Snakelore and indigenous snakebite remedies practiced by some tribals of Rajasthan

Abstract

An ethnomedicinal survey of plants, which are especially used for the treatment of snakebite in the tribal (<i style="">Bhil, Meena, Garasia, Sahariya, Damor, Kathodia</i>) dominated areas of Rajasthan, was conducted to access the potentiality of herbs treating snakebite cases for modern therapeutic treatment of snakebites. The information is based on exhaustive interviews with specialist (doctor) and non-specialist person (village headman, priest and tribal folks) practicing snakebite cases. The people belonging to primitive or aboriginal culture possess a good deal of information about medicinal utility of plant diversity. Of 44 plant species used to treat snakebite victims, 39 belong to dicotyledonous group, while 5 species belongs to monocotyledons. Plant species along with part/s used and the mode of administration for treatment of venomous snakebite incidences are given. Besides, several myths related to snakes prevalent among the tribal and rural people of the study area are also discussed.