Medicinal Plants of Indian Trans-Himalaya: Focus on Tibetan Use of Medicinal Resources

The indigenous medical practices and inter-relationships of people and medicinal plants that had developed over a period of time in isolation in the trans-Himalayan area is a unique system of medicine known as the Tibetan Medical System (TMS). For centuries this area remained isolated and politically closed due to number of reasons including poor accessibility. The credit for this system of medicine goes to the people of this region, particularly the amchis, who over the years of formal and informal experimentation acquired the present excellence and perfection. But, due to lack of resources, and organizational support there is a lack of concerted effort to coordinate and synthesize the available comprehensive literature on the medicinal plants of Indian trans-Himalaya, which are used by amchis. This book is the outcome of extensive field survey of the medicinal plants in the trans-Himalayan region of India, which are used by the amchis particularly in Ladakh (Jammu and Kashmir), Lahaul-Spiti (Himachal Pradesh), and Malari (Uttaranchal). A total of 337 species of medicinal plants found in Indian trans-Himalaya have been documented in this book, of which 45 species are of threatened categories. Each medicinal plant has been described along with local names, parts used, habitat types, localities, period of flowering and fruiting, and the uses of plant for respective therapies. Apart from this, 38 species of animals and birds, 6 types of minerals, and their various combinations have also been documented which are used in this form of therapy. Issues of conservation and management of the rare and endangered medicinal plants have also been discussed with the long-term sustainable use of these species.