Medicinal plants are utilized around the globe for the treatment of a wide range of ailments. This study is an attempt to document the utilization of medicinal plants across the four different cultural groups residing in the rural and remote villages of the northern districts of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India. To gather information related to medicinal plants and health care practices among the local folk, field surveys were conducted from February 2018 to May 2021. The ethnomedicinal information was gathered through semi-structured interviews and group discussions. During the study, a total of 109 plant species belonging to 35 families were recorded as commonly utilized by the local population, with Asteraceae reported as the dominant family. The most common growth form was herbs, with a percentage contribution of 86%. Leaves (38%) were the most commonly used plant part for the preparation of traditional remedies, and most of the remedies were prepared as paste and applied topically. The highest use value of 0.30 was reported for Capsella bursa-pastoris. Greater similarity (14% species) in the usage of plants was shown by Bakerwal, Gujjar, and Pahadi ethnic groups, whereas the least similarity (1%) was observed between Bakerwal and Kashmiri ethnic groups. Based on the results obtained in the present study, further phytochemical and pharmacological analysis of plants is recommended to confirm the efficacy and safety of the remedies used and to possibly elucidate candidates for the development of new drugs.

The indigenous knowledge and conservation status of medicinal plants were explored in the Bandipora district of the Kashmir Himalaya, Jammu and Kashmir, using semi-structured interviews and group discussions. A total of 71 plant species belonging to 43 families, with the predominance of Asteraceae and Lamiaceae were used in traditional medicine by the tribal communities in the area. Local communities used these plants for treating constipation, digestive disorders, fever, diarrhea, joint pain and as tonic. Medicinal use of plant species in various families was similar to previous reports from Kashmir Himalaya. Artemisia absinthium, Cichorium intybus, Foeniculum vulgare, Taraxacum campylodes and Mentha arvensis were frequently used due to their abundance in the study area.

Kashmir Himalaya is known for it’s dense and diverse vegetation. People here have gained immense knowledge regarding the use of medicinal plants for the treatment of different ailments. The present study attempts to explore and document the medicinal plants belonging to the family Solanaceae and Polygonaceae used against different ailments by tribal communities of Uri, Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir. Data was collected by using semi structured interviews and group discussions. Besides local tribal communities of Gujjar and Bakerwal, herbal healers and local knowledgeable persons were consulted during the course of the study. During the study, a total of 25 plants were reported with a species contribution of 10 and 15 of Solanaceae and Polygonaceae respectively. The study revealed that either the whole plant or some plant parts are used as remedies against different ailments in the area.