Rathish
Author – Ritesh Ranjan: India’s traditional healthcare knowledge has always been deeply connected to nature. Across villages, forests and indigenous communities, medicinal plants have been used for generations to treat common illnesses, support immunity and maintain overall well-being. A recent Nagaland University-led study has brought one such valuable knowledge system into focus by documenting the ethno-medicinal practices of the Sonowal Kachari tribe of Assam.
The study records the use of 39 medicinal plant species used by the Sonowal Kachari community for various health conditions. This research is significant not only because it preserves traditional wisdom, but also because it creates a scientific foundation for affordable healthcare, biodiversity conservation and future drug discovery.
At a time when indigenous knowledge is slowly disappearing due to urbanisation, changing lifestyles and reduced dependence on traditional healing, such documentation becomes extremely important. The study shows how local communities have developed practical, plant-based healthcare systems over generations, often relying on easily available herbs, trees, climbers and shrubs.
A Scientific Record of Oral Herbal Traditions
The Sonowal Kachari tribe has traditionally passed down its herbal knowledge orally from elders to younger generations. However, with younger people moving away from traditional practices, much of this knowledge is at risk of being lost.
To preserve this wisdom, researchers interviewed 180 elderly knowledge holders from the community. Their responses helped create a detailed and systematic record of medicinal plants and their uses. This makes the study one of the most comprehensive accounts of Sonowal Kachari herbal medicine.
The research was led by Nagaland University and published in the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine. It was carried out in collaboration with researchers from the Indian Council of Medical Research, Assam. By combining field-based traditional knowledge with scientific documentation, the study highlights the importance of connecting indigenous wisdom with modern biomedical research.
Why This Study Matters
Herbal medicine continues to play an important role in rural and resource-limited areas. In many parts of India, access to doctors, hospitals and pharmacies may be limited. For such communities, medicinal plants often serve as the first line of care.
The study shows that the Sonowal Kachari community uses both traditional remedies and allopathic medicine. This points towards the possibility of integrative healthcare, where traditional healing practices and modern medical systems can work together.
Such an approach can be especially useful for primary healthcare. Many of the plants documented in the study are used for common conditions such as fever, cough, dysentery, stomach pain, skin problems, kidney stones, arthritis and respiratory disorders. Since these are everyday health concerns, validated plant-based remedies could support low-cost and locally accessible treatment options.
Key Medicinal Plants Documented
The study identified 39 medicinal plant species used by the Sonowal Kachari tribe. Leaves were found to be the most commonly used plant part. Herbs formed the largest group of medicinal plants, followed by trees, climbers and shrubs.
This reflects the community’s deep understanding of local biodiversity. Over generations, the tribe has identified which plants are useful, which parts should be used and how they can be prepared for different ailments.
Some important medicinal plants highlighted in related reporting include:
Houttuynia cordata – Used for digestive and respiratory problems.
Centella asiatica – Traditionally associated with memory support and skin health.
Leucas aspera – Used for cold, cough and sinus-related problems.
Paederia foetida – Used for arthritis and gastrointestinal disorders.
Phyllanthus emblica – Commonly known as amla, used for immunity and jaundice.
Other well-known medicinal plants such as neem, aloe vera, bael, brahmi and kalmegh are also part of India’s wider traditional medicine knowledge. The repeated use of such plants across different communities gives researchers a strong starting point for laboratory validation and further pharmacological studies.
Indigenous Knowledge and Biodiversity Conservation
The study is not just about medicine. It is also about protecting cultural heritage and conserving biodiversity.
Prof. Jagadish Kumar Patnaik, Vice-Chancellor of Nagaland University, highlighted that indigenous wisdom has immense value for low-cost healthcare and future drug discovery. He noted that documenting such knowledge helps preserve cultural traditions while creating new possibilities for sustainable medical innovation.
Dr. Pramod Chandra Dihingia, Assistant Professor at Nagaland University, also warned that traditional ethnobotanical knowledge may disappear if it is not properly recorded and protected. As younger generations move away from traditional lifestyles, the oral transfer of knowledge becomes weaker.
This concern is not limited to Assam. Across India, many indigenous and rural communities are witnessing a similar decline in traditional practices. If this knowledge is lost, the country may lose valuable information about medicinal plants that could support healthcare and scientific research in the future.
Conservation frameworks are therefore essential. These frameworks should protect both the medicinal plants and the rights of the communities that have preserved this knowledge for generations.
Role in Future Drug Discovery
One of the most promising aspects of the study is its potential contribution to future medicine. Traditional knowledge often provides clues for scientific research. When a plant is consistently used by a community for a particular disease or symptom, it may contain bioactive compounds worth investigating.
Researchers can use this documentation as a foundation for further studies, including phytochemical screening, pharmacological testing, laboratory validation and clinical trials. Such research may eventually lead to new plant-based formulations or natural product-based medicines.
Prof. Prabhakar Sharma said the study goes beyond documentation because it opens new avenues for pharmacological research. Several identified plants may have potential for future drug development. This aligns with India’s national priorities in affordable healthcare, biodiversity conservation and natural therapeutics.
However, any future development must also include ethical benefit-sharing. Indigenous communities should receive recognition and benefits if their traditional knowledge contributes to scientific or commercial products.
Science and Tradition Can Work Together
The Nagaland University study shows that traditional medicine and modern science do not have to exist separately. Instead, they can support each other.
Traditional knowledge provides generations of practical experience. Modern science can test, validate and standardise these remedies for safe and effective use. When both systems work together, they can create healthcare solutions that are affordable, accessible and culturally rooted.
This is especially important for India, where diverse communities have rich knowledge of medicinal plants. Proper documentation, validation and conservation can help transform local wisdom into evidence-based healthcare solutions.
Conclusion
The Nagaland University-led study on Sonowal Kachari herbal medicine is an important step in preserving India’s indigenous healthcare knowledge. By documenting 39 medicinal plants and their uses, the research protects a valuable oral tradition that is at risk of disappearing.
The study also highlights the role of medicinal plants in low-cost healthcare, biodiversity conservation and future drug discovery. It shows that indigenous communities hold knowledge that can benefit not only their own people but also wider society.
As India looks for affordable and sustainable healthcare solutions, such research can play a major role. By respecting traditional wisdom, supporting scientific validation and ensuring fair benefit-sharing, the country can create a stronger bridge between indigenous knowledge and modern medicine.
Nagaland University’s work brings the Sonowal Kachari community’s herbal wisdom into the scientific spotlight and reminds us that the future of medicine may be deeply rooted in the knowledge of the past.
FAQs
1. What is the Nagaland University study about?
The Nagaland University-led study documents the traditional medicinal plant knowledge of the Sonowal Kachari tribe of Assam. It records 39 medicinal plant species used by the community for treating common health conditions.
2. Why is Sonowal Kachari herbal knowledge important?
This knowledge is important because it has been passed down orally for generations. Documenting it helps preserve cultural heritage, supports low-cost healthcare and provides a foundation for future drug discovery.
3. How many medicinal plants were documented in the study?
The study documented 39 medicinal plant species used by the Sonowal Kachari tribe for various health conditions such as fever, cough, dysentery, skin disorders, stomach pain, arthritis and respiratory problems.
4. Which plant parts are most commonly used in Sonowal Kachari herbal medicine?
Leaves were found to be the most commonly used plant part. Herbs were the largest group of medicinal sources, followed by trees, climbers and shrubs.
5. How can this study help future medicine?
The study can help future medicine by identifying plants that may contain useful bioactive compounds. These plants can be studied further through laboratory testing, pharmacological research and clinical trials.