Traditional practices for common health disease treatment with herbal plant (morindacitrifolia) by tribal: an exploratory study of bay islands, India

The use of herbs for various health alignments treatment is age old practice in India particularly among the tribal community. However, various herbs are time tested at the farmer's level for sustainability through a dynamic process of socio economic development over the year. Hence, the utilization of different plants need to be scientifically tested and analyzed for advocating for mass adoption. Morindacitrifolia is one of the plant used for many health alignments treatment in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. However, traditional medicinal knowledge can be source of economic opportunities and may help in providing enormous jobs. This study reports the traditional knowledge on medicinal plant practiced by the Nicobaries for healing of several health alignments using different part of Noni. This study was conducted in tribal dominant areas of A & N Islands where in tribal follows joint family system. For common health disorders, these people seek the treatment from local herbal practitioners. However, fast developing world is attracting younger generation towards allopathic treatment but still about 48 percent tribal of Nicobar use Noni for treatment of various health disorders. We have collected information from the local practitioners and old people of tribal community who use morindacitrifolia for several purposes. Their experiences and perceptions were recorded and presented in this paper. The study recommends that local wisdom needs be protected by people and government efforts.