| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2013 | Volume
: 33
| Issue : 2 | Page : 92-96 |
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The folklore medicinal orchids of Sikkim
Ashok Kumar Panda1, Debasis Mandal2
1 Departments of Ayurveda, National Research Institute of Ayurveda Drug Development, Kolkata, West Bengal; Ayurveda Regional Research Institute, Tadong, India
2 Department of Floriculture and Horticulture Management, Sikkim University, Gangtok, Sikkim, India
Correspondence Address:
Ashok Kumar Panda
National Research Institute of Ayurveda Drug Development, CN 4, Bidhan Nagar, Kolkata 91, West Bengal
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0257-7941.139043
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Background: Orchids are well-known for decorative and aromatic values than its medicinal properties. Jīvantī, Jīvaka, R.s.abhaka, Rāsnā, Mānakanda, Pañcagula are used in Ayurveda are said to be orchids. There are 50 species of orchids in medicine. Sikkim has identified 523 species of wild orchids so far.
Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the folklore medicinal use of orchids in Sikkim.
Materials and Methods: To assess the traditional medicinal uses of orchid species, close contacts were made with native people particularly, traditional healers, religious leaders, nursery growers and villagers of Sikkim. The information was gathered with the help of the questionnaire and personal interviews with various knowledgeable respondents during the field visit in between August 2009 and December 2011.
Results and Conclusion: We found that 36 species of orchids are used as medicines for different purposes of health. The botanical and ayurvedic name, phenology, parts used and medicinal uses of 36 orchids are presented in this paper along with its local distribution. |
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