Abstract

The mainstream of people residing in Hattian Bala District, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Pakistan are dependent on medicinal plants for their healthcares. The indigenous medicinal knowledge is in serious danger, as this knowledge is being shifted from generation to generation. Now, modern generation is not paying much attention to save this treasure due to western medicines. This study’s aim is to report the use of medicinal plants by traditional healers and local people to treat various human diseases in the rural and sub urban areas of the study area, which is yet to be reported from an ethno medicinal aspect. Research was conducted by means of open ended and semi-structured questionnaire based interviews. A total of 12 local healers and 91 local people were interviewed, and a total of 24 plant species belonging to 16 families were recorded. Most of these plants were herbs and their leaves were the frequently used part. Our survey brought out a list on the indigenous plants used in Hattian Bala District. These data will help to preserve the traditional knowledge on the use of medicinal plants in black and white.

Key words: Ethno medicines, Hattian Bala, herbal plants, indigenous knowledge.