Forest Medicine of Chhota Udaipur's Tribal Communities

Chhota Udaipur district's high-rainfall forests contain one of Gujarat's richest pharmacopoeias of medicinal plants used by Rathwa and Bhil healers. Traditional healers (bhagat) treat conditions including malaria, snakebite, jaundice, and broken bones using plant-based remedies. Mahua (Madhuca longifolia) bark decoction is used for fever; shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) root for female reproductive health; giloy (Tinospora cordifolia) vine for immunity. Traditional snakebite treatment by tribal healers involves applying a specific herbal poultice and fasting, practices that have been studied by biomedical researchers for potential active compounds. Tribal healers' knowledge is gender-differentiated: women know plant remedies for childbirth and infant conditions; men know remedies for injury and fever. The BAIF Development Research Foundation works with Chhota Udaipur tribal communities on medicinal plant conservation and healer knowledge documentation.