Ethnopharmacological communicationAn inventory of the ethnobotanicals used as anthelmintics in the southern Punjab (Pakistan)
Introduction
In developing countries like Pakistan, the herdsmen are not reached easily by veterinary personnel. In these circumstances, ethnoveterinary systems are the only alternative to “Western” veterinary therapy. Ethnoveterinary medicine (EVM) is a system of maintaining animal health and curing diseases of animals that is based on folk beliefs and traditional knowledge (TK), skills, methods and practices (Mathius-Mundy and McCorkle, 1989). EVM knowledge like all other TK systems is transmitted orally from generation to generation (McCorkle, 1986, Mathius-Mundy and McCorkle, 1989, McCorkle et al., 1996), and like the other TK systems, it is disappearing because of rapid socio-economic, environmental and technological changes.
In ethnomedicine, at least 80% of the worlds’ population in developing countries uses plant materials as their source of primary health care (Farnsworth et al., 1985). To date there has been no documentation, albeit few articles, of traditional veterinary cures in Pakistan in contrast to other countries where special attention has been focused (Anonymous, 1996). This paper reports some of the ethnobotanicals used as anthelmintics by the livestock farmers in southern Punjab (Pakistan).
Section snippets
Study area
District Muzaffargarh, sprawling over an area of 8249 km2, lies in the form of strip between the river Chenab and Indus, which passes along the Eastern and Western boundaries, respectively, of the district and form a triangle at Alipur tehsil of the district. This riverine belt is rich in livestock, due to its geographical location and availability of lush green pastures. The climate is extreme hot and cold through out its area. A large area of the district consists of sand dunes and barren
Results and discussion
Of 100 respondents interviewed, 90 had gained their knowledge of traditional drugs from their parents and grandparents. Oral transmission is typical for ethnomedicine (Gueye, 1997). Ten respondents indicated that they gained the knowledge of remedies for animal diseases from neighbours and co-producers. The interviewed farmers have a rich history of successful agropastoralism reflected in their extensive knowledge of the prevention, control and treatment of helminthosis in ruminants through
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