common ailments.
The researchers also emphasized that this documentation should belong to the communities themselves. They suggest that the information gathered should be recorded in local village registers, giving the tribes control over their own knowledge and ensuring that if any of these plants are ever used for commercial purposes, the communities benefit. This approach respects the rights of the people who have guarded this knowledge for generations.
Ultimately, this paper does more than just list plants; it captures a moment in time for a living tradition. It shows that while the two tribes have different lists of plants, they share a deep, practical understanding of how to heal. It reveals that this knowledge is widespread among the people, not limited to a few experts. And it points the way forward, showing which plants might hold the key to new medicines and which ones need protection before they are lost forever. The work serves as a bridge between ancient wisdom and modern science, ensuring that the healing power of these forests is not forgotten.
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