HERBAL REMEDIAL PRACTICES FOR VIRAL DISEASES AMONG INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF TINSUKIA DISTRICT OF UPPER ASSAM (INDIA)

Among infectious diseases, particularly viral infections sometimes become epidemic leading cause of death of man and animals. To prevent, cure and treatment of commonly occurring viral infections, indigenous rural population of Tinsukia district rely on traditional medicinal practitioners who have not only the knowledge of plants but also have the knowledge of disease diagnosis based on symptoms. They have been using phytoconstituents of the plant parts like leaves, roots, stem, barks, fruits, flowers, seeds, and animal products as medicines traditionally for the treatment of various viral diseases. In this study an attempt has been made to assess the traditional practices for common viral diseases of human and domestic animals among indigenous communities of Tinsukia district of Upper Assam. Forty different species of plants procured from the district identified which have been using traditionally as herbal medicine to treat eleven viral diseases of human and domestic animals. Further study in this field will uncover the traditional knowledge of herbal remedies for viral infections.