Traditional soap and detergent yielding plants of Uttaranchal

Abstract

Transmission of traditional knowledge from one generation to another is a vital tool for assessing the evolution of human civilization. Rural communities, particularly in the hilly areas have developed various techniques for utilization of plants according to their needs. There are a number of plant species used as soap and detergent in the hilly areas, where access to market is not possible. Now, due to change in socioeconomic and cultural conditions of these communities, they have abandoned the traditional use of plant species. Consequently, the existing traditional knowledge in respect to plant uses has disappeared. In view of this, an attempt has been made to document the plant species used as soap and detergent in Uttaranchal and local processing techniques with an aim to preserve the centuries old traditions of the society.